New hobby

[Octane]

Storm chasing.

It was incredible last night as I sat in this paddock with lightning going crazy all around me.

It felt like artillery dropping and the car was shaking from the thunder.

Severe weather warning has been issued for tonight, as well, so, I'm heading out again.

Larger version here (http://users.tpg.com.au/hqureshi2/20121224.html).

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
15s f/9.0 @ 24.0mm iso400

[Logieberra]

Nice H.
Good of you to post camera settings as well. Will try the same one day :)

[Shark Bait]

I enjoy the photos that you share H, but please play it safe with your new sport. When I was a kid I used to love getting out and watching the wild storms that would wash in after a hot summers day. One day I was unlucky (lucky?) enough to be 10m from a tall palm tree that was struck by lightning in our back yard.

The blinding flash of light, heat and noise seared the event into my memory. The tree was on fire in the pouring rain and had a split in its trunk. I never want to be that close to a lightning strike again.:scared:

[Larryp]

Good photo, H!

[mithrandir]

H, what time of day was that? I've just been trying the current storm and anything more than 4 sec f/22 and ISO50 with ND8 filter gets totally washed out.

[Octane]

I'll be careful! :)

I'm not shifting from my car.

Andrew, 8:40 PM. So, 20 minutes after sunset, or thereabouts. :)

I'm up at Mount Stromlo. Getting pounded. Setting up camera.

H

[CapturingTheNight]

Great pic H :thumbsup: I love storm chasing. Hope you are having a blast again tonight. The storms that you are getting now swept through here about 3 hours ago. Only just got the power back on.

[Deeno]

Very cool....
Love a good lightning shot!

[gregbradley]

Good one H. I love lightning shots. I was imaging some last night as well.
I like the light and foreground you've captured. Some delicate hues in there.

Greg.

[astronobob]

Great shootin H, Dig them colours also, nicely exposed ! top job :thumbsup:

[naskies]

Nice one, H. There's definitely an adrenaline rush component to storm chasing :)

[Ross G]

Great looking photo.

Ross.

[Paul Haese]

Chasing can be very addictive. I drove into Victoria one day chasing a storm.

Some basic rules for storm chasing is keep at least 20km to the right or the left of the storm. Don't sit directly in its path. That can be dangerous to you and your equipment. Besides you get the best view doing that.

If it starts to rain it is time to move or seek cover. Lightning will strike easily when raining and it can strike very close.

[Octane]

Thanks for the kind words, boys.

The last couple of chases have been abysmal failures. :(

H

[MrB]

Thats's the nature of the game unfortunately.
Hence my reluctance to go the long chase, but I guess it pays off when it's firing :D

[leon]

Worry not H, it will just happen one day/night and all come together, with some brilliant strikes ready for capturing.

Leon

[Astroman]

WARNING STORM CHASING IS ADDICTIVE :D

Nice image, difficult getting the Lightning to sit in the frame where you want it, unless its highly energised storm. I typically do anywhere from 300-1000km on a chase, sometimes greater, I think the longest chase I did was over 2000km for a single storm event. Next you will want a lightning trigger to get those daylight strikes....

[naskies]

How safe/dangerous is it? I've heard that sitting inside a car is safe(r) due to the rubber tyres and Faraday cage effect of the car body. I'm guessing that standing in an open plain with a tripod would be somewhat dangerous...

[naskies]

You should move up to SE QLD... we get crazy storms every summer! ;)

[Paul Haese]

Well if you follow the basic rules it is quite safe. I have been right angles to a storm passing by me and only 3km (something I would not normally do but it passed close by and I had setup well before it approached my position) or so and sitting in the car while it takes frames. I would not be outside during that time. Being in the car is quite safe.

If the storm is 25-40km away and not striking near you, you can be standing out side with the tripod, but try to ensure there is a taller object near you.

[Astroman]

I have sat inside my car with the tailgate open and watched/photographed storms from there, I tend only to move into the car for a couple of reasons, the lightning is very close ie. no gap between flash and bang. We call them FLANGS. and rain, I hate rain, it's annoying and serves no purpose when photographing Lightning :)

If you are caught in the middle of a paddock during a storm and you are photographing, then thats your own fault for not checking the situation out before getting out there... But if it creeps up on you, (yes it can happen) stay low, don't lay down, keep on your feet. Having a taller object near you wont always put you in safety either.

The biggest advice I can give is understanding weather, weather patterns, storms and the local terrain. It can save your life if you can make some educated guess as what will happen.

Storm Chasing can be very dangerous, if you have doubts about it then stay home and watch it on radar.

[Paul Haese]

Thought you might say that mate.;) Also make sure you stand with your feet together too.:)

[Octane]

So, if I'm in my car and the car gets struck by lightning, will I be OK, or will I turn into a crispy critter?

If my iPhone is plugged into the cigarette lighter socket while the car is struck, can I say goodbye to my iPhone?

I am a complete novice/gumby when it comes to electricity.

H