First lightning shot

[Fireball]

We are having quite the lightning tonight so I tried and tried to get a shot and was finally successful, my first ever. Pretty excited!

Canon 5d Mkii
24-105L lens at 24mm
Tripod
Cable release
ISO 200
AV f6.3
TV 3.2 sec.

My question is since there's nothing to focus on when the sky is completely dark, how do you set your focusing? It would not focus in auto mode so I had to use manual mode and tried to prefocus on the lights in the distance. Thought it worked out pretty good but was wondering if there's another way?

[ifly223]

Nice capture; dont know about the focusing question. However, ya might wanna becareful when your out shooting in a thunderstorm. If i'm not mistaken at the top center of your shot is what I think is cloud rotation (beginning of a tornado). : )

[auddii]

I would imagine you would just want to set your focus to infinity. Nice capture and a very angry sky.

[Fireball]

Yes, those are strange clouds but we had no severe weather whatsoever. Just lots of rain and lightning. I didn't get close to it at all as seen by the photo. I grew up in OK so I know all about tornadoes and would never take a chance on a photo if I thought it wasn't safe.

[Fireball]

Audrey, how do I set my focus to infinity? That's something I've never figured out.

[auddii]

Originally Posted by Fireball

Audrey, how do I set my focus to infinity? That's something I've never figured out.

Old school lenses made it easy; it was written on the lenses. Infinity should be at "hard over" when you can't turn it any further. Obviously there are two depending on which direction you turn. One should be the minimum focal distance (depending on what that is, it should be fairly easy to discover which is which by holding your hand out in front of your lens). Good luck with capturing more lightning; looks like we might have some more storms soon.

[Fireball]

Thanks, I think I found it. Looks like two letter o's put together like this oo but connected in the middle, right?

[Outlander]

that is the Greek sign for infinity.

[Fireball]

Interesting. Learn something new everyday around here. :)

Btw, this photo is going to be on one of our news stations tonight, the one in Sherman called KTEN. Pretty psyched about that!