Photographing Lightning Storm & Getting Too Close
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2024
- I travelled to the USA to photograph storms. Today we experienced a lot of thunder and lightning, which was a real challenge to photograph. It was an unforgettable experience, and easily one of the most exciting things you can do with a camera, in my case a Nikon Z8.
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I find it really useful to see raw images alongside their processed counterparts. Thanks Thomas.
I agree. And having just finally got a Z8 I’m enjoying the settings details too. Thanks.
That's good to know. Thanks a lot.
Totally agree !! And now an editing video :-) Kind regards, Guy.
Great to see the raw images too, absolutely. Demonstrates beautifully that you have an eye for the potential visual power that is hidden in a shot, and it gives us viewers an insight into what you work with. It´s motivating! Thanks for the transparency!
Ditto.
When you see someone from another country spend thousands of dollars for the "trip of a lifetime" to photograph the types of clouds you film from your home almost every night, it really reminds you to appreciate what you have! Not that I didn't already appreciate it, but this series really reminds me that it is a special thing. But I must say, thunderstorms are even better looking when reflected in the giant pool that is Tampa Bay. 😍
Love seeing the RAW files.
Perfect, thanks for letting me know.
A Missouri photographer here who has been watching you for years. It's great to see you in my area and great to see your perspective on the scenes I so easily take for granted. It's especially great to see your enthusiasm. I often sit here jealous of your adventures in Iceland, UK, and Patagonia while lamenting being here in the "boring" Midwest. You've definitely helped change my outlook a bit! Great stuff, Tom!
I’ve watched many, many of your videos and never seen you so enthusiastic!
It must be all the sugar and caffeine 😂
@@ThomasHeatonPhoto Casey's coffee will do that to ya.
@@greg275😂 I’ll take a raspberry flip instead. My part of the country.
@@greg275That is NOT coffee 😂
@@ThomasHeatonPhoto I have noticed before that your mood is significantly better when in the company of peers.
Omg I just learned about the existence of lightning triggers, 😂😂😂😂
Also, some cameras have "prerecord" modes where it continuously records, and when you hit the shutter, it will save a series of images from the prior X seconds. So if you see the lightning, hit the shutter. Your shutter fire probably missed the shot, but the prior exposures got it.
I haven't used it on my Lumix G9 yet, but for split second images it sounds pretty cool.
He is using a MIOPS camera trigger... This can do a bunch of different things, not just lightning.
@@musa7606 The Z8 has prerecord, but only in JPEG. I think that's why Thomas didn't use it, as the RAWs do need quite a bit of editing like in the final image (which is absolutely awesome btw).
I assume a lightning trigger is a studio flash trigger by any other name.
I am now having to look that up and learn about it because the storms in my area I’ve been getting more intense… I guess that applies for pretty much all over the world but we’ve had two storms recently that have been more lightning than I have seen in an entire season typically. Our intensity of storms started off back when we got hit by an F2 tornado. 🇨🇦
Something you learn with storm photography, you get the storm first and the composition is just a happy accident afterwards. Sometimes nature gives you choice, usually not though.
Love watching yea pick up the magic that is storm chasing. Great stuff.
I just. Have to laugh as I have lived in Missouri all my life and I go inside when there is lighting and here you are chasing it, standing out in open fields where you are basically now a lighting rod! Awesome!!
I’m from Omaha! So cool to see Thomas working in our neck of the woods and loving it!
Yeah, and with a carbon fibre tripod 😮
...and we shall henceforth call him "Lightning Rod Thomas"!
@@darrenleigh201 😄
As a fellow landscape photographer and storm chaser, your videos do a tremendous job being true to what the business is all about. Glad you had the success you did and looking forward to your return to the states again!
Wow, thank you. That's quite a compliment coming from a storm chaser. I was just along for the ride.
The raw images were great to see from a photographers perspective especially for those wanting to learn. We see too many edited versions that when I started out and even a bit now I hated my raw images as they never looked 'good' compared to the finalised products we all see on social media. Love that you show the settings it gives a great learning point for people. The RAW file for the house and lighting was incredible, was cool to see the artistic direction you took the edit in!
I love how the image at 12:35 has light on one side of the clouds and dark on the other, absolutely stunning
oh love the USA, huge skies, huge storms, lovely people, what fun! very exciting life experience. fantastic photography. brill to see the RAW files.
I've lived in SC, USA for 33 years today. And you have visited more states in a matter of weeks than I have in my whole life lol
I've been watching your channel for about three years now and think I've seen every episode you've posted. The image in this video with the corn in the foreground and the tree as the Subject is probably in the top ten of all the images you've created, absolutely beautiful..
Never did I think I would see a Casey's General Store In a Thomas Heaton video.
