lightning sensor - Slightly OT
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Posts: 46,084
I generally use Fuji Velivia (ISO 50) with an aperature of F16 or F22
depending on how active the lightning is. The more you photograph lightning
the better your feel for it. If you have access to a light meter ( or have
a friend that has one)...set if for multiple flash exposure then see what
the cumulative exposure os after a few strikes. I think you will be quite
surprised.
The reason for being able to use small aperatures with such a slow film
speed is that the lightning (the light from it) is as bright as daylight.
The larger the aperature the more exposure of surrounding area per strike.
The smaller the less. You must remember that the light from the strikes is
cumulative. It is not very difficult to overexpose film when attempting to
photograph multiple strikes.
To ensure that my response remains at least a bit on topic...I'll add that
I'm going to seriously look at the lightning detector links people have
posted to the list. I haven't figures out quite yet how to integrate it
directly with the actual photography, but the gadget will certainly come in
handy telling me when periods of activity are the highest.
Rus
Original Message
From: jeff grady [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=bZfu31N4zq8vEf3Odz6mkdCEMvm8e7Q92Bd_NymMk62oFC80rF5PRJ65isPxzZ9JN7PAs47SUWjGF2xy]jlgrady@a...[/url
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:14 PM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
A storm blew up a few weeks ago, just a day or so after I received a Canon
Digital Rebel as a birthday gift. This camera has electronic shutter
release; film speeds of 100-1600 ASA and can take 4 hi-res (6 mega pixel
images) per second.
I was able to get several lightening strikes on "film" by setting the
exposure to 10 seconds, 15 seconds and 30 seconds at various film speeds. To
the naked eye, the sky itself was not visible until a lightening strike, but
the sky and surrounding trees were very visible in the images the camera
captured.
Jeff
Original Message
From: Falcon Wireless Tech Support - KF4HAZ
[noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=E_89KzlUs2kOf7g__EWW7ICdKoJ0hRDirkyyH9_iNwG44z22iY0ohlhMALXR1erJl85kP3e1_LFNKcAXmknixcW0IzmM]techsupport@f...[/url
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:54 AM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
With Single Lens Reflex film cameras there is an attachment point for a
cable release, it is fairly simple to connect a solenoid to the cable to
make an electrically triggered mechanical shutter release. However, the best
method of getting lightning shots by night has been proven to be: Use a slow
speed film such as 25 speed tech pan for black&white or ektar 25 for color.
Open the shutter for a few minutes, if a lightning strike occurs close the
shutter, advance film, re-open shutter. If no strike after a few minutes,
close shutter and advance film, then re-open shutter. Repeat this process
until you are out of film or the storm has passed.
Digital cameras just plain do not work well for this, but if you must try to
catch a lightning strike digitally, the best method would probably be to use
a camera capable of digital video, then you could go back and select the
frame that looked best.
$.02 - KF4HAZ - Lonnie
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depending on how active the lightning is. The more you photograph lightning
the better your feel for it. If you have access to a light meter ( or have
a friend that has one)...set if for multiple flash exposure then see what
the cumulative exposure os after a few strikes. I think you will be quite
surprised.
The reason for being able to use small aperatures with such a slow film
speed is that the lightning (the light from it) is as bright as daylight.
The larger the aperature the more exposure of surrounding area per strike.
The smaller the less. You must remember that the light from the strikes is
cumulative. It is not very difficult to overexpose film when attempting to
photograph multiple strikes.
To ensure that my response remains at least a bit on topic...I'll add that
I'm going to seriously look at the lightning detector links people have
posted to the list. I haven't figures out quite yet how to integrate it
directly with the actual photography, but the gadget will certainly come in
handy telling me when periods of activity are the highest.
Rus
Original Message
From: jeff grady [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=bZfu31N4zq8vEf3Odz6mkdCEMvm8e7Q92Bd_NymMk62oFC80rF5PRJ65isPxzZ9JN7PAs47SUWjGF2xy]jlgrady@a...[/url
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:14 PM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
A storm blew up a few weeks ago, just a day or so after I received a Canon
Digital Rebel as a birthday gift. This camera has electronic shutter
release; film speeds of 100-1600 ASA and can take 4 hi-res (6 mega pixel
images) per second.
I was able to get several lightening strikes on "film" by setting the
exposure to 10 seconds, 15 seconds and 30 seconds at various film speeds. To
the naked eye, the sky itself was not visible until a lightening strike, but
the sky and surrounding trees were very visible in the images the camera
captured.
Jeff
Original Message
From: Falcon Wireless Tech Support - KF4HAZ
[noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=E_89KzlUs2kOf7g__EWW7ICdKoJ0hRDirkyyH9_iNwG44z22iY0ohlhMALXR1erJl85kP3e1_LFNKcAXmknixcW0IzmM]techsupport@f...[/url
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 9:54 AM
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] lightning sensor
With Single Lens Reflex film cameras there is an attachment point for a
cable release, it is fairly simple to connect a solenoid to the cable to
make an electrically triggered mechanical shutter release. However, the best
method of getting lightning shots by night has been proven to be: Use a slow
speed film such as 25 speed tech pan for black&white or ektar 25 for color.
Open the shutter for a few minutes, if a lightning strike occurs close the
shutter, advance film, re-open shutter. If no strike after a few minutes,
close shutter and advance film, then re-open shutter. Repeat this process
until you are out of film or the storm has passed.
Digital cameras just plain do not work well for this, but if you must try to
catch a lightning strike digitally, the best method would probably be to use
a camera capable of digital video, then you could go back and select the
frame that looked best.
$.02 - KF4HAZ - Lonnie
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basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
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