DSC_5222-3background (1)
Jul, 2015Views
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ge1701
October 29, 2015
Great shot!! This my favorite style of photograhy to shoot. Then it is old buildings.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken near my home in Columbia, Missouri. The storm was rolling in and I knew it would be a good show.Time
This was taken during the evening, just after dark. I took several shots, waiting and hoping for a really good strike for an hour or so.Lighting
I avoided city lights and buildings, even though I was in town at the time. I chose a view facing away from it all. I wanting the lightening to be the focus.Equipment
I used a Nikon D610 camera. My lens was an AF-S 70-300 zoom lens. I had a tripod and a wireless remote to keep the shot steady. As the storm progressed, I had to hold down the tripod to keep it from blowing over in the wind.Inspiration
I was settled in for the night, but my husband saw the storm and encouraged me to go out and catch a shot. I’ve always been fascinated by the weather and I used to regularly shoot lightening. He went with me this time, and even held the umbrella for me when it started to rain. I’m glad we were rewarded for the trip out.Editing
I processed in Lightroom and Photoshop, mostly Lightroom. The lightening was bright enough to really light everything up and alter the color of the scene. I darkened the background and increased contrast and clarity to really make the bolts crackle.In my camera bag
I carry a couple Nikon bodies, a zoom lens, and a macro lens. A tripod is a must for almost all my photography. I add a wireless remote, a camranger, and an ipad for night photography. Extra batteries and cards are a must for this type of shot.Feedback
Find a place far enough away from the storm that the storm is all in one direction. In this case the storm was almost all NE of my location. That means all the lightening is happening in one area, and you are more likely to get a shot. It also means you aren't trying to take a photo from the heart of a thunderstorm. Set up your gear before dark, if possible, and point it in the direction of a good background. Be patient. You may wait for an hour before you get the shot you want. Practice while you wait, getting all the settings right on your camera. You may only get one shot, so everything has to be ready.
