We have had some awesome storms lately. Last night the thunder and lightning was incredible. There were 3 - 4 lightning flashes every second and the thunder was constant. With so many lightning strikes, you would think it would be fairly easy to get a photo, but I have no idea how. I took a couple, but they didn't turn out. Any idea?

I have tried this too. I think it's just a matter of luck. The timing has to be just right to catch the flash as it is just there for a second. A person's reaction time, combined with shutter lag makes it nearly impossible. My suggestion would be to set your camera to Continuous Advance, hold the shutter button down, and hope you catch one. Digital cameras are perfect for this because you can take tons of pictures and they don't cost anything. :)

Once i was on the beach and tried what i had read before,when i heard the noise,i have to be ready for the lighting....i tried,but every time the camera was focus in the wrong place :o The lighting was came from my back :rolleyes:
If you hear the noice,wait for the lighting,setting the camera on the bulb and keep open the shutter until the lighting flashes

Some tips here... http://www.lightningphotography.com/tips.html

Once i was on the beach and tried what i had read before,when i heard the noise,i have to be ready for the lighting....i tried,but every time the camera was focus in the wrong place :o The lighting was came from my back :rolleyes:
If you hear the noice,wait for the lighting,setting the camera on the bulb and keep open the shutter until the lighting flashes

The reason you were having trouble is that you had it reversed. Light travels faster than sound, so would see the flash before you hear the thunder. Next time you have a storm and you see the lightning flash, start counting until you hear the thunder. The longer the count, the farther away the lightning is. You can also tell if the storm is moving closer or farther away by comparing the times from one flash to another.

There were so many flashy that I thought I would have to eventually get lucky. I really wasn't sure what setting that I should use. I would like to try again, but I don't really want to wish for another storm like that one. :)

Jan, I remember I was scared of the thunderstorms in Africa. They were so loud. Luckily here things are a lot quieter :)

I think it's just a matter of luck. The timing has to be just right to catch the flash as it is just there for a second. A person's reaction time, combined with shutter lag makes it nearly impossible.
Actually they are not that hard to take, it is like taking photos of fireworks: with a slow shutter speed, the focus set to infinity and a tripod you get them easily. On many photos of lightning/fireworks you can see several flashes but they usually appeared a few seconds apart and were "added" to the first one.
The "luck" would be more to have the "chance" to witness the storm :D

The reason you were having trouble is that you had it reversed. Light travels faster than sound, so would see the flash before you hear the thunder. Next time you have a storm and you see the lightning flash, start counting until you hear the thunder. The longer the count, the farther away the lightning is. You can also tell if the storm is moving closer or farther away by comparing the times from one flash to another.

I didn't know that Gary!i have not many chances in Athens with so many buildings. :)

Patience. And lots of it. Along with a quick finger to hit the shutter. I sat in a parking lot of a grocery store one evening and got pretty lucky. I captured two really awesome strikes.

Last night we had sheet ligtning here for over an hour and I was wondering the sam thing too.