Lightning Photography

Lightning photography is one of the most exhilarating hobbies and very dangerous too. Lightning photography is such an intriguing hobby because every photo that you take is different. No photo will ever be identical and the thrill of catching a lightning strike on film is one of a kind. Once you catch a good lightning strike on film, it immediately becomes addicting, and at first, you may think that snapping a photo of lightning is extremely difficult. It is no longer as difficult as it used to be with 35mm film. With the development of SLR digital cameras, taking pictures of lightning has become much easier.

However, before you take up the hobby of lightning photography, you need to recognize the dangers. Obviously, lightning is very dangerous and you can be killed by a strike if it hits you. Therefore, if you think about the safety of lightning photography, there really is no safety. You are out in the open with a metal tripod and electronic device, could you be more prone to a strike than that? What is usually the best way to approach lightning photography is to begin by taking photos of storms way in the distance to be safer. Pictures of lightning that are directly above you is extremely dangerous and there is no way to predict if you will get hit or not.

Granted, you will take amazing pictures if you catch them up close, you are also risking your life doing so. Storms are fascinating things, but dangerous as well. So, once you have realized the dangers and are prepared to take the risks, there are a few things you will need to begin. First, a SLR camera is required. Secondly, obtain a tripod and camera mount. Lastly, you will need a lens for your camera. You can ask the photo expert at the shop to recommend a good lens for taking lightning photos. A 70-300mm lens works very well. Gives you a good distance and zoom to catch distant storms.

The easiest way to take photos is to set your SLR camera to manual mode and decrease the shutter speed to BULB mode. This allows you to keep the lens open until you release the button. You will have to adjust your FSTOP to what is ideal for your area. Some places will have more city lights than others and you will need to factor that in. If you do not, your photos will pick too much light up from the city and the photo will almost be like daylight. Once you have adjusted your camera, point in the direction of the storm or near it and press the button down. When you see a lightning strike in front of your camera, release the button and view the photo on the preview screen to see if you like it. Another neat trick that you can do is hold the button down until a few strikes have flashed in front of your camera. If done right, your camera will pick up all three strikes on one photo and it will look absolutely amazing. If you are unable to take photos of lightning, there should be classes you can take that explain how to properly use your SLR camera.Remember, this is a dangerous hobby and do not take a small storm for granted. They can still produce killer lightning strikes. Aside from that, go out and have fun taking photos of lightning, and be warned, you will become addicted.