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I can think of one member who probably knows the answer to this question. Seeing, however, that he is apparently convinced that I'm part of an anti-American, anti-freedom conspiracy of sorts, I don't expect his feedback.
Anydangway, for the longest time I've been wondering what settings are best for using my DSLR camera to take photos of lightning. Any tips?
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potthole Wrote:I can think of one member who probably knows the answer to this question. Seeing, however, that he is apparently convinced that I'm part of an anti-American, anti-freedom conspiracy of sorts, I don't expect his feedback.
Anydangway, for the longest time I've been wondering what settings are best for using my DSLR camera to take photos of lightning. Any tips?
Myeh water under the bridge. I've said my piece on that other topic.
I haven't tried lightning myself, but one of the books I have say that you need to do it on your tri pod with the shutter set to the B or Bulb setting, and your ISO at it's lowest setting and either a cable release or remote shutter release. And the rest is just timing. However since I havent actually tried this myself I might be missing something.
Wowie Groovie !
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I can't imagine the patience or the frustration involved in trying to photograph lightning.
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The frustration factor is what's really kept me from trying it, but man, when you get a good shot, a single good photo is worth the entire night trying.
You can buy a special thingamajig to auto fire your camera during a lightning flash. not sure exactly what it is or how it works though.
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The bulb setting is sort of what confuses me. Does that mean the shutter will go automatically with an intense flash of light?
I guess I could always just play around with settings, and learn for myself...
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potthole Wrote:The bulb setting is sort of what confuses me. Does that mean the shutter will go automatically with an intense flash of light?
I guess I could always just play around with settings, and learn for myself...
No, what the bulb setting is.... you manually open the shutter, then manually close it. It's up to you to decide how long the shutter stays open.
If I set my cam to Bulb, when I press the button the shutter opens and stays open, until I press it a second time.
Since the shutter is open for so long, the image will be susceptible to a lot of shake when you press it the second time to close the shutter, which is why you should use a cable release or remote, or the timer (but I don't think you can get a shot of lightning using the timer other than by pure luck)
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For me I've found that just playing with the camera for a day or 3 and then reading the manual is the best way for me to learn what everything does.
And even though you didn't ask there are 3 books I recommend highly.
Photography by Barbara London, now in it's 13th edition it's pretty much the standard photography text book.
And The Digital Photography Handbook volume 1 and 2 by
Scott Kelby. He breaks down everything into easy to read and understand bits, and it reads more like you and a buddy having a conversation rather than a highly technical manual.
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When I first looked at this thread I thought it said "pornography question"
Hey doc, do you know the address of that place?
Oh, you know, I do know the address. It's at the corner of go fuck yourself and buy a map!
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Queenie Wrote:When I first looked at this thread I thought it said "pornography question"
I think it's your subconscious telling you that you should start that thread.
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Titan ! Wrote:No, what the bulb setting is.... you manually open the shutter, then manually close it. It's up to you to decide how long the shutter stays open.
If I set my cam to Bulb, when I press the button the shutter opens and stays open, until I press it a second time.
Since the shutter is open for so long, the image will be susceptible to a lot of shake when you press it the second time to close the shutter, which is why you should use a cable release or remote, or the timer (but I don't think you can get a shot of lightning using the timer other than by pure luck)
OH! So that's what it is! I've, for the longest time, been confused as to what exactly it is. Now I know exactly what setting you're referring to. I'll have to have the tripod handy the next time we have a good lightning storm, and see what I might capture.
Thanks!
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potthole Wrote:Titan ! Wrote:No, what the bulb setting is.... you manually open the shutter, then manually close it. It's up to you to decide how long the shutter stays open.
If I set my cam to Bulb, when I press the button the shutter opens and stays open, until I press it a second time.
Since the shutter is open for so long, the image will be susceptible to a lot of shake when you press it the second time to close the shutter, which is why you should use a cable release or remote, or the timer (but I don't think you can get a shot of lightning using the timer other than by pure luck)
OH! So that's what it is! I've, for the longest time, been confused as to what exactly it is. Now I know exactly what setting you're referring to. I'll have to have the tripod handy the next time we have a good lightning storm, and see what I might capture.
Thanks!
If I weren't so lazy I'd look it up and figure out why it's called the "Bulb" setting, I _think_ it's because the older film cameras had a bulb that you would squeeze and then release to activate the shutter, but I'm probably wrong about that.
Also one more thing about the lightning, you want to try and shoot it as far away from any street lights and ambient lighting as possible, since the shutter is open so long, the more light polution there is, the more likely it will ruin the image.
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