As a Minnesotan, I was thinking the same thing.
Dude should go to a QT and have his mind reformed 😂
@@steelehousephotography8524 lol
Just wait until the day he encounters a Bucees
Best gas station pizza! A vital part of storm chasing.
Traveling from Casey's General Store to Casey's General Store is a vintage midwestern America move. You're doing well Tom.
Love hitting up Casey's when I'm in Missouri and Kansas
The last image is wonderful! It sends chills up my spine!!
Ahhh I love this video! I've literally never seen a landscape photographer on TH-cam in my area! I'm originally from Kirksville and my family is from Milan (MY-lən). It's such an honor to watch how you handle our very flat an plain landscape and turn it into beautiful photographs. I can't wait for next week's video!
This storm chasing series is the most captivating work you have posted imo! Awesome stuff
I remember emailing you ....quite some time ago now, about how much I enjoy your videos/pictures and randomly telling you that I love cloud photography [it was somewhat random, I hold my hands up to that]. You graciously replied and only encouraged me. This is on a different level, isn't it. Wow! Now you've experienced and captured the beauty and raw power of nature that fascinates me and done it superbly. So glad you're enjoying it 👍🏾
The before and after shots have been more helpful over the years than any editing tutorials. The fade to the edited version shows cropping and any dodging and burning that has been done. I was always leary of changing too much of the image but seeing what you and Adam G and Nick P do helped me see what is an appropriate amount of editing. Thanks
Not even started the video and I know that I’d love to do something very similar in the future one year. Thanks for the sharing this awesome adventure, I hope there’s similar videos like this in the future. 🙏😎👊
🔥🔥🔥
Living vicariously through T.Heaton's experience while I sit in the lunchroom at work 🥲
Yeah, but he probably spends his lunch break wishing he was doing my job, entering endless streams of numbers and formulas into excel. 😂😂
@@bradhagen1269 😂😂
Fantastic! That last image was just legendary.
thanks for the peek at the raw files. i find it helpful
In what way? I’m just curious is all. I’ve seen a few others stating the same.
@@LorenzoFrausto I am always trying to improve my editing of raw files and it helps to see how various experts would handle a file and try to see how they might have approached it. Just to learn more. :)
@@JanicevD Got it! Thanks for the answer and your perspective 🙏🏽
The last photo with the creepy house and the lightning, I actually liked the RAW file better, but yet an amazing video, love this series!
Bravo! Photographing lightning gives the same experience as why I love going fishing. You never know what you’re going to get when you go out- you’ll catch absolutely nothing, 1 or 2 decent ones, or a boatload. ❤
You should come to Arizona to shoot the monsoon lightning. It’s incredible vivid because of the high cloud bases and low precip, and about 70% of it is cloud to ground. It’s a high I can’t explain.
I recently learned to always shoot a good composition, even if the lightning is not currently there. And shoot it as video, so you can save whichever frame might contain the lightning bolt! I recently did this during a lightning storm to the right of a long pier, but the best composition was looking straight down the pier, so I framed it up. 13 seconds after I pressed record, I got a lightning strike exactly at the end of the pier! 😍 The photo went viral on reddit, and of course I have the whole thing on video to prove I didn't photoshop the lighting bolt into that unbelievably perfect spot!
This series is so exciting, so thank you for it. Also, yes please, raw along with the processed images are always interesting to see.
🔥🔥🔥
That final lightening image is a belter! What an amazing experience!
Bloody hell Thomas ! the film was well worth waiting for, its an experience of a lifetime and some stunning images that are coming from the trip. Stay safe and thank you for sharing
This is one of your better series of videos. You are excited, doing something new and encouraging everyone and anyone to get out and do photography. Well done. Charlie in Virginia.
Thanks, I have always loved sitting in a car and watching lighting and enjoyed it immensely when we took the kids to Florida. I know how wild the weather can be in America and appreciate all your reporting of this exciting chasing.
Thank you so much for the donation. That's very generous. This was thrilling, and truly was a bucket list item. It only gets better though, so keep watching.
Welcome to the Midwest, Thomas! You got some great photos of a typical storm that we get out here. We just had a HUGE storm 2 days ago that rolled thru Iowa and straight into Illinois where I am. Always be careful around electrical storms. I once had a lightning bolt go straight sideways thru the open-sided dairy barn I was working in!
Yes more of the raw file please, I love seeing the difference in the edit
I never expected to see Thomas shooting videos in my neck of the woods. Or even my region of the world.
1:43 I grew up storm chasing in Leon, IA! Pretty much the only thing I miss about that place other than family.
