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#11
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Photo's Of Lightning
Greg,
In Tucson we have frequent thunderstorms and we are frequently reminded that if you can hear thunder there is a chance of lightning striking near you. Most people don't pay much attention to that warning but you're right--lightning can strike from a blue sky. I suppose that is the source of the saying, "from out of the blue" or "a bolt from the blue" A professor of Atmospheric Science from the U. of Arizona said a good rule of thumb is that if the front of the storm is more than 45 degrees above the horizon it is wise to seek shelter. Back to the original request for how-to information---it's a good idea to have extra batteries for your camera if it has an electronic shutter. The long exposures eat up batteries pretty fast. Norm |
#12
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Photo's Of Lightning
Norm wrote:
Greg, In Tucson we have frequent thunderstorms and we are frequently reminded that if you can hear thunder there is a chance of lightning striking near you. Most people don't pay much attention to that warning but you're right--lightning can strike from a blue sky. I suppose that is the source of the saying, "from out of the blue" or "a bolt from the blue" A professor of Atmospheric Science from the U. of Arizona said a good rule of thumb is that if the front of the storm is more than 45 degrees above the horizon it is wise to seek shelter. Back to the original request for how-to information---it's a good idea to have extra batteries for your camera if it has an electronic shutter. The long exposures eat up batteries pretty fast. Norm You're in Tucson too? Cool! I've been chasing along Hwy 83 for the last few weeks. One of this year's goals is (twilight) lighting over the Mustang range, east of Sonoita. There are several excellent vantage points in the La Cienegas reserve. Even if the lightning is a bust, the stormcloud sunsets are well worth the 30 minute drive. Gorgeous scenery. Damn, I love the 'monsoon' season! I've had one too-close call. While standing outside my house watching a moderately distant storm, I turned to speak to the neighbor... FLASHBOOM!!! When there is NO delay between the light and sound (close lightning sometimes has a curious 'pop' component), you know you're doing something dumb... I never determined where that bolt hit; I think it plowed into an open area a few hundred yards away. If you can hear the 'crack' of the lightning, just be thankful you are still standing! http://wx5tvs.com/chasephotos/2005/2...uleshoe.tx.wmv Which UA professor? Does he have an on-line site? FWIW, I'm still shooting that ancient 'film' stuff, using manual focus cameras to boot. My A1 eats batteries quite quickly, but my T-90 (like many newer cameras) uses a permanent magnet to hold the shutter open, cutting long exposure power draw significantly. If shopping for a lightning/night time camera, it's a worthy feature to seek. -Greg |
#13
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Photo's Of Lightning
"Sioux" wrote in news:1153207725.803629.29400@
75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com: I am a fairly decent photographer and just do it for a hobby, but one thing I have not figured out is capturing lightning. I have a Kodak EasyShare Z730 if that will help. Plenty of good advice from the others, so I'll throw in my 2 pfennigs... With your Kodak, you're a little limited in your options - you can't simply lock the shutter open and wait, and you can't use the electronic release options like lightning detectors. So that means increasing your odds. You'll pretty much want to shoot at night, or at least late dusk, so you can leave the shutter open as long as possible and not blow the image out pure white. Set the ISO as low as it goes, which will allow for longer shutter times and finer detail, less chance of the dark areas going completely grainy/noisy. Aperture doesn't matter too much for lightning, as long as you're focused at infinity, but if there's still light in the sky using a smaller aperture will give you better options. Someting I've found over the years, is that lightning actually follows a loose pattern of timing. Count off between good strokes, figure the timing, and open your shutter about five seconds before the next one is "due". Not completely accurate, but it will increase your chances of getting a decent strike. My experience has been that bright strokes and small or inter-cloud ones have a faint tendency to alternate. Vantage point in key. Flat areas work best, since you can see the storm advancing a long ways off, but shooting from a hill or at the head of a valley can help. Bear in mind the decrease in safety that altitude brings, and that strokes can occur well in advance of the apparent front. Also be aware that a significant warning sign is feeling the hairs on your neck stand up. If that occurs, you are in immediate and serious danger, and throw yourself to the ground, in a ditch, down the hill, whatever, as fast as you can. Once the rain starts, your chances of getting anything just about vanish - the haze that surrounds you will obscure the lightning. In some conditions, you can shoot the receding storm as well, which is a lot safer. Wider angles (shorter focal lengths) increase the chances of catching nice strokes, but also minimize them in the frame - it's a tricky balance point. I have found that 35mm focal length (equivalent) seems to work best, but have successfully shot receding storms with a 105mm. Shooting from the window of a high rise also works, and gives you altitude, safety, and often a great vantage point. Again, once the rain starts you're probably out of luck, since the water running down the glass will also obscure your shots. Really want good shots? Go to Florida. In summer, there's practically a storm every afternoon or evening, and it's flat enough to see them advancing. The coasts allow you to shoot a long ways off. Just be aware that storms move fast in Florida, and be prepared to get soaked. Good luck! - Al. -- To reply, insert dash in address to match domain below Online photo gallery at www.wading-in.net |
