Lightning Chase 2011

GOT ONE!

Season is now officially open. Last night not only did I open my season, but also took the new Camera on it maiden voyage. Had 45 minutes before I had to leave for work I was watching and tracking Radars all night long and knew I wouldn't have much time to play. Almost didn't try but decided to take everything out on a test run. Not a very productive storm for lightning but was severe warned. Got pelted on the way home with hail thought I was going to lose the windshield a few times. Still fine-tuning the setup location, evergreens grew a lot the last few months, and still learning the camera settings for what I want. I can tell already this is going to be a great year with this camera. More to come as I shot more storms.

Not the perfect picture, but a good start.

Tight crop from original photo 75% cropped out

Exposure 10 seconds more than I normally do, had shutter speed set to 30sec instead of bulb mode, storm was lazy and had a lot of sheet lightning.

(Happens every time I change my shutter speed to take a break from counting seconds shutter has been open)

Yes, this is one of those "Don't try this at home" things.

Awesome Rick!

Great job, Rick!

Great capture, Rick! Looks good to me, bud!

OK, great shot. Something got hit hard. Keep em coming.

Wow! very cool! I tried last night, but no luck for me.

Rick?
All I can say is WOW!!! I really have to try this now.
Don't worry. I won't try it at home. I'll go up to the mountain top. LOL

Really reaching on this one





Finally got on a storm. Three shots from tonight's storm. Took about 75 frames kept 4 not a bad night. It was a simple drive by storm with lots of rain in front of the lightning so they didn’t turn out as well as I would liked. The storm was here and gone in 10 minutes. This has to be the worst year I have had to catch any storms at night. Might get two more chances Friday and Saturday night. Have to wait and see.

The last one made my jaw drop! I want to try this, yet... I don't.

I agree, that last one is AMAZING. I love the 2 little trees to the right, and those clouds look extremely angry. GREAT capture!

Great pics. I like the last one best also. Stay safe and dry out there.

"Sick"


"Confused"


"Shot at Dawn"

man I would love to do this but I'm a watch from the safety of my house type, lol. Very nice!!!

Three shots from 7-27-11 at dusk storm

This storm was 25 miles North of me and tracking straight East so I was able to shot this storm wide angle and no cover. Could see the lightning, but heard no thunder.

Storms tracked all night long like this, shame too I had to work and was only able to shoot for 45 minutes before I had to go to work and this went on most of the night for about 5 hours

5-10 sec exposure f/3.5. Lightroom and Photoshop adjustments. Tried to remove the grain, but when I did I lost the detail in the lightning, so I had to leave it in.

Very nice shot. Looks like a wide angle lens was used, hope you don't mind I straightened out the shot using the light pole instead of the horizon.

Care to share your camera settings EXIF? Looking at the light it almost looks like HDR?

I have looked at that photo and messed with it so many times but this noob never thought to straighten it with the light post. That looks better.

It's not HDR though I did edit it a bit in Lightroom mainly removing noise and sharpening the bolt itself. I am at work so I do not have the photo info here. I know I used aperture priority with it probably around f20 due to the sunburst look. Usually the sutter is open a long time but in this case the lightning was so close it took the shot right then.

BTW I now have LR3 and will be going back over a few photos and seeing what that can do to them. I will use the pole this time.

I see your a new member, welcome to the site hope you enjoy your stay, great bunch of people here, and we do it with a sense of humor.

As for your comment about being a "noob" were here to share and learn from each other. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to more of your posts in the forums. So don't be shy, jump right in we don't bite....well most of us, you might want to watch yourself around that Pete guy, he got this thing for tasty animals.

(we love you Pete)