Photographed at dusk and the remnants of pink sunlight can be seen behind the strike. Rian and I storm chased. We were surrounded by a ring of lightning and standing on a highpoint was quite nerve racking during a massive African Highveld thunderstorm.. This is the first time I have attempted lightning photography and I got some great shots and learnt by my mistakes. The one I (we) wanted to submit had too much wobble...so I must use my camera timer rather than shutter release. I am also now entering other work than my beloved birds in flight...
Thanks to RianBotes for location advice and showing me the best spots. Sorry I didn't submit the other one Rian; it was just too OOF. My title should have been "Dusk Strike"... maybe then the 1, 2, 3, 4 voters would have "gotten it". Would like to see who they are and check their entries...
Thanks Steve. Problem is I needed my CPL and like a chop I left it at home. 8 seconds might have blown out the lighting on the monument without it?
The tripod needs to be lowered so as not to bow as much and weighed down. I need to do mirror lock up and timer... Thanks for the tips. Next afternoon thunderstorm meet me/us there!
Not bad Harvey as a first try. Yes standing on one of the highest points around with a big thunder storm passing by is a thing to experience but not always standing next to a camera on a tripod making that metal contact point even higher... :-)
If you think that was bad - try being in the middle of a storm passing over the Drakensberg on the escarpment... lightning isn't your only worry then but being blown off the edge!
I'm sure Rian gave you some technical tips but I'm surprised to see ISO of 400. I would have gone ISO 100 and achieved a shutter duration 4 times longer than your 2 seconds = 8 seconds making it easier to capture more strikes.
You mention shake etc - perhaps your tripod couldn't handle the 8 second exposure in those winds? Did you try weighing it down with a heavy bag / rocks?
Timer or remote shutter release also helps.
Hey Harvey. Only now remembered the shot and must comment. Great effort at first go and glad I could be there with you in having fun doing this. Have to also enjoy comments from Amanda and Herman... We got them this time around... ;)
Great SA presence on DPC
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