Jump to content
  • Sign Up

03/30/2009 - Lightning - Saginaw, Tx

Darkanion

By Darkanion
in Photography

Recommended Posts

Darkanion Senior Enthusiast

Darkanion

Posted
Posted

I was mindin' my own business, watching some stuff on the DVR earlier when the weather radio went off. I only have it go off for three things. Tornado Warning. Severe Thunderstorm Warning. Severe Weather Statement.

 

Sure enough, it was a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. So, after I checked the radar and realized it was too close for me to "go somewhere" to setup, I grabbed the camera, tripod, and went out in the backyard for a few minutes.

 

I'm still trying to figure out the best settings to use for different situations... lightning up IN the clouds vs. exposed lightning, etc.. So, the colors & saturations varied a bit. I tried to leave them pretty much as-is, except for the "Rifts" one.

 

Anyway! Here's a collection of what I got. Enjoy!

 

1. One of the first shots, when I was still debating whether or not to go find somewhere else to setup.

IMG_1487credmd.jpg

 

2. The show got better pretty quick. So, I stayed put! :D

IMG_1515credmd.jpg

 

3. I thought this one was kind of cool, because it looked like the cloud was twisting and it had the lightning coming out of the end of it.

IMG_1522credmd.jpg

 

4. They started getting a little too high in the sky (i.e. over me some). So, I moved to a different part of the yard, not too long after this one.

IMG_1536credmd.jpg

 

5. This one came out WAY over-exposed. So, I decided to play with the curves and exposure, to come up with something a little different. Kinda reminds me of a Rift.

IMG_1550credmd.jpg

 

6. One of my last shots before it started rainin' like hell! :cool:

IMG_1577credmd.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Darkanion Senior Enthusiast

Darkanion

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks, guys!

 

I had been hearing we "might" get hail today and/or tomorrow for the last several days. But, I hadn't seen the storms materializing. We didn't get much hail here (if any). I did feel more comfortable with my truck HERE, instead of at the dealer, though! :cool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Darkanion Senior Enthusiast

Darkanion

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Love that last one. Was going to try this last night, but I was lazy. :D

 

What's the technique for this, just an open shutter aimed where you think it'll strike and hope for the best?

Yeah, pretty much... I don't usually clear my Exif data from my pics. So, you should be able to check 'em to see what ISO, aperture, and shutter speed I was using on the different ones. Every few shots, I was changing something to see how the results were changed.

 

Basically, I found that a shorter shutter (3-5 seconds), fairly wide-open, with a moderately low ISO worked best. It really depends on how much lightning you're getting though, how exposed the lightning is to you, and things like that.

 

I feel like I still have a LOT to learn on this! :cool:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept