Last Nights Storm

Nauti Buoy · 27 July 2006, 08:48

Some of the pics I took last night from our balcony, have made them smaller, hope not too small.

Shaggy · 27 July 2006, 09:08

Great pics we were supposed to have a flash or two down ere but didnt see or hear any thing

Shaggy

Nos4r2 · 27 July 2006, 09:42

I think we could see that storm from up here. Gorgeous pics!

hannah · 27 July 2006, 10:24

Hmm i wondered why there was alot of turbulance coming home on the plane lol

Lostboy · 27 July 2006, 10:38

It was awesome, we were sat outside on our patio (about 5 miles from Nauti Boy) and had the full lightning and thunder show but with NO RAIN!!! Superb!!

Nos4r2 · 27 July 2006, 10:42

We couldn't actually see much but the clouds lighting up rather spectacularly on the distant horizon.

Nauti Buoy · 27 July 2006, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lostboy

It was awesome, we were sat outside on our patio (about 5 miles from Nauti Boy) and had the full lightning and thunder show but with NO RAIN!!! Superb!!

It was quite weird in a way, all the Sunsail Yachts are moored just out the front of our place on the outer waiting pontoon, normally when a breeze gets up you don't know they are there, but last night when the breeze got up the lines up the mast were clanging away, lovely sound just could not make out why last night and not the other nights

slimtim · 27 July 2006, 11:06

perhaps the most unbelievable thing i've ever seen. I was on the end of yarmouth pier doign a bit of fishing (carbon rods in thunderstorm, oh dear). Saw the storm approaching over the channel until it got right overhead. Then it tipped it down so we ran around outside watching the lightning with pints in our hands that filled up with water rather quickly!

These pics were taking by my mate mike osborne. I didn't have my camera with me

moral of the story, always take camera to pub!

The pic of the huge flash sent yarmouth into darkness for about 10 seconds.

Lostboy · 27 July 2006, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

It was quite weird in a way, all the Sunsail Yachts are moored just out the front of our place on the outer waiting pontoon, normally when a breeze gets up you don't know they are there, but last night when the breeze got up the lines up the mast were clanging away, lovely sound just could not make out why last night and not the other nights

Clanging halyards, I love them. I'm a sailor that plays with ribs and have spent years with clanging rigging, it has such a soporific affect on me, so much so that for a while I became known (on boats) as the Martini Sleeper, anytime, anyplace, anywhere!

Nauti Buoy · 27 July 2006, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimtim

perhaps the most unbelievable thing i've ever seen. I was on the end of yarmouth pier doign a bit of fishing (carbon rods in thunderstorm, oh dear). Saw the storm approaching over the channel until it got right overhead. Then it tipped it down so we ran around outside watching the lightning with pints in our hands that filled up with water rather quickly!

These pics were taking by my mate mike osborne. I didn't have my camera with me

moral of the story, always take camera to pub!

The pic of the huge flash sent yarmouth into darkness for about 10 seconds.

Those are stunning pics mate, love the second one in.

benc · 27 July 2006, 11:52

Wow, they are amazing pictures!

What cameras are you guys using?

I tried taking some pictures last night with my Canon 350D but they all came out too bright. I tried different modes on the camera, but I have no idea what settings I should use

I need to get around to learning more about the camera and what settings should be used and when, but I just bought a new house, and that clubbed with the lovely weather we've been having in the south I haven't "had time" (been lazy) to read up on it

slimtim · 27 July 2006, 12:48

those were taken on a Nikon D100 (by mike not me!). He was rolling off 2-3 second exposures at iso 400 and probably about f8 or something. Lightning is tricky though. If you get one a bit further away it might come out a bit dark, but if you get one real close like pic no. 2, it'll burn out too much.

Nauti Buoy · 27 July 2006, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimtim

those were taken on a Nikon D100 (by mike not me!). He was rolling off 2-3 second exposures at iso 400 and probably about f8 or something. Lightning is tricky though. If you get one a bit further away it might come out a bit dark, but if you get one real close like pic no. 2, it'll burn out too much.

Tim,

Is it just a reflex action/luck of the draw that he got such good pics, or did he just keep clicking away then dump a whole load of pics of the night? I spent a long time waiting then got a bolt of lightning then by the time I had pressed the button to take the pic the bolt of lightning had almost gone.

codprawn · 27 July 2006, 13:09

Great photos.

A great way of capturing lightning is to set the camera up on a tripod - use a pretty wide aperture and set a long shutter speed - say 10 - 30 secs. Or use the B setting and a cable release. this locks the shutter open for as long as you want. Use a slow film or ISO setting on a digi camera - say 50 or 100.

Simon666 · 27 July 2006, 15:24

Jeez
If i were standing on a steel pier holding a carbon fishing rod and i saw lightening like that i would have dived over the edge!!!

slimtim · 27 July 2006, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon666

Jeez
If i were standing on a steel pier holding a carbon fishing rod and i saw lightening like that i would have dived over the edge!!!

yarmouth is the only all wooden pier left in the uk

Its impossible to capture lightning by reflex...just take loads one after the other again and again and you will get some eventually! Too long a shutter speed will result in a blown out image as the lightning will just overwealm it.

codprawn · 27 July 2006, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimtim

yarmouth is the only all wooden pier left in the uk

Its impossible to capture lightning by reflex...just take loads one after the other again and again and you will get some eventually! Too long a shutter speed will result in a blown out image as the lightning will just overwealm it.

The lightning won't overwhelm it. I have taken hundreds of photos with the shutter held open for up to 40 secs. It is also a great trick for fireworks and is essential for astrophotography. It is also great for cave photos. You just locl the shutter open and fire the flash by hand all over the place!!!

http://www.lightningphotography.com/tips.html

slimtim · 27 July 2006, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The lightning won't overwhelm it.

Look what happened to photo number two...

Scary Des · 27 July 2006, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

....I have taken hundreds of photos with the shutter held open for up to 40 secs.

Of what

Nightvision goggles and long, night time exposures

What are you up to

codprawn · 27 July 2006, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimtim

Look what happened to photo number two...

That is the problem with ccds I suppose - also I did say ISO 50 - not 400.