How to Photograph Lightning - Tutorial & Pro Tips
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- Опубліковано 5 гру 2017
- How to take beautiful pictures of lightning and the best cameras for lightning photography and video. Camera settings and tips... To license video contact hankschyma@yahoo.com
TRIPOD
Use a tripod so that you can take long exposures without motion blur. The heavier the tripod, the better. Instead of pushing the shutter button on your camera body, use a cable release. That way you won’t risk moving the camera with your big clumsy finger.
FOCUS TIP
Set your camera on manual focus and focus on infinity. CAREFUL! Many camera lenses focus beyond infinity so I always have to nudge my focus back a hair. Focus on a distant light to make sure you’re in perfect focus.
BEST CAMERA SETTINGS
ISO
Start with your ISO set at 100.
APERTURE / F-stop
Start off in the middle around F8.
If lightning is striking far away, and shows up too dim, open your f-stop more to f5.6 - f2 until all the branches are nice and bright. If you have too much light, close your f-stop to f11 - f22. If your f-stop is open all the way and the lighting branches still are not showing up well, then bump up your ISO to 200, 300, 400 etc.
EXPOSURE
When it’s finally dark enough, start taking long exposures… 1 second - 10 seconds or more depending on how much ambient light there is. My favorite time to shoot lightning is at sunset. Because of all the existing light, you can only leave your shutter open a second or two. Once it’s pitch black, you can leave your shutter open for 10, 20, 30 seconds or more.
BEST CAMERAS FOR LIGHTNING PHOTOGRAPHY
The best cameras for lightning photography are the ones with manual settings options. Most digital DSLR cameras or mirrorless cameras have these options. Nikon, Cannon, Sony, Fuji, etc. all work great.
HOW TO TAKE PICTURES OF LIGHTNING WITH A PHONE
The best way to take photos of lightning with a phone camera is to just shoot video and then take a screen grab of a good frame. You might get lucky trying to take a photo with burst mode or by simply taking a normal photo, but the cards are stacked against you.
ROLLING SHUTTER vs GLOBAL SHUTTER
Most video cameras nowadays are equipped with a rolling shutter. that means the frames you are capturing are recorded through a scanning process that rolls down the sensor. Though this process occurs really fast, lightning is much faster. The result is often annoying blocky rectangles called partial exposures.
Most negative lightning strikes I capture on video are ruined with partial exposures. Positive lightning channels and anvil crawler lightning tend to exist longer, thus are captured some-what better by rolling shutters. While shooting video of lightning with a rolling shutter, I usually set the shutter speed at 30, the frame rate at 30 and cross my fingers.
Another option is to invest in a camera with a global shutter. A global shutter scans a snapshot of the entire scene all at once. So, no partial exposures. The catch is you'll likely spend thousands of dollars at least on a good HD or 4K camera and the global shutter technology is not one for low light sensitivity.
Music:
"Won't Pray Adagio" by Southern Backtones
guitar score by Hank Schyma
"Ode to Joy" performed by Hank Schyma
** FREE Pecos Hank 2018 calendar poster file **
You can shrink it down and print it on your home printer, or have a shop print the full 24x16. You can also use it as your desktop background.
I’d love to know what country or state this poster is hanging up in so let me know in the comments.
Merry Christmas from Texas!
Download link:
www.dropbox.com/s/ns8hp7ln8bd... - Навчання та стиль
"The greatest strikes happen in that short time between exposures." Whew, I thought Odin just liked screwing with me specifically, glad I'm not alone.
No, you are not alone. I feel exactly the same way
Yup, happens all the time
Yep. Buy 2 camaras :D
You mean thor
add me to the club
Last time in Georgia (the country) I was timelapsing the whole thing... 5 big strikes in a row, ALL of them between exposures.
A free tornado calendar from my favorite storm chaser, Best, Christmas, Gift, EVER!
Found this video about a month ago as I was (unintentionally) sitting in a massive thunder storm trying to get a good shot, and failing. You explained everything wonderfully and I was able to get my first lightning photos so thank you!
I get so sad when the videos end....could watch Pecos Hank all day.
I know! I could watch a feature length documentary by this guy.
You are seriously the best UA-camr! ❤
AGREED!
Yes he is.
Agreed
Agreed
All the time I've spent doing photography, this is the best explanation I've seen for how to do a slow shutter shot. Great job!
Your comedic relief is perfect in your videos. So informative but you always find a way to make me laugh or smile.
Pecos Hank, I would just like to take a brief moment to thank you for the great content. I have been subscribed to your channel since I discovered it a few months ago while I researching a particular tornado. Your channel has since become one of my favorite subscriptions. It has been a mix of a few good laughs, tones of new knowledge learned, and amazing videos and photos of the indescribable beauty and awe that is mother nature's wraith and majesty.
Love hearing that! Thanks for taking the time to chime in Thorin.
Seconded for exactly the same reasons.
thirded for precisely the aforementioned sentiments.
