Neville's Pic of the Day

[Neville Bailey]

Umgeni Reflections by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Neville Bailey]

Sea Storm by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Sea Storm by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Dave S]

Neville, I've always wanted to know how a photographer gets a lightening shot, I mean the flash of the bolt is only a matter if milliseconds and way too short for someone to still haul out a camera and focus?

[Neville Bailey]

Hi Dave,

You are correct - there is no way that anyone has quick enough reflexes to snap a shot of a lightning bolt as it happens, unless you are very lucky!

For these shots, I positioned my camera on a tripod and pointed it in the general direction of the lightning activity. I then set the shutter speed to 10 seconds, the aperture to f/11 and manually focused the camera just before the infinity point. After that I simply pressed the shutter release and hoped that there would be a strike during the 10 second exposure period. I repeated the exercise until I got the shots that I wanted.

Out of a total of about 30 shots, these were the only two that caught a strike! However, I missed a few fantastic strikes while the camera was reading to the memory card in between in each exposure.

[Dave S]

I s'pose another way of doing it would be to set up the camera as you mentioned and put it on a timer that takes an exposure every 10 secs or so? A sort of a "time lapse".

[adrianh]

Neville....those lightning stikes are really great.

[Neville Bailey]

Take off! by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Neville Bailey]

Beacon by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr
The maiden shot with my new camera!

[Neville Bailey]

I took a drive to look at the unique monument erected in honour of Madiba, at his capture site, near Howick.


Mandela the Icon by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr
As you approach the Mandela monument, it looks like a random arrangement of jagged poles...


Mandela the Icon by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr
Then when you position yourself in just the right spot, he comes alive!


Mandela the Icon by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr
Madiba brooding over his beloved land.

[Neville Bailey]

Hanging loose... by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Neville Bailey]

Midlands Vista by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Neville Bailey]

Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Neville Bailey]

Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr


Hiding Out at Bayhead Heritage Site by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Neville Bailey]

Who's Looking at Whom? by Neville A Bailey, on Flickr

[Dave A]

It's all in the eye of the beholder