Summer Storm, a photo from Florida, South

Photographer's Note

Summer storms start early in Central Florida, and I have always liked sitting outside and watching the huge cloud formations roll across the sky, carrying lots of lightning, kind of like a heavenly fireworks show. Sometimes you can see a flash almost every second, though some of the flashes are very far away, and only appear as "heat lightning" (which means you can see them but can't hear them, because the sound gets absorbed on the way to you). I stood outside for quite a while with my digital camera to see if I might catch a lightning bolt.

So, is it possible to catch lightning with a smaller, lesser quality digital camera? This is the result. I set the automatic exposures as long as I could figure out how: the "WB" was set to lightbulb, which gave the photo a blue cast, which I then corrected in post work. I had set the brightness level to -0.9 on this camera, so I increased the brightness level in contrast in post work. Other than that, I only sharpened this photo, so you could see what could be accomplished.

Please post comments and critiques - I'd love to hear more about lightning photos...

(See also my Summer Storm 2 photo, and my Colorful Storm photo, for more of my experimenting with storm photos and this little camera.)

willsmom, Liora, guyfortier, RobBrown, Rinie_Hoff, kikvel, AndrewGarn, Mrg, mortijo, rtome ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

brodie (0) 2004-06-26 9:41

I don't know much about lightning photos so can't offer too much critique there, but what would be more interesting I think is to capture some lightning bolts at dusk which would add a bit more color and background to the picture. Thanks for the description!

Didi (61589) 2004-06-26 10:44

Pas mal !
Votre image est trop compressée en format JPEG, 67 KO, vous pouvez sauvegarder jusqu'à 200 KO pour une méilleure définition.
L'idéal, c'est de poser la caméra sur un trépied et de paramétrer à f/11 avec une longue pause, de diriger la caméra vers une zone où il y a beaucoup d'éclairs.

Not bad!
Your picture is compressed too much in format JPEG, 67 KB, you can save up to 200 KB for a best definition.
The ideal, it is to put the camera on a tripod and to parameterize with f/11 with a long pause, then direct the camera towards a zone where there are many flashes.

Phtographier pas plus de deux éclairs sinon la photo sera surexposée.
Voir WS

[2] +

jurgen (2074) 2004-06-26 12:24

I've always wanted to do such pictures, though where I live never rains, so there are never lightings. I don't think that the best ones are only made at sunset or dusk, perhaps to combine 'heat lightning' (as you mention) with closer ones, or lightnings on an illuminated city by night. But always be careful with rain, a wet camera is surely a useless camera forever after.

Liora (1857) 2004-06-26 12:32

I really don't know all that much about lightnings photos, I just know this one is just fine. The power of the lightning is conveyed beautifully, be it the small lightning it was. Minor technical comments - did workshop.

[workshop] [compare] +

RobBrown (1797) 2004-06-26 16:15

Looks good to me very nice and clear, the best bit is the very clear set of note that come with it making it possible for others to try their own hands. Thank you.

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2004-06-26 17:58 [Comment]

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kikvel (4784) 2004-06-26 18:42

Nice results!!! I always wanted to get a neat shot of a strike! :( I never suceeded! Very nice you did! Congratulations.

mdchachi (1612) 2004-06-26 22:31

Good job, especially for a "lesser quality" camera and especially if you didn't use a tripod. I added this to the lightning theme.

Besides getting a sharp, well-exposed image the key to getting really good lightning photos is to have other elements in the shot (otherwise you just get a streak of light across the sky which can be interesting but is rarely great). In this case, the trees and clouds in the foreground add an additional element interest this shot.

waskahegan (0) 2004-06-28 21:42

Yes an impressive shot, and a lucky one, the effect is electrifying. The lightning has a powerful effect.

AndrewGarn (10) 2004-07-03 15:54

Good capture you have made here with your camera. I have wanted to take some "extreme" weather photos but the weather around here is not strong enough for dramatic photos. This is good in one respect, but I don't get a photo. Just Have to try on holiday. Great Capture

Mrg (825) 2004-09-02 12:12

A strange photo Michelle with all that black area...but i like it. Most of all i think it´s very orinial your point of view of a lightning.

sohrab (7439) 2005-02-14 15:30

naaaaaaaaaaaah i odnt like this one as much as the other one.
it's not just becuase the other one was more colourful
but you had so much more in the other photograph than just the lightning bolt .
the other one we could see that it was taking place right where you were. the addition of the contect in the form of those houses was really nice.
this is like just taking a photograph of a cloud , ok maybe an interesting cloud :)
but i'd rather have the cloud ( or the bolt in this case) as the main subject in a much more elaborate composition. excuse me if im not able to explain myself. it's 2 in the morning here. yesterday i slept at 5 in the morning, so my head is a little blank at the moment
take care and gnite :)

jb06 (150) 2006-06-14 10:24