Darwin Cracker

[WJT]

Another massive storm last night, C&C welcome.

[jprzybyla]

Nice capture...as I live in the lightning capital of the USA (Polk County, Florida) would you share your technique for photographing lightning?

[WJT]

Hi Joe,

I use a tripod and 30 second shutter speed, but others use a cable to hold open the shutter or an digital device. Some use a sensor but I'm told that they are a headache. This is a guide which I have used to get an idea regarding settings:
Lightning brightness Film ISO Aperture
Very close blinding CG lightning (< 100 m/yards) 100 ISO f/16-f/22
Relatively close, blinding CG lightning (~ 1 km) 100 ISO f/11
Distant CG lightning (5-10 km) 100 ISO f/5.6
Distant CC lightning (5-10 km) 100 ISO f/4
Distant CG/CC lightning (10-20 km) 200 ISO f/4-f/5.6
Remote CG/CC lightning (20-50 km) 200 ISO f/2.8

I'm am still relativley new to lightning photography but am lucky to live in Darwin, Australia so have been spoilt of late. We get over 2000 strikes per night when its going good. Last night was amazing to see. Get into it and remeber to focus on infinity and keep pressing the button as the best strikes happen when your not shooting. Good luck.

[Rob Douglas]

Great capture. A little close on that one =O

[WJT]

Yes Rob, it was within 100 metres as you can see by the reflection on my side of the break water. It gets the heart pumping.

[Glenn NK]

Nice shot. Was there a hole where it struck?

Glenn

And thanks for the ISO/exposure/fstop information.

[WJT]

Nice shot. Was there a hole where it struck?

Glenn

And thanks for the ISO/exposure/fstop information.

Hi Glen,

Not sue about the hole, I wasn't game to look in case it struck twice in the same place Regarding ISO settings I personally have got the best results with a small aperture as I get a lot better foreground detail, and honestly a lightning strike isn't much on its own unless its a real cracker.

[Rob Douglas]

I'd be out there digging up the glass from the hit. That stuff is amazing!

[WJT]

Tell me more Rob.

[Rob Douglas]

Glass is formed in the sand from the extreme heat from the strike.

http://madebymeg.net/blog/wp-content...fulgurite3.jpg

[WJT]

Wow, thank for the tip. I may have to go back and look.

[Boatman]

Are you shooting from a shelter or standing on the beach with your tripod? Seems like a bad idea...

[Rob Douglas]

Maybe laying down on the ground with a remote shutter release away from the tripod =O

[ratssass]

...lol,i thought Darwin Cracker was a new members name

[WJT]

From a shelter Homer (thank God). It made me jump a bit. Almost a shame that the break water stopped us seeing the impact. Maybe next time.

[Dave Humphries]

Maybe laying down on the ground with a remote shutter release away from the tripod =O

Safety warning laying down near a (potential) strike is a bad idea; the more points your body touches the ground and the further apart they are increases your chance of elctrocution by ground potential difference.

If you doubt me, Wikipedia says; "A strike can cause a difference of potential in the ground (due to resistance to current in the Earth), amounting to several thousand volts per foot"

Good advice is usually along the lines of; if possible get inside something metal, e.g. a car (but I guess ideally not a 'rag top'), or if caught out in open, keep low; crouch down and with feet together as your single point of contact with ground, don't shelter under a tree. I expect you know all this Wayne.

Of course standing over a camera and tripod with an umbrella could be seen as 'asking for trouble'
As might taking a wired remote into your shelter.

Great shot, I would have suggested even less exposure, but I see at f/22 and iso100, you had no option

Cheers,

[Rob Douglas]

You're right Dave. I was just being humorous about him not "standing" with the camera & tripod. I've had extensive training with the fire dept. in dealing with live wire down situations and a lightning strike would most certainly be close to that scenario. I apologize if it was misleading to someone as being a SAFE position.

[joewatt]

Great shot! I guess the 30 second exposure implies a location with little ambient light, away from building, streets, parking lots, etc. Right?

[WJT]

Thats right Joe, you can have lights in front of you if they arent too strong but his was looking from under a shelter.

[WJT]

Safety warning laying down near a (potential) strike is a bad idea; the more points your body touches the ground and the further apart they are increases your chance of elctrocution by ground potential difference.

If you doubt me, Wikipedia says; "A strike can cause a difference of potential in the ground (due to resistance to current in the Earth), amounting to several thousand volts per foot"

Good advice is usually along the lines of; if possible get inside something metal, e.g. a car (but I guess ideally not a 'rag top'), or if caught out in open, keep low; crouch down and with feet together as your single point of contact with ground, don't shelter under a tree. I expect you know all this Wayne.

Of course standing over a camera and tripod with an umbrella could be seen as 'asking for trouble'
As might taking a wired remote into your shelter.

Great shot, I would have suggested even less exposure, but I see at f/22 and iso100, you had no option

Cheers,

The interesting thing about the exposure is to see the clarity of the two back ground strikes, one is about 5 km's and the other about 10 km's. Not knowing where the strike will be means this covers more options.