DonArsenault
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was taken just a few blocks from my home in the small city of Camrose, Alberta, Canada. I am fascinated with lightning photography and try to spend any time I can trying to capture dramatic images of this typeTime
This image has been one of my popular shots on Viewbug and although lightning images are possible at any time of the day, the night provides more drama and makes it easier to obtain a good shot. This particular image was made at 10:50 PM on June 6, 2016. That summer produced many storms in the area and this was just one of the many nights where I was able to get out and capture the action.Lighting
Mother nature takes care of the lighting for this type of shot. Really you are at her mercy. I have found that shooting in locations away from ambient lighting makes things easier, however, having another subject, such as a house, water or street lights really adds to the shot.Equipment
To obtain this photograph, I used a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, a Canon ef24-105 f4L IS lens @ 55mm, a tripod of course and a new piece of equipment I purchased just for lightning photography... a Lightning Trigger. This device is designed to trip the shutter when lightning is present. Although I find this device very helpful with daytime shots, that year the storms were so intense that one could have easily captured the moment using a long exposure setting.Inspiration
I enjoy capturing shots of the weather, landscapes and the aurora borealis. Lightning photography seemed like something new and challenging. Prior to getting a Lightning Trigger, daytime photography of the storms was done basically though trial and error. More error than success.Editing
There was a minor amount of post processing conducted on this shot. I increased the clarity to make the lightning stand out more, bumped up the exposure slightly and adjusted the white balance a bit.In my camera bag
My camera bag is full of Canon gear. My primary camera is now a Canon EOS 5D Mark III, with an EOS 7D as back up. I have a wide array of L series lenses, including aCanon ef24-70L F2.8 II, a Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS II, a Canon 85mm f1.2L II. I also have an older 70-300 mm f4. In addition to the camera gear I have the Lightning Trigger, batteries, a remote trigger, lens clothes, a flash and the owner's manuals for my equipment.Feedback
The biggest tip I can give to someone who wants to capture images such as this is to STAY SAFE. I always ensure that I am a safe distance from the storm and the first time I feel that I am not, I shut down the shoot. There have been numerous times where things were just too intense to continue. I also find it beneficial to set your lens to focus manually and set it to infinity. If you are releasing the shutter manually, a shutter release is a must. You will need a tripod and be sure to have a lens hood on. The lens hood will help prevent the rain from blurring your photo. I have found that each shoot is different in regards to settings, but generally I will stay in the f4 range. This will allow your shutter to remain open a bit longer. If the storm is really intense, I found that setting my camera to "bulb" and opening up the shutter has produced multiple lightning strikes in one image. Be careful when doing this as you may introduce more ambient light than is desirable. Finally, have patience. I have spent far more time not being able to capture lightning shots than being successful at it, but, when you get "that shot", it is extremely rewarding.