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Question: Tips on taking pictures of lightening!?
How can I "catch" it with my camera!? I'm just not fast enough with the trigger finger!!

Thanks!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
See if your camera has an option to keep the shutter open for even 30 seconds or a few minutes (I forget what it's called)!. Then put it on a tripod or something solid so that the picture will be clear!. Then set it while a thunder-storm is occurring and wait! With this option, you'd probably get quite a few strikes in one pic!.

OR!.!.!. if your camera doesn't have that option, does it have an option to take a certain number of pictures in rapid succession!? That might work, too!.!.!. Just let 'er go!. It'd probably take a few tries, but you'd eventually get one!

No matter how fast you are with your "trigger finger", you won't be able to catch it!.!.!. unless it's just a stroke of luck!

Good luck! =)Www@QuestionHome@Com

I've shot several pictures of lightening lately using a Canon SD950 point and shoot camera in the middle of the afternoon!. I shoot using the manual exposure setting!. I set the camera for ISO100 and since I'm hand holding the camera, I set the exposure for 1/60th of a second!. Automatic settings will overexpose the image and make it all blurry!. All I do is point the camera in the general direction of the lightening source with the camera zoomed as wide as possible and keep firing the trigger as fast as I can!. Don't stop to look at what you've shot or you'll miss the next bolt!. Of course I've had to throw away 50 or 60 useless frames just to keep the one or two good ones, but if successful, it's all worth it!.

At night I can use my SLR digital camera!. I set it on a tripod!. I use 15 second exposure at about F8, and I keep firing the shutter as soon as the previous picture finishes exposing!. Again, I don't waste time looking at what I have until the lightening has passed and I get back in the house!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Most people aren't!. ;)

The key to catching lightning is to use a long exposure!. Set your camera on a tripod and most importantly!.!.!. be in a safe place!. Your camera needs to have a true Manual mode!. For an SLR, I just set my aperture to f/16 and use a bulb exposure!. Start the exposure and when you catch one, stop it!. When capturing with my point and shoot (Powershot G9), the longest time I can capture is 15 seconds!. So I just set to f/8 and 15 seconds and hope that I capture some!. Sometimes I capture too many and the area is way overexposed!. Other times I don't capture anything at all!. Use a wide to normal lens!. If the lightning is in one area, set up a composition around that area!. If your not sure of your composition options, just go wide and crop later!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Firstly you want to be safe, stay indoors if possible!.!. if the lightning is far enough away!.!. set up a tripod, and take wide shots in the general direction of the approaching storm!.!.!. use a remote (or timer) and 20 second exposures, and a small aperture, of about f/11 - f 16 and if you are lucky you'll get some lightning shotsWww@QuestionHome@Com