"As you get more experience, you'll see lightning tends to strike in the short time between two exposures"
All. The Time.
The pros catch that one ;)
Oh yes yes yes but why why does it chose that time ahhh
Dude... nailed it. Informative + hilarious 🔥 You're sincerity translates well to your production value. This was sick!
Just found the calendar! My son (15) turned me on to your channel. Love the storms, love the snakes, love the humor. I'm going to get the calendar printed off for him. Thanks for all the mind-numbing boardum you have to go through to get the good stuff.
Tell him I said howdy. Cheers Jerry.
By far the best explanation of shooting lightning I’ve ever watched!!!! Great photos. I learned a lot.
Awesome video ... Thanks for the tips and info !!! Have a great trip and Merry Everyone.
Came across your videos as far back as 2013. You are one of just a very select few I take inspiration from to get into landscape and storm photography. Just picked up a Nikon D3200 and beginning to learn. Not doing anything but learning and will eventually work via "trial and error."
Without a doubt one of my favorite channels on UA-cam. Been watching all the videos that come through my recommendations and this one finally hooked me as a subscriber.
you have a really natural and easy way of explaining every thing that a photo snob would make so complicated no one would understand, good stuff
Daily dose of hank was well timed. Great video.
Sweet.... tutorials from Hank !!! More please !!!
As always, great video! Thanks, Hank.
I loved this video. The energy. The information. Everything.
Interesting, informative, and beautiful photos!
I just don’t understand it Hank. Your followers are so loyal and gracious of your incredible content. How, after your weather channel appearances and your (unbeknownst to me until recently) early stuff on local news channels, do you not have millions of subscribers. I’m going to start sharing your gems, including this vid, on FB and hope that some of my friends’ list become subs to your channel. You warrant the recognition we Pecks Hank subs think you deserve....so people, if you feel the same way let’s get this amazing spirit and amazing person’s content to a wider audience!...whereas the merch hank?!? I’m really officially ready to by a shirt or a sticker or something, you’re amazing!
I love thunderstorms since I'm a kid.
I bought a 2nd hand Sony Alpha A7s camera and 2 lenses!
The place where I'm living, you have thunderstorms twice a year if you're lucky. So I always checking the forecast and following the storms on the lighting maps.
Last night I went out and captured my first few 'blue cobwebs' in my life.
I only have a bicycle so I was riding with a huge backpack through the night around 1am to find a great spot.
I had a massive grin on my face on my way home and in my bed while I was falling asleep like 4 am even if I had to go to work at 6:30 am.
Thank you brother for sharing your pure and simple explanation in this video.
Some people says it's like fishing.... well it's way more exciting than that.
Wish you all the best!
Same.
YEEEAAAAAASSSSS! THAAANK UUUU HAAAAANK! best xmas present EVERRRRR!
Hey Hank! Just a suggestion for the next tornado season, could you please also upload the whole chases (or most of the chase)? I am sure many, many people would dig watching a good long video full of Pecos Hank awesomeness!
I might hook you up with a loooooooong chaaaaaaaaaaaase. Those usually put people to sleep. but not the cool people
Please do!!!! I love watching full chase videos, and I can never get enough of yours... so a full Pecos Hank chase? YES PLEASE!
Pecos Hank PLEASEEEE! As others have stated, your followers would eat this up!
I'd love that too!
I'd be interested too!
Thanks for this; If I ever do this for a hobby, I'll have this video for backup!!!!!
:D
Great videos Hank! You're a natural at explaining things. From camera setting to super-cell development. Two thumbs up!
thx hank! please have a safe trip. look forward to this spring and upcoming vids from you
Hank, Hands down, you, you are Just amazing, your the one UA-camr that doesn't charge a outrageously high price, Or any price for that matter for your merchandise, lol!!!!! Well, I know what my family's getting for Christmas this year!!!
Hook em up Meghan. :D
YASSSSSSSSS
0:56 Hilarious!😅 Great video! I don't know how you learned all this, but you sure are a master!
The fact you did this... wow. You're just an amazing person and you really care about your work and want others to know whats up. Kudos bro.
Happy travels and Happy holidays! Thanks for another great vid!
Good video
Thank you again for your uploads. Just remember: You still have a free beer (or 6) waiting on you in northeast Houston.
Maybe you could bring that free beer to the Continental Club in midtown on December 6?
Tonight?
Let me rephrase that: Name the place with a little more heads up (provided i am not on call with work), Consider the beers yours. Ive been to the Continental Club once before, its a pretty cool place.
Just when I thought a Pecos Hank video couldn't get any better, you go and drop some pro tips and a free calendar! You are awesome! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
I just love watching your videos and photos, amazing photography!
Nice video bro I hope tornado season comes and hope u get large tornadoes :D
6:16 This is what I was just asking. The only camera I'm able to capture good lightning on is my old mini DV cassette camcorder
Thank you so much for the free calendar. Really looking forward to your Japan video and what you're gonna catch in the new year. Keep up the amazing work.
