The MINI roof is reflecting the bolt.
The auto-focus in pitch black doesn't work.

 

well there's no Mii in mine but Almost a year ago I stood in the very same spot and took a similar photo only this time I have a much nicer camera and am able to work it a little better.
Here's the new shot

and here's the old one

 

Nice shots M

I knew you would be out there last night. I was installling graphics when that storm hit. (Lightning 360 degrees around us.) But I didn't have my camera with me and by the time I was done the show was over.

OH well. Next time

 

I was loving it last night because our AC broke and they supposedly fixed it yesterday but noooooo, so finally I got some releif by opening the door and letting the cool breaze come in. I love monsoon season...except for now I have to clean my car again! eek

 

That funny I finnaly got my A/C working in my Mini just in time to not need it.

 

i just dabble in photography and was wondering, how do you get a lightening shot like that?

 

I have a question for everyone. What equimpent, in the mechanical camera arena, is good for night photography (including extremely long exposures)?

 

What ever camera you get or have make sure it has a manual apature adjustment or a Night Photo option.

The apature needs to be set to at least 15 sec exposure to catch lighting. The other thing you will need is a trypod and a big memory card. You might take 20 or 30 pictures before you get a good bolt in there.

 

I used the manual shutter and held it open until the lightening struck, as soon as it did I would release so as not to blow out the photo.
Here's the info my camera provided from the shot, I'm not sure if these would be recomended settings or not but it worked for me

• Make: Canon
• Model: Canon EOS 30D
• Shutter Speed: 6/1 second
• F Number: F/5.6
• Focal Length: 18 mm
• ISO Speed: 100

 

Technically that would be a film based SLR since the digital sensor's noise levels go up exponentially with the time > 2 - 15 seconds. Film will still look better for this, but nowadays IMHO is a PITA to use. It also requires other steps for long exposure which I won't go into. Canon however has a DSLR body that is primarily made for astronomy long exposure low light photos.

But.... I'll bet that's a lot more than you wanted to hear and you said "good", not "best", so I'll stop being such a geek. Most DSLRs can do a great job with long exposures, but some may require some post processing to clean up noise. Not a big deal.

Kurt, DragonFlyer, and SG - Please tell me that you're not standing outside using a tripod during a lightning storm! I remember well the monsoon season in PHX and the bolts can be quite unpredictable as they are striking all over the place. Being near metal poles is asking for serious trouble. I'd suggest shooting while inside your Mini using a window clamp tripod mount instead if possible. The lightning shows are fantastic and Kurt and SG have captured some great shots. I just would not want anything bad to happen to our fellow motorers and photographers.

(Dave climbs down from his soap box and will shut up now )

 

I don't stand in the wide open. But I don't get under trees either. Plenty of power poles around here too. But lightning can reach under porch roofs also, not to mention windows. I have a better chance of getting killed on the highway anyway.

 

Life's full of risks. :-)

I lucked into a great location and a photogenic storm back in March:


Fortunately I wasn't under the real activity, tho; this was 180º from the above picture:

 

 

Sunrise Camp Casey Washington

 

Thanks for the info everyone. The reason I'd asked about a mechanical camera is because I'm looking for something that I can afford, a.k.a. cheap. I will definitely keep in mind everyone's comments though, in case I find them used somewhere.

 

Thanks for the advice Mr.Speednuttiness :P I actually stand on myback porch and set my camera on the porch walls. All though when I was a kid my sister and I would get dressed in swimsuits and goggles while running through a thunderstorm holding metal rods to see who could make it the furthest out in the yard without getting killed...I'm not exactly sure where my parent were while we did this but it may explain my nickname a little better :P

 

LOL, yeah I think we all did some crazy stuff. When I say my greatest accomplishment was living past 30 I am not kidding!

Everyone, thanx for the advice. We had a pretty active storm over the weekend and I tried out a couple of techniques... problem is, there is too much light from all of the attractions to get a good picture.

 

Here's some highway shots I took last night. Just got them back from processing, can't even compare to what I got out of the digital camera.
Still got to love those SLR's. I know this is a MINI forum but I'll throw in a pic of the Civic too (I could have entered this one for the July contest).

Thanks

Rus'

 

First time taking a pic at night..didnt have any composition at all,but this was the only picture that turned out ok.

 

This is just me...
I would have moved your MINI backward to block the transformer box and to get a different angle of light. And less pavement. Otherwise, the camera does fine for night shots.

 

Wondering how you would take a picture like this? i do have a tripod for the night shots..dumb question but i really want to learn

 

Can't be done by us mere mortals -

 

How's the world looking!!

 

The Canon QL-17 is a really cool '70s mechanical rangefinder. I have one and love it. Great fun, excellent fast lens, and (aside from the meter), no electronics.
http://www.cameraquest.com/canql17.htm
http://www.netaxs.com/~cassidy/image...ql17/ql17.html

Mark

 

lastnight on The Loop...