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Greatest Show in Vegas
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IGO





Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 4144
Location: Las Vegas

PostPosted: 7/17/2006, 11:09 pm    Post subject: Greatest Show in Vegas Reply to topic Reply with quote

I was getting ready for bed when the sky started lighting up. I grabbed the camera. Many were outside watching the show.
We're supposed to get this again the next few nights. By then I will have read up on how to shoot lightning and I won't get power lines in the shot.
This was my first attempt to shoot lightning. I had a great time.
http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/modules.php?set_albumName=albvh77&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir
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freeride21a





Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 46
Location: Mesa, AZ

PostPosted: 7/17/2006, 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

SWEET PICS!! especially the first and second one. we had some nasty stuff near tonopah last night(7/16) I drove thru it on my way back from the parents house in CA after getting back from yosemite.

first 3 are near blythe, CA. Last 2 are from tonopah, AZ.
my pics
I have the power line issue too.

according to the weather service it was a "severe t-storm capable of dime hail and 60+mph damaging winds."
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paintninaz





Joined: 06 Jan 2003
Posts: 3515

PostPosted: 7/17/2006, 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Even with the power lines, those are some cool shots! Ok
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Arizonaheat
Got Supes Juice?




Joined: 04 Jan 2003
Posts: 1741
Location: Mesa, AZ

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 4:14 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Awesome, IGO Exclamation
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IGO





Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 4144
Location: Las Vegas

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 4:43 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

I'm going after the real stuff tonight if the monsoon shows it's face again.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir
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Hikngrl
Canyoneering is my 'Happy Place'




Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 5578
Location: Peoria, AZ

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 5:13 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

oh awesome! We will be waiting!
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wanderingsoul





Joined: 19 Jul 2004
Posts: 2285
Location: Gilbert AZ

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 5:46 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Both of you guys caught some really nice shots. Nice to lookat and watch, as long as it is not close to you.
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Shawn
I'll sell you map to Lost Dutchman mine!




Joined: 03 Jan 2003
Posts: 2592
Location: Ahwatukee, AZ

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 6:49 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Outstanding, blows me away. Any tips on how it's done?
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desertgirl





Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Posts: 3350
Location: Chandler, AZ

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 8:50 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Very nice work IGO Very Happy
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Daryl





Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1168
Location: Everett, Washington

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 11:25 am    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

If you are shooting with a SLR camera and have a bulb setting, set your camera on a solid tripod, point it toward the storm, and set your aperture to F8 and your shutter to bulb. Using a remote hold the shutter open until you have the desired lightening strikes, and release. This technique only works in the dark, and be sure to compose your shot to avoid power lines Laughing
If you do not have a remote and/or a bulb setting, and/or are using a point and shoot camera with M (manual) mode, your best bet is to set the camera to the longest shutter speed your camera will allow with aperture of F8 and fire away (on the solid tripod) hoping a strike will happen while the shutter is open. Most cameras will allow at least an 8 second shutter so this is very do-able with patience.
Also note that in the dark you will probably have to use manual focus. I suggest setting it to infinity and then turning it back slightly.

If you have a point and shoot camera without out a M mode you are just going to have to get lucky.
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mike
What box?




Joined: 30 Dec 2002
Posts: 3134

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 4:03 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Check it out, IGO, this made intenational news!
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IGO





Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 4144
Location: Las Vegas

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

There are multiple factors to concider. I've not shot lightning before but I've done well with fireworks and the principles are the same.
Time your storm. 15 to 25 seconds gives you 3 to 5 miles. A wide angle lens (apx 28 to 35mm) will take in an entire frame filling strike. Leave the horizon at the bottom of the frame unless the light is illuminating some interesting realestate such as a mountain and be elevated off the ground if possible. Use fast daytime film. 64 to 200 ASA. Night time film will wash out contrast with the longer exposures required to capture a stike start to finish and will make for fat/uncrisp strikes. Make sute your camera is in manual focus and focus to infinity.
A sky filling strike at 3 to 5 miles with 64 or 100 ASA film will shoot a 1 second exposure well at f8. My camera is digital and will only mimic down to 200ASA film so I would stop down to a half to one stop smaller aperature for the same frame. For a shot farther away, open the aperature a little wider as the light is not as intense, do not increase the exposure.
I don't beleive in holding open the shutter to let the strike take it's own picture. Instead, I will only shoot when there are reacuring flashes so the background does not was out and there is more contrast. Same goes for fireworks; instead of leaving the shutter open, I listen for ignition then open the shutter. With lightning, I open the shutter with the first crack and hope for repeats. Contrast is everything. IMHO.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir
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IGO





Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 4144
Location: Las Vegas

PostPosted: 7/18/2006, 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

mike wrote:
Check it out, IGO, this made intenational news!

I saw several casinos get hit last night, including the Luxor. I have a great veiw of the strip and downtown from my place.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir
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kurthzone
Thread Killer




Joined: 31 Dec 2002
Posts: 1097
Location: Peoria, Arizona

PostPosted: 7/19/2006, 7:05 am    Post subject: lightning Reply to topic Reply with quote

Here is a web site featuring Arizona ligtning. Cathy and I started our art careers in the same studio back in the late 70's. I ran into her at a mutual friends a couple months ago and she told me about her endeavors with lightning.

http://electricskies.com/
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IGO





Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 4144
Location: Las Vegas

PostPosted: 7/19/2006, 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply to topic Reply with quote

Oh man. I only looked at 7 or 8 dozen though. LOL.
I'm well versed now. I've got a rain bonet for my camera and the right lenses for the job. I've made all the preliminary settings, I live high above ground clutter with great mountains to be struck in the background AND it's raining....but not a dribble of lightning. Rolling Eyes
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir
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