Posted by David Mayhew on August 1, 2012 at 12:53 PM
A quick edit of my lightning shot over Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain NP on Monday. Taken half way back from Mt Ida to the Milner Trailhead.
My 1st use of my new lightning trigger. Tough to get since you need 1/8 sec minimum for it to actual capture a strike. This was ISO 50, F16 & 1/6 sec.
Since I didn't want to lug a tripod with me this is resting on a rock. Not sure if I like the blurred foreground grasses or not.
Posted by Jack Brauer on August 1, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Nice lightning grab! I actually recently purchased a lightning trigger as well... I can't wait for it to arrive and to try it out!
I'm not really digging the oof foreground; kind of distracting.
Posted by Karl Buiter on August 1, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Interesting comp - but not so into the OOF either.
Question - does the Lightning Trigger actually do the job, or are you getting the tail-end of the strike on most shots?
Thanks for the exposure minimum info. Kinda hard to buy a $300 item without knowing if it really works.
(stuck in an office under the murky skies of Vegas - tho the Toroweap / North Rim looks like where I want to be today :) Hoping for some rockin' desert storms out here soon)
Posted by David Mayhew on August 1, 2012 at 6:02 PM
It triggered every time, but didn't capture until I got down to 1/8th.
I agree with the others here re: the OOF foreground.
The LT reacts to the first bolt it senses and then captures subsequent bolts (if any) at 1/8 sec. (+/-)
I have one and am pretty pleased with it.
Thanks
Good grief. If I actually persued acquiring all the variety of accessories for my camera, I would have to rent a sherpa to haul everything around
Posted by Todd Caudle on August 1, 2012 at 9:13 PM
Lighting trigger? Could you explain that device?
It's a device with a button on it that produces a lightning bolt every time you press it.
So, David, you were hiking back off that ridge with this going on? Man, I'd have been cowering under a friggin' rock!
Posted by Joshua Hardin on August 1, 2012 at 10:42 PM
It's a device with a button on it that produces a lightning bolt every time you press it.
AKA cattle prod. Just take one with you to the mountains, set up your shot then zap your camera with it and see what happens.
The foreground grasses might work for me in your photo if the big one directly under the lightning bolt and the one sticking into the clouds on the right side were cloned out. Maybe clone the two long blades in the middle just to the right of the bolt too. Otherwise, it's quite a unique shot and a successful first experiment with your trigger. Can't wait to see more David!
Posted by David Mayhew on August 1, 2012 at 11:01 PM
I agree Joshua, that one grass and the rock right of center are a little off putting.
It was getting a little concerning out there, but this storm was kind of blocking my way down anyway. A later storm did drench me and a bolt struck when I was lower at about 1/2 mile (2 to 3 secs flash to thunder). Also the mountain behind me whited out from hail from yet another storm.
My old trick of swearing at the heavens and getting lightning was wearing thin with the Gods so I figured it was time to buy one, just for the daytime lightning.
Discussion
12 repliesMy 1st use of my new lightning trigger. Tough to get since you need 1/8 sec minimum for it to actual capture a strike. This was ISO 50, F16 & 1/6 sec.
Since I didn't want to lug a tripod with me this is resting on a rock. Not sure if I like the blurred foreground grasses or not.
I'm not really digging the oof foreground; kind of distracting.
Question - does the Lightning Trigger actually do the job, or are you getting the tail-end of the strike on most shots?
Thanks for the exposure minimum info. Kinda hard to buy a $300 item without knowing if it really works.
(stuck in an office under the murky skies of Vegas - tho the Toroweap / North Rim looks like where I want to be today :) Hoping for some rockin' desert storms out here soon)
The LT reacts to the first bolt it senses and then captures subsequent bolts (if any) at 1/8 sec. (+/-)
I have one and am pretty pleased with it.
It works best when it's too bright outside to use a long time exposure (1 sec.>).
Good grief. If I actually persued acquiring all the variety of accessories for my camera, I would have to rent a sherpa to haul everything around
It's a device with a button on it that produces a lightning bolt every time you press it.
So, David, you were hiking back off that ridge with this going on? Man, I'd have been cowering under a friggin' rock!
AKA cattle prod. Just take one with you to the mountains, set up your shot then zap your camera with it and see what happens.
The foreground grasses might work for me in your photo if the big one directly under the lightning bolt and the one sticking into the clouds on the right side were cloned out. Maybe clone the two long blades in the middle just to the right of the bolt too. Otherwise, it's quite a unique shot and a successful first experiment with your trigger. Can't wait to see more David!
It was getting a little concerning out there, but this storm was kind of blocking my way down anyway. A later storm did drench me and a bolt struck when I was lower at about 1/2 mile (2 to 3 secs flash to thunder). Also the mountain behind me whited out from hail from yet another storm.
My old trick of swearing at the heavens and getting lightning was wearing thin with the Gods so I figured it was time to buy one, just for the daytime lightning.
Love the bolts--dont care for the fg blur