Topic: Photographic Techniques

[John Allen]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to bounce what I attempted to run as my settings for shooting lightning last night off a few of you.

For reference i currently use a Nikon D40 with a 70-300mm VR lens mounted on a manfroto tripod.

Settings:
ISO 200
F 6 (on brads suggestion given the distance)
Manual focus set to infinity.
Large image file (JPEG top size)


Things I think I should try:
Shooting in RAW instead for the noise removal.
Using the bulb setting...which i couldnt work out how to access last night.

Any suggestions people have for settings...or experiences with nikon camera would be appreciated.

[Michael Bath]

Hi John - I use Nikon D70 which is pretty much the same as the D40. The settings you've posted are fine, though you did mention elsewhere a filter ? 

The most critical part is getting the focus set to infinity which can be tricky with some lenses.

Check my tips here:
http://www.lightningphotography.com/tips.html

Set the D40 to manual mode on the dial, then increase the exposure time higher than 30 seconds. Mine shows "bulb" on the info display when I go past 30 seconds.

Michael

[Michael Bath]

Yeah it certainly helps if you can get a few storms to practice on. That filter probably doesn't make any difference as expsoures in the shots last night look fine.  The infinity focus is a pain with most DSLR lenses. Once you get that right you should be fine.

Practice with night scenes when there is not lightning to be worried about missing.

[Richary]

Tonight's poor storm was my first chance to play with it, while battling light pollution and trying to balance exposure times against what the lightning needs with exposure. In hindsight should have opened the shutter more and taken shorter shots. Oh well, live and learn.

I agree, the focus is the hard part. Infinity on my lens isn't quite at the end for manual focus (not sure what I should be focussing on past infinity but anyway). Tonight I used a distant streetlight to set the focus, though this could be a problem if I was trying shots out in the country with nothing to focus on.