Marvins World

PATIENCE! - I know it’s a boring job but you will love the results so be patient. Even if its badly raining or you are freezing just try to be patient.

LANDSCAPE! - try to have some parts of you photo with some landscape around 1/3 of your few. This makes the seen more dramatic when you catch a lightning coming down.

FOCUS! - stay focus on you camera and your attempt to catch a lightning strike. ignore that you get heavily wet, that cars are horning at you, people tell you to back off or your mobile is ringing. Ignore all that and stay focused on your idea

SLEEP! - don’t fall asleep. Happened to me too once I know it’s hard after a long hard working day sit for hours in the rain and try to catch some lightning strikes on your camera.

ISO! - think before setup your camera. Even if it is dark outside you don’t have to have an iso of 800 or higher because the energy and light is so bright when the lightning hits it will get as bright as daylight

LENS! - my recommendation for beginners is a small wide-angel lens btw. 16-22mm (24-36mm KB Format) cause this gives you a bigger few of your scene and a higher chance to catch a strike

SHUTTER! - If you don’t have a tripod and a remote cable release you should use a shutter speed of around 1/60-1/250 of a second cause this way you are able to get some kind of trail of the lightning. remember even if it is totally dark outside. You try to catch some lightning strikes and they are going to light your scene big time

AF! - don’t use Autofocus because you will miserably fail. What you should do is simple. Turn on manual focus and put your lens to infinite cause your focus will be the lightning and not a subject or a tree or anything.

DISPLAY! - Don’t waste time reviewing your shots on your display cause you can do this later and you might just miss this big lighting striking right into your point of view. Digital photos are free so don’t waste time on scene. Although if you only have one battery you save battery time too.

MEMORY! - try to have as many memory cards or storage options with you cause you don’t want to miss a shot while you are deleting failed shots or your card is full.

TRIGGER! - while waiting for a strike hold your cam steady and press your release half-way trough that you are ready for the photo. when you see a lightning coming just press your release and fire up until you think the strike is over and you wait for the next. Happened really often to me that I only fired once or twice but there were another 2-3 lightning strikes following.

CONTINUOUS! - If your camera has continuous shooting use it on the highest setting your camera does cause your chance will be bigger to catch a strike.

WATCH! - Watch the lightning travelling. This is important. After you have done it a few times you will realise that the lightning is trailing the same way as the clouds do and there will be position for about 10-20 minutes were there is more activity then on other locations so watch and count and follow your feelings.

ENERGY! - take water and maybe some drinks with caffeine in it to keep you awake but more importantly take something that gives you energy like a small mars bar or some other chocolate or even some fruits if you like.

AWAKE! - If you are up more then 10-12 hours already don’t go out and try to shoot lightning strikes because you will be to tired and to slow to release the shutter.

CLOTHES! - Prepare yourself properly. You don’t want to go into a storm without a cagoule don’t yaw?

PROTECT! - protect your equipment. Something I do is I take 2 big black plastic bags with me and pack my stuff in while I take my photos. This way everything stays dry.

SAFETY! - if you realise that the strikes are coming closer and closer you better of going home because safety comes first! You are no good dead to anybody.

FRIENDS! - try to go out with one or two friends and position yourself in a circle this way your chance is higher to catch some lightning

TRIPOD! - if you don’t have one try to get a cheap tripod. This is an essential piece of equipment everybody should have. If you put your cam on a tripod and use a remote release you are able to move and walk and you still can fire up your camera. You will stay focus longer because you don’t have to look trough your viewfinder.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Tags: tips, tricks, tutorial, howto, photo, photograph, lightning, strike, blitz, donner, wetter, weather, einschlag