Ezra Kamer
If I am shooting a storm with my video camera inside a car am I protected from lightning?
I will be in the Tucson area this week.
I will be in the Tucson area this week.
Wes Carter
EF5
For the most part, yes. But if you roll the window down and have the camera sticking out the window you won't be as protected.
The common myth is the tires insulate the car from the ground. This could not be further from the truth. If you think about it, the lightning has traveled thousands of feet to reach the car, it is absolutely nothing for it to ionize the 12-24" of air below the car to complete the pathway. What is going on is the car essentially becomes a Faraday cage, directing the current flow around the outside of the vehicle away from the occupants.
The common myth is the tires insulate the car from the ground. This could not be further from the truth. If you think about it, the lightning has traveled thousands of feet to reach the car, it is absolutely nothing for it to ionize the 12-24" of air below the car to complete the pathway. What is going on is the car essentially becomes a Faraday cage, directing the current flow around the outside of the vehicle away from the occupants.
Skip Talbot
EF5
In addition to what Wes said, you'll lose your protection if your camera is plugged into any part of the car. If you have it hooked up to DC power, or a monitor that's plugged into DC power, the bolt can travel through the electrical system and fry your camera, and shock you too if you're holding it.
hazelmaryjackson
EF1
- Joined
- May 24, 2011
- Messages
- 58
I was recently chasing with some friends - a couple of whom had commercial standard photography kit - cameras with lenses, tripods, remote trigger wires etc. They were taking lightning shots using their tripods when there was C-G lightning around us. I didn't think this was a good idea (using tripods or taking photos standing next to iron wire fences) when there is C-G lightning around but they did not seem to think this was a problem.
I do not have top range photographic kit. Are you more likely to get hit by lightning if you are using a camera on a tripod or standing near a metal fence when there is C-G lightning or am I over reacting?
I do not have top range photographic kit. Are you more likely to get hit by lightning if you are using a camera on a tripod or standing near a metal fence when there is C-G lightning or am I over reacting?
Wes Carter
EF5
Hazel, I might be 100% wrong on this but I think that the worst thing the tripod will do is increase the time outside the vehicle setting it up and taking it down. That's just a best guess not based on any scientific study so if anyone has a more informed answer I will back off that. I guess it could be more prone to form a leader if there is a CG strike in the vicinity. It's going to be hypocritical of me to say this, but it really isn't a good idea to be outside in a thunderstorm at all.
David Wolfson
EF5
It's not a problem until it is. I think the most important thing about lightning is that the most dangerous are strikes where the danger hasn't made itself obvious by nearby strikes. These are sometimes from higher altitudes away from apparent precipitation.
I don't think tripods make any difference, but being right beside a fence can, since the current can travel some distance along the metal wire or slats.
For desert lightning the best shots IMO are usually well away from storms, where you can capture the high cloud bases and the scenery.
I don't think tripods make any difference, but being right beside a fence can, since the current can travel some distance along the metal wire or slats.
For desert lightning the best shots IMO are usually well away from storms, where you can capture the high cloud bases and the scenery.
Stephen Shield
What I do is set the camera up on a tripod right next to the car then sit in my car and roll down the window to push the shutter button then roll it back up. This minimizes time when I am in danger. Also, if you had a remote you could release the shutter from inside the car.
cedwards
EF5
Ive used up my luck in Arizona shooting in the middle of an intense lightning storm standing on a hill with my camera on a metal tripod and holding a metal cable release.
