04/26/08 Chase Summary

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Saturday I got just about exactly what I was expecting. Some great storm structure and my first good chance to try some lightning photography with my new Canon Rebel xti. Overall I am pleased with my first attempts, but as always, there is room for much improvement.

I missed the really great shot Steve Miller got as I was setting up my camera. But later got the above shot, which I love, and this one below, which was actually a mistake because I bumped the camera with the shutter open, but it still came out a very cool shot I think.

After meeting up with Steve we shortly ran into Jason Boggs and we all spend the rest of the evening repositioning in front of the storms to stay out of the rain and shoot lighting.

When I got the above shot I was very excited because on the camera LCD it looked like an awesome shot. It wasn’t until I got it on the bigger computer screen later I realized it was not completely in focus. How disappointing! I was able to clean it up a little in post work, enough for a decent pic for the web anyway. I did however get the one below later in perfect focus. Too bad it wasn’t a CG.

Well parted ways somewhere near Roby, TX and as they went home I stuck around a little while longer, addicted to the lightning and wanting a few more chances. Unfortunately, the cloud to ground lightning I wanted died off after they left. I ended the day with the shot below which was nice however.

It was a good first chance to use my new camera for EXACTLY what I wanted it for. I obviously still have a great deal to learn, but it should only get better from here!

There could be an outside chance I might chase in OK this coming Thursday, but it’s not likely. I don’t care for the SSW winds just above the surface. It’s more likely I will be chasing in the coming Sunday/Monday time frame, and a bit closer to home as well. Still a bit far out in the models to get specific, but I’ll keep an eye on it and start blogging the forecast as we get closer. In the mean time, I’ll catch up on some work!

Comments

5 responses to “04/26/08 Chase Summary”

April 29, 2008

Steve Miller TX

That first shot is cool because of the illuminated precip core. The second shot is amazing considering you bumped the camera simultaneously wiht the lightning. 🙂 But, what a cool bolt and colors. I sympathize with the third one because I’ve trashed some great shots by being out of focus.

That’s the one pain-in-the ass thing to manage at night is focus. After turning off auto-focus, one thing to do is during the daylight, set your infinity focus and make a small mark on the lens that corresponds with that (if you don’t have a little indicator window). It will fluctuate slightly with significant temperature changes, but it will work for a good reference point and usually close enough you won’t notice it.

The other thing is to try and focus on distant lights. A couple of times, I’ve turned on the interior lights inthe car, walked about 100 feet and focuse on that making note of the lens indicator. That seemed to work.

In any event, your pics turned out better than my first ones. 🙂 They were WAY out of focus and 48 out of the 50 were totally dark.

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April 30, 2008

Dewdrop

Awesome shots, David! First time, huh? Very impressive. Great advice, Steve. Thanks for sharing.

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April 30, 2008

DavidS.

Congrats on the catches and now the addiction. You can also try it while driving down the highway.
http://flickr.com/photos/ourtulsaworld/2400210298/

Hey it’s an addiction, did I mention that already

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May 1, 2008

Patrick Boomer

Gosh that first shot is a real stunner. I don’t think I’ve seen a prettier lightning shot.
I am so jealous of you guys down there! Can’t wait for the storms to start here in Alberta.

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May 1, 2008

David

Thanks for the encouraging comments everyone. Yeah Dew, my first shots at anything other than a point and shoot since I gave up film, let’s see… nearly 10 years ago I guess?

I never really learned to do what I wanted on film, mainly because I hated waiting for the results, and waiting for it to be processed. Digital photography has forever changed that for me. With a large memory card, I can shoot hundreds in an evening if I am inclined to.

That driving lightning shot you got David is STUNNING!

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