Thursday, August 5, 2021

Capturing Lightning!

Last post, after visiting the seldom seen JTNP museum collection, I headed home to rest up for an afternoon hike. I left you last week with the photo below, and asked you to keep an eye on those clouds on the horizon (for some interesting activity after sunset).
I'll share photos from the actual hike with you next post, but allow me to jump ahead to the very end of the hike. The sun had set, and we were losing the red/yellow late afternoon light spectrum, which was being replaced by the cooler blue & purple tones. We were close to needing headlamps, but not quite.
 

We reached the car, took off our packs, grabbed a cold beverage, and relaxed for a bit. On the horizon off to the east, we were seeing lightning strikes emanating from the clouds I told you to keep an eye on. But how do you photograph lightning? It's impossible to push the shutter release at just the right time. I didn't have a tripod. Otherwise I could have tried long exposure shots (10 seconds or so), and hope to get lucky. Mitch suggested a cell phone video, and isolating individual photos from the video. I was skeptical, but tried it anyway.
It actually worked pretty well! I know there are apps to isolate individual photos from a video, but being lazy and short on time, I just slowly advanced the video and took screenshots of the lightning strikes. They are small, noisy files, but you get the idea. Best viewed small!
 

A wonderful way to finish up a hike, and what a nice sky show!!
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!!



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43 comments:

  1. Einari SinappiAugust 5, 2021 at 7:30 PM

    I usually use tripod and 30sec. shutter speed to photograph lightning. But it all comes to luck eventually. Sometimes you manage to get decent pic or two other times you don´t. Seeing that in Nature is always a treat.

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  2. TomAugust 5, 2021 at 8:08 PM

    ...these are gorgeous images,the third one is my favorite.

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  3. William KendallAugust 5, 2021 at 8:33 PM

    Wow!

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  4. rupam sarmaAugust 5, 2021 at 8:44 PM

    Stunning pics

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  5. JimAugust 5, 2021 at 8:46 PM

    Great sky shots.

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  6. Nanda kumarAugust 5, 2021 at 9:03 PM

    Beautiful shot. When it gets dark, I used to start timelapse from DSLR and wait for that lucky time of lightning and DSLR shutter sync. Sometimes it works especially when you take timelapse for longer duration (say 5 mins)

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  7. AmyAugust 5, 2021 at 10:20 PM

    oh wow you got some really good shots there, especially the lightning ones.

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  8. Bill August 6, 2021 at 12:08 AM

    Fantastic---All of them!

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  9. Iris FlaviaAugust 6, 2021 at 12:59 AM

    Stunning colors and wow on the lightning-shots! Here we had some, too, but I only have a movie of the thunder following. Plus I´m in the city and it was daytime.
    Good idea with the screenshots and thank you for sharing!

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  10. Jan K. alias AfanjaAugust 6, 2021 at 1:43 AM

    Considering the circumstances, you still have some nice lightning photos.
    We have a wet summer here in the north of the Netherlands, but we haven't had any photogenic thunderstorms this year. So I'm still waiting for my first lightning photos of the year. :-)

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  11. s.cAugust 6, 2021 at 3:07 AM

    Again beautiful photos of the sky and those silhouettes of the trees, but the lightning beats everything both literally and figuratively.Great job.

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  12. David M. Gascoigne,August 6, 2021 at 3:51 AM

    You certainly captured the drama of the lightening.

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  13. Carol @Comfort Spring StationAugust 6, 2021 at 3:57 AM

    amazing set of photos - I almost could hear the thunder - your lightning shots are remarkable

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  14. Marie SmithAugust 6, 2021 at 5:15 AM

    Love these photos!

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  15. klaraAugust 6, 2021 at 5:29 AM

    wow! well done, even if improvised.

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  16. LeaAugust 6, 2021 at 5:33 AM

    Beautiful photos!
    Have a blessed day!

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  17. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"August 6, 2021 at 5:39 AM

    The second and third shots are outstanding. The lightning shots are interesting and makes me wonder what kind of quality might be achieved shooting video on a DSLR and using single frames from that.

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  18. thomasAugust 6, 2021 at 5:44 AM

    colorful shots,nice lightning capture

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  19. AlanaAugust 6, 2021 at 5:59 AM

    Amazing and breathtaking.

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  20. magiceyeAugust 6, 2021 at 6:45 AM

    Gorgeous captures all!