So the thing is: I am not even really interested in Photography but the way you talk and explain is sooo catching and I just can't stop watching your videos. I have went from just watching to being a real fan by now and your adventures and pictures are so amazing. You are doing a fantastic Job, keep up the fantastic work!
I grew up in the midwest and did my fair share of storm chasing. your in for a treat brother. Of course now that I'm in Arizona, the frequency has gone down but the light show is beyond belief. If you ever catch a Summer Monsoon storm in the southwest you will see what i'm talking about. Great stuff Tom!
It’s really cool to have watched all your adventures around beautiful areas in the UK and Iceland and many others yet be so ecstatic in our American Midwest which we perceive as boring, flat farmland!
I never ever thought I'd see you in a Casey's in IOWA!! Hello, from Des Moines! the EF-1 tornado went through my neighborhood on Monday night. I was fortunate and only suffered tree damage. Safe travels!!🤘🏼
You are so excited and smiling that it is infectious, jealous of the time you had. Beautiful photos!
Amazing photos as always! You’ve been playing in both my front yard and backyard, shame didn’t run into you. Best of luck storm chasing and be safe!
Great stuff! I live in Iowa and now you have me wanting to chase our storms! We get some wild ones! Thanks for taking me along!
Hey Thomas! Just wanted to say I've found it really helpful to see the raw files. It's sooo interesting to see what you start with and what you end up showing.
Great video!
Great to see you so exited!
I like the raw files to crosfade into the final image.
Wow!!!! Me apacionan las tormentas. Se puede apreciar tu pasión y es como si yo estuviese viviendolo en ese mismo momento, espectaculares fotografías. Muchas gracias!!
Thomas Heaton in a Casey's? Now that's something I never thought I'd see.
What an exhilarating experience! Yes I do love to see the RAW files
Thomas Heaton at Casey's!! Never thought the day would come!
I loved it at Casey's. So much stuff!
Absolutely love those RAW files added into the video!!
I like being able to see the raw file because I love how subtly you edit them, the biggest difference just being color correction. Really shows that it isn't all just editing, it really was just a breathtaking view
Seeing the raw files is really helpful. Looks like an amazing trip, very jealous!
I grew up in the Midwest. I didn't have to chase storms, they chased me.
PS: the best lightning I've ever seen was in Arizona. SciFi like stuff.
Great adventure! Better you than me. I did appreciate seeing the RAW files. Thanks so much.
Very cool video and I like the raw file for comparison! Always something new to learn from your work, thank you.
Your excitement threw me off a bit. I’m from southeast Iowa and am used to everything you are seeing with fresh eyes. I’m inspired to make it out and get some “boring” shots of where I live.
I love seeing the raw images, please keep doing that! Awesome for a novice photographer!!
Awesome! Also really great to see the RAW files. I'm impressed how close the RAW is - obviously your compositions and exposures are spot on!
Really interesting to see the raw files. What a place with the house! Loved this video. Didn't want it to end.
The RAWs are a huge help to conceptualize the work you do in post! Appreciate it Thomas, incredible series!
Great video, loved seeing the raw images. Really showcases the edits you did, and also the camera settings you used to capture the original. Gives us budding photographers some inspiration/guidance.
Wow, that last shot is amazing! I really like seeing the raw file too - along with the camera settings for the shot, it helps me with my own process. Love your videos so much!
Thanks for showing us the raw files. Great video, images and experiences as always!
So happy to see you enjoying your first experience chasing storms. There's a reason I fly over there every spring for the past 20 years from the UK, we just don't have the right environment to develop supercells repeatedly. One thing to keep in mind, if you're getting wet then you're too close & at real risk of lightning strikes. Play safe, stay safe.
Gorgeous shot of the creepy house love the lighting in the sky a wonderful shot ....love seing the RAW files and then final images very inspiring can`t wait to see next week`s video love storm chasing.
Love this series! I hope you can do it again in the future.
It is nice to see the raw, helps get a point in how much work there is in the edit. And how much I can do with my pictures
Hello Heaton! I'm a landscape photography student and it's a great pleasure to see your work. Great photos and storms. I really like storm chasing. The enthusiasm is contagious. The first time I saw real storm chasing was watching Reed Timmer. Crazy as hell, but he seems to know what he is doing. Haha This area requires a bit of insanity.
If you are going to post RAW photos, one option would be to post the RAW first and the edited ones later. Maybe the RAW would become the edited ones.
Greetings from the southeast of Brazil!
Loved to see the RAW files in comparison to the final versions - great implementation!
That raw image at the end would make an epic Midwest emo album cover like the classic American Football album with the old house.
I know you have been to the USA many times… it’s so weird to see you out in the Plains … of which is wide open … and with stores and buildings that are familiar vs. the hills and sea sides of the UK and Ireland … so happy that you had a great time… now I need a lightning trigger too.
