Wide horizons give way to big skies. Drama in the clouds that blanket and dot the plains of North America provide some of the most dramatic backdrops that the eye can enjoy.
Farmers by their nature continually look up to major uncontrollable factors in their lives, the elements of weather. Lightning is among the most dramatic of those elements as well as being a signal of the passing seasons.
The more dramatic storms bring out the photographer in all of us and thus the camera. Photographing lightning is a challenge even for seasoned professionals and for the amateur it is usually a source of endless frustration.
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The edges of storm clouds produce the displays that are most dramatic, and easily photographed because rain isn’t diffusing the image.
If the storm is not threatening, and it is safe to be out, a tripod should be used to steady the camera.
The shutter speed should be set to as long an exposure as the film will allow when the surrounding area and visual elements of the image are metered through the camera.
A lens aperture of f:5.6 or 8.0 is desirable as the flash of the lightning will make a solid exposure on 100 through 400 ASA film at this setting.
Shutter speeds or bulb settings of up to several minutes are used with a remote camera release, especially at night.
The longer the exposure the better the chance of capturing a lightning strike. The average strike time of a storm can be roughly calculated to avoid shooting excessive film, but budget at least a roll or two to get a few good images.
Lightning is a dangerous force and setting a metal tripod in the dirt on the open prairie directly in the middle of a storm defies common sense, so shoot from a reasonable distance away.
