The Secret of Capturing Lightning on Camera!

You are driving or perhaps relaxing at home reading a good book, and then the sky turns dark as you can hear a deep rumble in the distance. A storm is approaching, but you think that this is simply just another rainstorm rolling through. All at once, the sky is lit up with a flash of lightning followed by a clap of thunder. After closing your eyes for a moment, you can see the flash still in your vision, streaking across like a wild serpent. Then your heart quickens as you reach for your camera, hoping to capture this elusive beauty. Suddenly, another flash, and simeltaneously you take the picture. With your adrenaline rushing and getting excited for reeling in a good conversation starter, you take more until you have had your fill. The storm passes. Perhaps on the next day, you stop by your local store to have your pictures developed, or you flip through your digital camera to see your score. What has happened? Is there is nothing there? Or perhaps just a big blurry white thing on the picture?

Many people wonder why cameras will not capture photos of lightning. Many wonder how it is done. Shutter speed. The shutter on a camera is set to open and close in a certain amount of time, allowing the proper amount of light from the scene ahead to shine onto a sensor or film, to make a bright and colorful picture. Whenever lightning flashes, it seems like it sticks around for a moment because your eyes are trying to adjust to the sudden change in light, and it leaves behind an annoying streak in your sight. Most lightning strikes only last as fast as they occur, fractions of a milisecond. A shutter in a camera, if clicked at the right moment may produce many results. Not to worry though! You do not have to sit at your camera, anticipating a strike. A lot of professional-grade cameras are equipped with Exposure Settings. An exposure is lengthening the time that a shutter is open, in order to let more light in to take a better picture. Most cameras have an automatic exposure setting, in order to get clearer and brighter pictures in a setting where it is dark, or dim. Fortunately, a camera can be set manually to capture a desired photo. In order to capture a photograph of one or more lightning strikes, you need these items:

1. Your camera. I personally use a Canon Rebel 2 with a special lens.
2. A tripod.
3. Any supplies that you may need for a rainstorm.

Your camera is the most important item of use. If you want a good shot of a lightning strike, dont expect to get one out of a digital camera that can fit in your pocket. As mentioned above, you need to have a professional-grade camera, or one that you can change the exposure settings manually. Refer to your camera's manual to find the correct procedure to change your exposure times (because each camera is different). A tripod is essential to capture a clear picture of a lightning strike. If you think you are going to get a clear picture by simply holding it in your hands, you will be making a big mistake. Because our muscles always move and we never have a truly still hand, any picture through a long exposure setting with the hand will be very blurry, and distasteful. Set up your tripod in a clear and SAFE area. Lightning can strike you, even if you are miles away from the storm. Be aware of your surroundings, and ask yourself questions like, "Is this a picture-perfect area? Is there traffic nearby? Is there anything near me that might attract lightning such as a metal pole, or building, or tree?" I must add, if you are on the road, and decide to pull over and take pictures, I do not care if there is nobody on the road for miles, NEVER put your equipment on the road. IT IS THE LAW. Too many times, people get run over, or get a big fat ticket for putting equipment on the road, especially ignorant news reporters and civilians, and give us professional or seasoned storm chasers a bad name.

Just a bit of safety, lightning is very weird, as electricity always is. When lightning hits the ground or tree, it radiates into the surrounding area. Even if you are not directly hit by lightning, and the tree a few yards from you is, the lightning will travel to you from the ground as it discharges and throw you several feet, possibly putting you into respitory arrest. When you are in a dangerous situation, and you are at a high risk of a lightning strike, you must watch for those tell-tale signs. The hairs on the back of your neck will rise, and you may hear a static buzzing sound. When this happens, you must already be in motion to SQUAT near the ground. If you lie on the ground, you increase the surface area of your body for the lightning to travel to when it discharges. When you squat, you are making yourself as small as possible without using a lot of your body to touch the ground.

Please be safe and use common sense when it comes to the law. I hope to see some fantastic and beautiful pictures come as a result of this page. Have fun out there and perhaps you might see me. Do not be afraid to walk up and say hello. ~Ace Critc PW