16:24 - as a photographer and storm chaser I must say well done on an amazing shot. Nothing beats photographing an nocturnal storm cell.
I do so love a good storm! The lightening and thunder rolling across the sky, seeing the drama of it all flashing about. Yeah!!!!!!!!
Wow, what a show that last scene was. Moments like that are what landscape photographers dream of. 📸🙌
Mate! These are absolutely brilliant! I’ve been wanting to do this for years now. One day I hope to do it.
Can't believe you were so close to home and I might have just bumped into you at a Caseys or Walgreens of all places. Wicked!
Please keep the raw side-by-sides coming - they are instructive
Saying 99% of storm chasing is un-glamorous, just driving is definitely true. But that other 1% is some of the most inspiring, exciting, and challenging photography out there
Edge of the seat viewing. I've been caught, outside, in too many really frightening lighting storms to want to do this but you're shots are stunning. As you've said in the video that this is one of your best photography trips and your best photos - I think they're tremendous but the more recent polar bear photographs and the one of the pallas cat are to me more poignant and moving.
Good to see the RAW files and how you deal with them. Fantastic shots.
Happy to see this video. I have been one of your subscribers for a couple of years. I do lightning photography in central Illinois.
I grew up watching your videos and I remember one video years ago of you shooting a storm in the UK (I think). As a storm enthusiast, I'm glad you got the chance to experience the severe weather we have here, it's truly something to behold.
Ah yes, I remember that video. It was utterly terrifying 😂
Even though I live in the states and do some occasional storm chasing myself, this is very enjoyable and I look forward to the updates every week! We don’t have quite the same storms or scenery here in NY
Awesome experience I'm sure. Love the sharing of the RAWs. I think you do a nice job and rarely overprocess, although I prefer the raw look in the image with the converging harvest lines in the field. Looking forward to the next episode.
What a fantastic experience Tom, Absolutely outstanding images 🙌🙌
Definitely nice to see your raw files with what you are working with.
Absolutely great to see the raw images alongside with the processed counterparts.
Seeing the RAW files next to the final images is SUPER helpful. It's a friendly reminder that good editing goes a long way. Thanks for sharing the camera settings as well! Loving this video series and seeing how hyped you are for storm chasing. Keep it coming!
Fantastic with RAW files Thomas. Thanks a heap! 😊
Loved the last two videos - not something I have ever thought about doing to be honest! Thanks for the raw files - the last image witht he 'creepy house' I actually liked the raw look as it seemd more evocative of the time of night and the feel of your shoot in the preceding video. Just personal taste. Great images and channel and thanks for all the tips and insight.
Stormy photography can be so addictive! The problem with lightning, as you mentioned is the randomness. For every good lightning photo you see there would be hundreds that get thrown away. I've always opted for composition and hope for lightning in the right spot. Ultimately they will be the images you like best in the long run. Can be frustrating though! I like putting the final image together with the RAW so you can see the artistic vision.
Thomas, as always, thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I've done some storm shooting myself and I'm living vicariously through you, as it's been a long time since I've done it. About the RAW images, that's a great option to end your videos with. I'd suggest using a "wipe" feature between the edited and RAW versions though. I think that might show the changes more easily (IF that's you're intention).
The thrill of the chase man! I've lived through 2 tornadoes that hit my town where I grew up. One of them threw our swing set into our neighbor's dining room. Love chasing those monster storm cells! So addicting.
The raws are super useful, I do very minimal editing to my images and I always feel like they look bad. This showed me that I need to work on my editing skills.
Thanks Thomas! Great format on this video. I’m just east of this and we had 32 tornadoes on Monday. Pretty unusual.
Really like seeing the RAW and finished versions. It provides better insights into what can be achieved in post.
Love the RAW comparison! Gives such a good insight into what makes a great image - the final product is fantastic, but composition is where it‘s at (+ the incredible mood in the skies in this instance 😅).
Been following and watching you for years at this point and never get tired of your videos. You‘ve been a massive inspiration to go out and shoot. Thank you!
Omaha!! That’s about 1.5 hours from me. Welcome to the Midwest! We get some of the best storms for photography.
Love to see your energy for these storms and the experiences. I live in Moore, Oklahoma, USA. About the only thing we're known for is large tornado events. As a former meteorology student and storm chaser, I've grown far too complacent when it comes to photographing weather. The beauty and the power of storms is truly one of the few things that deserves the word, awesome. Great job, can't wait for next week. I hope you got a chance to get up close and personal with one of mother natures beautiful beasts.
Welcome to the US and glad to hear how much you're enjoying the landscape. Some amazing images so far