Purple Lightning
This was my first time experimenting with shooting lightning.
This was my first time experimenting with shooting lightning.
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Aug, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
There was an awesome lightning storm brewing outside, so I stepped out onto my apartment patio and started shooting. I didn't want to miss the opportunity as this was the first time I ever shot lightning and had a great desire to.Time
We had friends over when the storm rolled in, so this must've been somewhere between 9pm and midnight. It was a couple years ago, so I don't recall the exact time. I want to say it was close to midnight.Lighting
I had only read about shooting lightning and had never had a chance to put it to practice until this storm rolled in. So it was somewhat experimental.Equipment
This was shot on a Canon Rebel XS with the 18-55mm kit lens on an old $30 tripod with a wired shutter release.Inspiration
I remember being a little kid and my mom just happened to capture a lightning bolt, hand held without doing a long exposure on a film camera and I loved the shot. I've always loved lightning and photos of lightning and always wanted to make my own. I think I got lucky with the purples that came out in this shot.Editing
It's been a couple years since I captured this, but I recall darkening the lower thirds to make it more of a silhouette and boosted the saturation a little to make the purple pop a little more.In my camera bag
My bag usually has my Canon Rebel XS, the 18-55 kit lens, a Canon 50mm 1.8, a Canon 75-300 f4 (that's my glass trinity as those are the only lenses I own). I also have support gear such as two Yongnuo YN-560 II speed lights, two Cowboy studio radio triggers for those speed lights, a macro extension tube, rechargeable batteries, backup memory cards, a wired and a wireless remote shutter release, lens buddies, a lens pen, and a lot of lens cloths.Feedback
I found to get lightning shots, it's as simple as do long (2-10 second) exposures on a tripod with a shutter release cable. You have to try and anticipate the lightning and you have to be patient. Most importantly, enjoy yourself, and the natural light show going on in front of you.