#14
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Photo's Of Lightning
Greg Campbell wrote:
Norm wrote: Greg, In Tucson we have frequent thunderstorms and we are frequently reminded that if you can hear thunder there is a chance of lightning striking near you. Most people don't pay much attention to that warning but you're right--lightning can strike from a blue sky. I suppose that is the source of the saying, "from out of the blue" or "a bolt from the blue" A professor of Atmospheric Science from the U. of Arizona said a good rule of thumb is that if the front of the storm is more than 45 degrees above the horizon it is wise to seek shelter. Back to the original request for how-to information---it's a good idea to have extra batteries for your camera if it has an electronic shutter. The long exposures eat up batteries pretty fast. Norm You're in Tucson too? Cool! I've been chasing along Hwy 83 for the last few weeks. One of this year's goals is (twilight) lighting over the Mustang range, east of Sonoita. There are several excellent vantage points in the La Cienegas reserve. Even if the lightning is a bust, the stormcloud sunsets are well worth the 30 minute drive. Gorgeous scenery. Damn, I love the 'monsoon' season! I've had one too-close call. While standing outside my house watching a moderately distant storm, I turned to speak to the neighbor... FLASHBOOM!!! When there is NO delay between the light and sound (close lightning sometimes has a curious 'pop' component), you know you're doing something dumb... I never determined where that bolt hit; I think it plowed into an open area a few hundred yards away. If you can hear the 'crack' of the lightning, just be thankful you are still standing! FWIW, when I was in college my advisor told me about his weekend golf outing--he and another professor, a retired Marine general, were out playing golf when it started to rain. The decided that by the time the got off the course they'd be soaked anyway so they may as well finish the game. About that time lightning blew a big tree down the course a bit to flinders and they decided that maybe standing around out in the open swinging lightning rods around was not an optimal survival strategy. http://wx5tvs.com/chasephotos/2005/2...uleshoe.tx.wmv Which UA professor? Does he have an on-line site? FWIW, I'm still shooting that ancient 'film' stuff, using manual focus cameras to boot. My A1 eats batteries quite quickly, but my T-90 (like many newer cameras) uses a permanent magnet to hold the shutter open, cutting long exposure power draw significantly. If shopping for a lightning/night time camera, it's a worthy feature to seek. -Greg -- --John to email, dial "usenet" and validate (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net) |
#15
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Photo's Of Lightning
Al,
Lots of good advice. But, I'd like to amplify on the bit about if you feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck. This is caused by the positive ions flowing up and possibly creating a connection with the negative ions searching downward from the clouds. So, yes, you indeed, are in danger but the best course of action is to immediately squat with your feet close together. You want to have as little contact with the ground as possible. Put your hands over your ears and close your eyes. If you are prone on the ground you present a larger area for the positive ions to possibly connect with the downward searching negative ions. It is also a good idea to make sure anyone accompanying you is aware of the safety precautions and that all present should know CPR. There won't be much time to discuss options if some one gets hit. Norm |
#16
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Photo's Of Lightning
Norm wrote:
Yes, cars are safer but it is not because of rubber tires as you seemed to imply when you said something about cars with their rubber tires. Sorry if I misunderstood your message. The technical explanation is the car acts like a Faraday cage. If the car is a conductor, the electricity flows around the metal exterior of the car, helping to keep you safe. Key is to not be touching the outside, and bigger key: metal exterior. Those plastic body cars do not qualify as a Faraday cage, but maybe might provide some protection. Roger |
#17
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Photo's Of Lightning
Good point Roger
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#18
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Photo's Of Lightning
On 2006-07-18, Sioux wrote:
I am a fairly decent photographer and just do it for a hobby, but one thing I have not figured out is capturing lightning. I have a Kodak EasyShare Z730 if that will help. Get steady tripod and and learn how to use your cameras manual settings and use long exposure time. If sky is too bright you can use ND filters. Here is some of my lightning photos: http://www.petrilopia.net/ and http://www.pbase.com/whig/lightnings Hopefully somebody will wrote some feedback/comment about those photos too =) -- Petri Lopia :: lid StormChasing/Myrskynbongaus etc. Lightnings/Salamoita yms. http://www.petrilopia.net/ http://www.pbase.com/whig/ |
#19
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Photo's Of Lightning
"Norm" wrote in message
news:QtMvg.2357$RD.951@fed1read08... Since this topic is one of potentially life-threatening consequences, I'd like to correct a popular misconception. The protection afforded by being in a car has little or nothing to do with rubber tires. The mass of the metal frame of the auto conducts the electrical charge to and from ground, by-passing the occupant. This often (maybe always?) blows the rubber tires. The car acts as a Faraday cage. I've been in a car struck by lightning and the tires were fine (as were my dad and me). The radio never worked again though. Peter |
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