Being one of the most unpredictable forces of nature, lightning storms present a unique challenge for most photographers.* We’ve all seen powerful photos of lightning in action and you may be wondering how you can capture the majesty of a storm the next time you’re fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to witness one.* While a lot matters on what Mother Nature decides to do with all that electricity, the tips below should help in capturing a great shot of lightning.

  1. Use a steady surface – While a tripod typically works best, in reality any steady surface will work.* Some people use a beanbag or other malleable item, like a pillow.* This will be import as #2 is….
  2. Long Shutter Times – While lightning is unpredictable, it’s extremely hard to make a decent capture by tripping the shutter when you see a flash.* There are some fancy remote controls that have the ability to trip when the flash is sensed, but I’m guessing you don’t want to invest in these types of gadgets.* Depending on your cameras ability to manage noise on slow shutter speeds, using a timing of 30 seconds can work well. The bulb setting can also be handy if you have a way to keep the shutter open.
  3. Horizon Up – It’s safe to say most of the lightning action you will see will in the sky.* I know it’s obvious, but it needs to be stated that your field of view will be skewed toward the sky then.* Depending on how close the lightning is, you’ll be including more blank looking sky than normal.* But fear not; that sky becomes far more exciting when the lightning starts
  4. But Include Something Interesting – While the action will be in the sky, don’t forget to keep something in the frame to give relevance and perspective to the shot.* Buildings are a favorite, but really, anything that can give an idea of the size of the storm works well.
  5. Manual Focus – It’s best to use manual focus when shooting in lightning situations.* Mainly because the view will probably be at night (but not always) with a fair amount of darkness.* Rather than allow your camera to hunt around for something to focus on with each new shot, get a good manual focus on the sky and leave it there.
  6. Manual Shutter/Aperture Too – As mentioned in #2, if your camera has the ability to set the shutter speed, pick a long shutter time and a fairly wide aperture.* The action will be far from you so a wide aperture and shallow depth of field won’t be a problem (unless you have some very near objects you’d like to include).
  7. Stack ‘em – If you can keep your camera in a steady spot, shot after shot, you can use stacking software to combine multiple strikes into one image. You’ll often have many unexciting shots with maybe just a single strike or faint action between clouds.* These can all be combined to make a spectacular image.
  8. Be Patient – This is a big one and a key to success.* Get familiar with your gear and settings so when there is a lightning storm you can set up the camera and then let it do its thing while you enjoy the show.* You’re going to have a number of times when you miss “the shot” for one reason or another.* Don’t sweat it.


Shooting lightning storms can be a very enjoyable experience but it takes a little practice to get it just right. Follow the steps above and you’ll be well on your way to creating electrifying photos (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!).



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