Amazing tutorial! Love your gentle wit and jovial humor. Especially love your photos and videos!!! Thank you so much for sharing your special gift.
0:14 I had paused the video right as he says "lemons" and heard instead "women" and was more than a little shocked at the words that followed...
orion khan I had to listen to that twice as well :)
2nd
Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of these valuable tips. Keep on shooting!
this is probably the most effective information video ive ever seen on youtube. cheers for this
Happy holidays Pecks Hank, thanks so much for the gift 🎁! Safe travels in Japan and Thailand!
Always good to hear from you Hank. Keep on keepin
Love taking photos of lightning, and now with this awesome tutorial my photos will be even better, thank you so much 👍😉
Great advice, great demonstration shots, AND hilarious delivery? Instant subscription 👍👍
I always love your weather videos!
Love love love the video. Extremely informative, well produced, amazing shots, very entertaining. Thank you so much!
I love the humor! Thank you, all great advice start to finish in a compact video. Pretty cool friend!
Awesome as always! Happy Holidays to you and yours Hank.
Great video. I loved your upbeat style. Keep making them.
I think that’s the best video I’ve ever watched! Thank you for the laughs and tips!
One of the best UA-cam videos I have seen ever! Solid information and entertains, without the BS. Thanks from an old Irishman!! 🍀
Dude, you're the best out there. I haven't seen anyone else record storms like you do.
Just stumbled across this video and your channel, now a new subscriber! Nice job, with the right amount of technical info combined with humor to make it enjoyable to watch. Looking forward to watching some of your others videos. Thanks
Awesome work as always Hank!!! You're the best on UA-cam!!!
I've seen so many of your videos a million times, but somehow missed this one, and I'm glad it came up on my recommended today!!! I've been wanting to get into photographing lightning with my DSLR, but had no idea how to change my settings to capture it. Especially since I'm so new at photography! Thank you SO much for uploading this!!!
Same
awesome video hank... i love ur lightning videos and happy holidays to you too hank
I usually have my DSLR with me at work and was lucky enough one day some severe storms were rolling in as we got out of work, so I camped on the top of the parking garage and was able to capture a few strikes with the video method you used here. Extremely helpful video!
This is the video that got me into the channel!! One of the best in yt, in fact
Thanks Hank, we really needed this.
Great video and calendar! Thank you. Merry Christmas and safe travels. 😀
I love your videos and photos very much! Thank you, Hank!
You sir a genuinely fun! Enjoy your trip!
Merry Christmas Pecos Hank your videos are always awesome and informative!
Your so awesome man! I love your Spirit and the joy it brings you chasing storms.it really shows.
Great presentation. Your offbeat humour , delivery and expertise are inspiring! Thank you.
Well done Hank thanks for the tips.
I love technical videos like this. I learned a lot in the past ten minutes which is a common thing on your channel :) 👍
Hank you're my favorite channel now. Glad I found ya. Thanks for sharing your stuff
Simply brilliant! And what great instructions!
You are an awesome teacher! Can't forget what I learnt today!
Thanks for sharing, those were some awesome shots !
Very nice Pecos Hank. I like the technical stuff and your approach to it. And you have humor :-) And your photos of storms and lightnings are absolutely stunning. I am very much inspired.
Highlarious...and illuminatin’!
Calendar is hanging up on my wall in Southwestern Ontario Canada!Thank you so much. We love your videos in our home. We all learn so much from the spectacular footage.
Love your shots of lightning
Great explanation for beginners and stunning picture you take dude !
Ty for being one of the best storm channels out here on YT!!! Have fun in Japan and Thailand 😀 and good luck on the King Cobra hunt!
So entertaining and informative! Love it!!
Great info and mind blowing captures of storms! Subscribed.
its now 2021 and this video is still filled with great useful info. WELL DONE!!
Haha that was such a refreshing take on photography vlogs! Love it Pecos, can't believe I haven't come across your channel before.
Amazing content as always! I never get any good storms where I live so just got to keep living vicariously through you.
IM liking your tutorials like this! thanks!
Just found this video as I was looking for tutorials on lightning strike photography. Funny and informative! love it. 💧⚡️ 👏🏼
An excellent, informative and entertaining video, thank you so much for posting. Thoroughly entertaining and educational.
brilliant hank ... love your vids they are ace..
Thanks for the present, Happy travels.. and holidays to you sir..
Great pictures and instruction.
Well done!
Yo!!! This was fantastic and you were both informative and entertaining, especially being a n00b behind the lens and with the same sense of humor. Thank you!
This is one of the best tutorials I've ever seen. Great work!
Happy Holidays Hank - great video as always :)
This is such a nice way to say thanks to your fans ! The calander is so cool I definitely have to get one printed out here in Ireland !
Dude, you're just awesome! Thanks for sharing the vid and your calendar.
Absolutely awesome, usefully, and motivating video.
I saw this video a year ago which inspired me. Just caught my first lightning storm and I’m hooked!!
The most entertaining video tutorial I have witnessed