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  21. Divers and SundryAugust 6, 2021 at 7:23 AM

    Gorgeous! Where there's a will there's a way :)

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  22. Billy Blue EyesAugust 6, 2021 at 12:50 PM

    I should say thank you for the tip. I have always wanted to catch lightening in a photo. Brilliant

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  23. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderAugust 6, 2021 at 1:53 PM

    Dearest Peter,
    Glad you followed Mitch's advice and created thus stunning images.
    We had lots of night time opportunity the other day, Tuesday a week ago, when around 8:00 PM we got the longest and fiercest lightning ever. First without rain, but lost our power and then heavy rain and we went to bed early. What else can you do? Our Internet was off for some 16 hours...
    Mother Nature can at times open its surprise box!
    Glad you made good use of it by capturing excellent images.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  24. Yogi♪♪♪August 6, 2021 at 2:49 PM

    Oh wow, great skies and a wonderful tip on photographing lightning. Amazing!!

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  25. carol l mckennaAugust 6, 2021 at 3:32 PM

    Awesome lightning shots! Xo

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  26. Liz A.August 6, 2021 at 6:27 PM

    Great shots. I have no idea how one would get lightning shots. Is it all luck, then? Interesting weather.

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  27. Emille (Jesh)August 6, 2021 at 7:24 PM

    Those lightening strikes are beautiful! Hey, where have you been? Maybe you don't realize who I am? Have now a different username (Emille) to solve one of my wordpress problems! I am Jesh from the former Jeshtudio, and you told me I used to live (La Habra) about ten minutes where you live. Have a great weekend:)

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  28. AngieAugust 6, 2021 at 9:47 PM

    Clever way to isolate the lightning strikes. Cool photos. Lightning scares me these days with the risk of fire ...

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  29. Nancy ChanAugust 7, 2021 at 12:58 AM

    Gorgeous 2nd and 3rd photos with the lovely colours. Your lighting shots are fantastic. These days, we get lightings and very loud thunder but with little rain.

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  30. VENTANA DE FOTOAugust 7, 2021 at 1:45 AM

    Has capturado muy bien las nubes y los rayos de la tormenta. Me encantan los preciosos colores y las buenas iluminaciones de las fotografías 2 y 3.

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  31. Light and VoicesAugust 7, 2021 at 4:53 AM

    Greetings and Salutations! Wowza. What a way to end the adventure with lightening shots.

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  32. CynthiaAugust 7, 2021 at 12:33 PM

    You certainly have dramatic skies where you live! That was a great idea to use a frame from a video on your cell phone to catch the lightning. I’ve accidentally captured lightning a couple times but it was pure luck. Your second and third sunset photos are just incredible.

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  33. Rajani RehanaAugust 8, 2021 at 12:10 AM

    Mind blowing blog

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  34. Rajani RehanaAugust 8, 2021 at 12:10 AM

    Please read my post

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  35. PerthDailyPhotoAugust 8, 2021 at 2:55 AM

    Gosh amazing captures SPP, every one a gem 💜 The cloud formations over the national Park are always stunning ✨

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  36. SharonAugust 8, 2021 at 10:31 AM

    You got some great lightening shots here. I discovered that cell phone trick last spring. It works pretty well but you still have to be patient. I love those clouds too.

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  37. CloudiaAugust 8, 2021 at 5:59 PM

    That was a great suggestion by your friend. Yes my pixel is a Wonder. Looking forward to the number six. These are fabulous thanks for sharing

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  38. Sallie (FullTime-Life)August 10, 2021 at 11:26 AM

    You always get wonderful photos of the sky -- in all its moods. But this one surprised me! Wonderful end to that very interesting day.

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  39. JeevanAugust 11, 2021 at 6:24 AM

    That's a simple and interesting idea to shoot lightning, and you should thank your friend for this. Love your photos in the cool twilight sky.

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  40. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiAugust 11, 2021 at 1:47 PM

    Wow! Wonderful shots of the lightning you saw! So dramatic. I once saw and electrical storm flashing in a large cloud we were flying above over in Nebraska on our way to Denver International Airport. It was so amazing to see it from that perspective.

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  41. The PadreAugust 11, 2021 at 4:50 PM

    You My Man - You Have Style - Amazing Capture - Enjoy The Family Time Brother

    Cheers

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  42. picpholioAugust 12, 2021 at 2:18 PM

    Nice shots, never tried this until now...

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  43. MaggidAugust 15, 2021 at 5:44 AM

    I followed the link you gave - and, will soon return to your other post to comment - and, i suppose i really shouldn't bother you here - because i agree with all these lovely people - who are trying to explain how Breath-Holding Beautiful your photos are. Honestly, all of your photos - every post - cause me to stop - and try to take in the gift you share - the stories - the matching memories that manage to surface - trying to add themselves to the moment . . . . Well, that's all, just - agreeing with everyone . . . I'm entirely grateful for the gift you share.

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