Thematic Bad Weather Makes Good Pictures

atupdate · 08-07-2017, 11:24 AM - **8 Likes**

Not the best weather for these birds.

Tim

**Rondec** · 08-07-2017, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by mattt

I had hoped to capture some lightening, but I have no triggers. It was a very active thunderstorm. (15-30 @ 15mm)

Nice shot.

Have you ever tried using interval mode and just setting the camera to snap a bunch of images at short intervals? That's usually what I do when there is a thunderstorm coming and I want my best chance of catching lightning.

**mattt** · 08-07-2017, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by Rondec

Have you ever tried using interval mode and just setting the camera to snap a bunch of images at short intervals?

I have. Better luck with 6-10s exposures enabled by ND filters. Its just a lot of photos to cull for an uneventful storm.

**Rondec** · 08-07-2017, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by mattt

I have. Better luck with 6-10s exposures enabled by ND filters. Its just a lot of photos to cull for an uneventful storm.

True, but cheaper than a lightning trigger.

Makes me feel sorry for folks who are getting Sony A9s and are getting 20 fps. An awful lot of images to delete there.

**robgski** · 08-07-2017, 04:27 PM

I agree with long exposures and ND filters. The odds are better that lightning will strike if the shutter is open for 15 seconds, instead of hoping it will strike during a burst of 1/50 sec shots. Unfortunately, this year our storms have been the "grey skies and illuminated haze overhead " variety, not the "photogenic forks of lightening in the distance."

**dadipentak** · 08-07-2017, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by robgski

Unfortunately, this year our storms have been the "grey skies and illuminated haze overhead " variety, not the "photogenic forks of lightening in the distance."

Got that right.

**pepperberry farm** · 08-19-2017, 03:42 AM - **2 Likes**

two rounds of thunderstorms this past Wednesday...

in the afternoon:

and as evening was falling:

but I liked this shot with a hay bale:

**dadipentak** · 09-05-2017, 05:57 PM - **3 Likes**

This isn't really 'good', To get 'good' I'd have had to use a tripod instead of hand-holding at 1/5s and use K-1 & a fast prime. I regard it more as a sketch or 'proof of concept' for a more serious attempt.
[K5IIs & FA 20-35/4]

**ffking** · 09-10-2017, 05:37 AM - **10 Likes**

There was a very heavy bank of (active) raincloud above and in front of me, but the twilight sky to the west was comparatively clear, giving a sort of twilight storm light

**ffking** · 09-10-2017, 08:05 AM - **4 Likes**

I think this qualifies

**paulh** · 09-10-2017, 08:22 AM - **2 Likes**

weather over DFW Airport...

**pepperberry farm** · 09-17-2017, 05:09 AM - **2 Likes**

end of summer thunderstorm last night

**jacamar** · 09-17-2017, 05:32 AM - **3 Likes**

A warm, summery day today but it won't be long before I'll be able to take images like this again...

**dadipentak** · 09-17-2017, 06:47 AM

Originally posted by jacamar

A warm, summery day today but it won't be long before I'll be able to take images like this again...

I get that you're Canadian but you can't seriously be looking forward to that. It is a nice photo though.

gifthorse · 09-17-2017, 07:18 AM - **4 Likes**

Long exposures are better than lightning reflexes.

09-05-2017, 05:57 PM - 3 Likes	#68
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	This isn't really 'good', To get 'good' I'd have had to use a tripod instead of hand-holding at 1/5s and use K-1 & a fast prime. I regard it more as a sketch or 'proof of concept' for a more serious attempt. [K5IIs & FA 20-35/4] Last edited by dadipentak; 09-05-2017 at 06:07 PM.

09-17-2017, 05:09 AM - 2 Likes	#72
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,751	K-50 with DA 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 ED AL (IF) DC WR end of summer thunderstorm last night

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08-07-2017, 11:24 AM - 8 Likes	#61
atupdate Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dayton, OH Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,724	Not the best weather for these birds. Tim

08-07-2017, 11:53 AM	#62
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,662	Originally posted by mattt I had hoped to capture some lightening, but I have no triggers. It was a very active thunderstorm. (15-30 @ 15mm) Nice shot. Have you ever tried using interval mode and just setting the camera to snap a bunch of images at short intervals? That's usually what I do when there is a thunderstorm coming and I want my best chance of catching lightning.

08-07-2017, 12:41 PM	#63
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907	Originally posted by Rondec Have you ever tried using interval mode and just setting the camera to snap a bunch of images at short intervals? I have. Better luck with 6-10s exposures enabled by ND filters. Its just a lot of photos to cull for an uneventful storm.

08-07-2017, 01:00 PM	#64
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,662	Originally posted by mattt I have. Better luck with 6-10s exposures enabled by ND filters. Its just a lot of photos to cull for an uneventful storm. True, but cheaper than a lightning trigger. Makes me feel sorry for folks who are getting Sony A9s and are getting 20 fps. An awful lot of images to delete there.

08-07-2017, 04:27 PM	#65
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,816 Original Poster	I agree with long exposures and ND filters. The odds are better that lightning will strike if the shutter is open for 15 seconds, instead of hoping it will strike during a burst of 1/50 sec shots. Unfortunately, this year our storms have been the "grey skies and illuminated haze overhead " variety, not the "photogenic forks of lightening in the distance."

08-07-2017, 06:13 PM	#66
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by robgski Unfortunately, this year our storms have been the "grey skies and illuminated haze overhead " variety, not the "photogenic forks of lightening in the distance." Got that right.

08-19-2017, 03:42 AM - 2 Likes	#67
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,751	two rounds of thunderstorms this past Wednesday... in the afternoon: and as evening was falling: but I liked this shot with a hay bale:

09-10-2017, 05:37 AM - 10 Likes	#69
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,039	There was a very heavy bank of (active) raincloud above and in front of me, but the twilight sky to the west was comparatively clear, giving a sort of twilight storm light

09-10-2017, 08:05 AM - 4 Likes	#70
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,039	I think this qualifies

09-10-2017, 08:22 AM - 2 Likes	#71
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,301	weather over DFW Airport...

09-17-2017, 05:32 AM - 3 Likes	#73
jacamar Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 3,443	A warm, summery day today but it won't be long before I'll be able to take images like this again...

09-17-2017, 06:47 AM	#74
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by jacamar A warm, summery day today but it won't be long before I'll be able to take images like this again... I get that you're Canadian but you can't seriously be looking forward to that. It is a nice photo though.

09-17-2017, 07:18 AM - 4 Likes	#75
gifthorse Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Nevada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,945	Long exposures are better than lightning reflexes.