How to Take Photos of Lightning
Nothing is quite as breathtaking as a flash of lightning streaking across the sky, and photographers often attempt to capture this natural phenomenon. While some may think lightning occurs too quickly to get on camera, lightning photographs can be striking. Switching some settings on your camera and patience is all that is needed.
Instructions
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Set the camera's focus to infinity. As lightning occurs very quickly, setting the camera's focus to infinity prevents the camera from wasting precious seconds attempting to focus.
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Set the f/stop to f/8. The f/stop regulates how much light is filtered into the camera; at a lower f/stop, the lightning will appear thicker in the picture while at a higher f/stop, the lightning will appear thinner. One thing to remember is that the lower numbers will let in more light.
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Set the shutter speed. A lower shutter speed lets in as many repeats of the lightning bolt as possible; a high shutter speed may not capture the lightning bolt. A shutter speed of B is often sufficient.
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Take the picture. Once all settings are set on the camera, the only thing to do is wait for the lightning.
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Tips & Warnings
Using a tripod can produce steady pictures that can't always be achieve when holding a camera.
Non-digital cameras often take better photos of lightning than digital cameras.
Being outside during a lightning storm, even at what is perceived a safe distance, can lead to an increased risk of being hit by lightning.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
