How to Capture a Photograph of Lightning

We've all seen the spectacular lightning displays that arrive just prior to a storm. Sometimes they last through the storm, but I can assure you that you or your camera would not.

I decided tonight that I was going to run out armed with my trusty digital camera and try to do what I've always wanted to do: Capture a lightning flash on camera. I'd tried maybe once or twice before, but in less than ten minutes those cold, wet raindrops gleefully had chased me away, once again without my lightning shot.

Tonight it was just starting to roll in. I grabbed a pair of batteries, frantically loaded them into my camera and hit power. I stood there, in the driveway waiting, waiting, and waiting some more for that flash to appear. It did, naturally, and I missed the shot. I tried again, this time with the flash on. Missed it again. I switched back to no flash since I've noted the flash in night sky shots is quite damaging to the photo quality.

After about fifteen wasted shots of lights next door, or pitch black skies, I tried another method. I had noticed that there was a rhythm to the storm. Thunder roll, a few seconds pass, and a lightning flash. This pattern repeated itself several times. At this point I had moved to a more active area of my yard with my eyes fixated on the section of the sky where there was an increased amount of lightning bolts present.

I heard a rumble of thunder, poised myself with my finger on the shutter button and waited. Flash! I snapped the photo. I had gotten myself another prestigious shot of the black sky. Way to go! I tried again. Another black shot, and again. To my amazement I got a beautiful purple lighted shot of a few small lightning bolts! Glorious photo of photos! I stayed seated. Still no rain, so you know I'm going to try to repeat that photo.

Well, try as I might I didn't get the shot. I even tried moving to "Burst" mode. For photos taken in quick succession. I randomly took photos hoping that second was the second that the lightning would make it's appearance. No luck. The camera processes or charges after a few quick shots, and you guessed it, the lightning stuck then. This happened a few times before I was finally chased away by the rain.

Only one photo, but it's one more photo than I'd gotten before. What a bounty to come back with!

Hints Tips and Ideas For Capturing Lightning

• Digital might not be favored by all photographers, but in situations like this it's very forgiving on "wasted" shots. In a film camera, you'd be paying for all of the more than thirty mistake shots I took.

• Flash off is best from what I've seen. The flash seems to block out the slight light from the moon and lightning on my camera. Though, no flash means staying absolutely still or it'll blur!

• Listen for any sort of rhythm or pattern to the storm. If you see one try to guess the timing of the lightning streak and use it to your advantage. After a while you are bound to hit it at the right time and get your fantastic lightning shot!

• Burst. Even though I was not lucky with it, the burst mode has it's possibilities. You can take quicker shots in a fast procession. The quicker you can shoot, the more likely you'll get your lightning bolt on camera.

• Watch around you. Some areas are more active with more lightning bolts than others only a few feet away. Watch to see where the active spot is and position yourself in front of it with your camera lined up and ready to shoot.

• Keep your hand poised on that shutter button. If your camera allows you to press it halfway to focus, do that. You need all you can to get that photo shot fast!

• Don't be alarmed if the brackets on your display are red. They will be. The camera can't "see" what you plan to take a photo of, so it won't be able to give you the go ahead for a good photo. You can still take it and it'll turn out fine.
• If you can, zoom in. This makes for a better photo, but it also reduces the area you can capture the lightning bolt on. So, it has it's pros and cons.