Lightning is the grandest show of nature's raw power. It almost seems alive with its unpredictability.
But to really see this beautiful phenomenon, you have to slow things way down...thankfully you don't have to be a Jedi to do so! Any trusty DSLR/P&S with manual modes should do the trick.
So here are some basic rules on getting your own Zeus bolts on candid camera!
It goes without saying that you need patience and luck to get a good capture. So best of luck and don't get struck down!
But to really see this beautiful phenomenon, you have to slow things way down...thankfully you don't have to be a Jedi to do so! Any trusty DSLR/P&S with manual modes should do the trick.
So here are some basic rules on getting your own Zeus bolts on candid camera!
- Be ready – the lightning waiteth not for you, so be ready to drop what you are doing and run out there to capture it when it happens.
- Find a sheltered spot. Keep your camera dry! Improvise, use an umbrella/large plastic cover with a hole cut out etc.. Prep for this before hand
- Figure out where the strikes are concentrated and then find a vantage point
- Next find a steady surface...it could be a parapet or a tripod. Keep your camera steady
- Go wide – get as wide angle a lens as you possibly can...usually your kit lens will come in an 18~55mm variant, keep it at 18
- Aperture at its widest, depending on your lens this can be anywhere from 1.8f~3.5/5.6.
- Keep ISO at 100, yes you don't require to do your typical night photography iso. If you do, your picture will white out
- Use manual focus – focus to infinity. Auto focus doesn't work in these fast scenario shots
- Keep shutter speed at anywhere from 1~3”. however you could use even longer settings, in which case, raise the iso to compensate accordingly. Else the picture will black out & the lightning will be a faint white line
- lastly, w.r.t. Composing the picture, try to keep the bottom 10% of the pic parallel to the horizon with some buildings/trees. It will help give a sense of how huge the bolt actually is. Allow some breathing space either to the left/right...try using the rule of thirds.
It goes without saying that you need patience and luck to get a good capture. So best of luck and don't get struck down!