Moods of the sky around our weather instruments 2015-16

[Steve]

When you have a chance, could you ask a polite question on one of these forums on how they do this?  The admins on V-8 Buick aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer, so If I want to give them a pointer, I would need to be as specific as possible!

Sorry, nope. Since SubaruOutback.org was taken over by one of the big companies, admin has been completely unresponsive to PMs from members and moderators alike for years. It is a very odd situation. No one can do any maintenance above the simple vBulletin moderator functions. And that's the only vBulletin forum I'm aware of that does that.

[elagache]

Dear Steve and WeatherCat users coping with the "brave new world" of cloud computing . . .

Sorry, nope. Since SubaruOutback.org was taken over by one of the big companies, admin has been completely unresponsive to PMs from members and moderators alike for years. It is a very odd situation. No one can do any maintenance above the simple vBulletin moderator functions. And that's the only vBulletin forum I'm aware of that does that.

Wow!  That's a shock.  Sorry to hear that a forum that I'm sure you have long enjoyed participating in could effectively undergo such a "hostile takeover."

Thanks for sharing since it is something we all should be aware of since it could happen anywhere.   Even the situation at Weather Underground isn't exactly reassuring.

Oh well, . . . Edouard

[dfw_pilot]

Quite a few levels had to be adjusted to make it look like I saw it, but I'm happy with my first lightning shot! Happy for our independence, and got to see both man-made and nature made fireworks tonight! All the best,

dfw

[Blicj11]

Crazy good shot! Thanks for sharing.

[xairbusdriver]

Outstanding! Of course, it's  not recommended to be out standing during these events! Remember, only your aircraft has electric charge dissipators!

[dfw_pilot]

LOL! Yes, I was outstanding on my covered porch!

[xairbusdriver]

I was [...] on my covered porch!

That's a bit safer, assuming you weren't barefooted! You might notice in your image that the lightening likes to take lots of sharp turns. I think it's designed that way to reach under overhanging roofs!

Kids! You buy'em books and all they do is eat the pages...

I think I can still hear your wife trying to explain to the kids... "Don't worry! You're daddy's not crazy, he's just been flying with the window open, again."

[dfw_pilot]

LOL!!

[elagache]

Dear dfw, Blick, X-Air,

Quite a few levels had to be adjusted to make it look like I saw it, but I'm happy with my first lightning shot! Happy for our independence, and got to see both man-made and nature made fireworks tonight! All the best,

First thank you it is a very beautiful shot! 

  . . . . However, you're a cheater! . . .

You deleted all the EXIF data so we can't worm out of you your photography secrets!

At least you owe us the type of camera used.  Did you take this with your iPhone or da' heavy artillery? . . . .

Curious minds want to know!

Cheers, Edouard 

[Bull Winkus]

Congratulations! That's a magnificent catch! You da MAN!

[dfw_pilot]

Sorry, I forgot that my Lightroom export settings strip away some info. The full exif is copied below.

For this, I used the "heavy artillery", lol! One thing I can't recommend any stronger, is a good arca-swiss style ball head and solid tripod. I use a Kirk ball-head and Gitzo 3-section tripod. A ball head is the best, most sturdy, and easiest to operate of any head. I hate pistol grip heads because they aren't stable, and pan-tilt left the building back in the 70's. A three section tripod is better than a 4-section because it's sturdier and takes less time to extend. Never get a tripod with a rising center column. The column is useless and, you guessed it, not as sturdy. I took Thom Hogan's advice and bought a good ball-head and tripod first, because after you've bought a bunch of junk and realize you should have done it right the first time, you end up spending more money. That's my two unasked for cents.

dfw

File name:   070516_lightning_0003.jpg
   File size:   382882 bytes (0x0, infbpp, 0x)
   EXIF Summary:   2.8s f/8.0 ISO200 50mm (35mm eq:50mm)

Camera-Specific Properties:

   Equipment Make:   NIKON CORPORATION
   Camera Model:   NIKON D700
   Camera Software:   Adobe Lightroom 6.0 (Macintosh)
   Photographer:   dfw_pilot
   Maximum Lens Aperture:   f/1.4
   Sensing Method:   One-Chip Color Area
   Color Filter Array Pattern:   854
   Focal Length (35mm Equiv):   50 mm

Image-Specific Properties:

   Horizontal Resolution:   100 dpi
   Vertical Resolution:   100 dpi
   Image Created:   2016:07:05 21:44:08
   Exposure Time:   2.8 sec
   F-Number:   f/8.0
   Exposure Program:   Manual
   ISO Speed Rating:   200
   Lens Aperture:   f/8.0
   Exposure Bias:   0 EV
   Metering Mode:   Pattern
   Light Source:   Unknown
   Flash:   No Flash
   Focal Length:   50.00 mm
   Comment:   (c)TobyCline.com
   Color Space Information:   sRGB
   Rendering:   Normal
   Exposure Mode:   Manual
   White Balance:   Manual
   Scene Capture Type:   Standard
   Gain Control:   None
   Contrast:   Normal
   Saturation:   Normal
   Sharpness:   Normal
   Subject Distance Range:   Unknown

Other Properties:

   Resolution Unit:   i
   Exif IFD Pointer:   284
   Exif Version:   2.30
   Image Generated:   2016:07:05 01:03:03
   Image Digitized:   2016:07:05 01:03:03
   Shutter Speed:   1/0 sec
   DateTimeOriginal Second Fraction:   65
   DateTimeDigitized Second Fraction:   65
   File Source:   Digital Still Camera
   Scene Type:   Directly Photographed
   Digital Zoom Ratio:   1

I also got a shot of the man-made lightning last night, too!

[xairbusdriver]

Thanks for the EXIF data, but you left out many other important bits (no pun intended, of course). What color is the carry strap on the camera? Was it still attached when you made these shots? Where is it stored when not in use? There are many more details we need before we can accept you image(s) for our archives. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm sure you understand the necessity for complete and accurate info. BTW, you can use this link to enter the missing data mentioned above plus the entire database record at:

http://www.exif.ru/details/minutiaandbankingdatacollection.asp

[dfw_pilot]

Hahaha! That's a good link!

[xairbusdriver]

Just proves some people will click on any link they see, even from an "untrusted" (nay, suspicious, even nefarious!) poster!!!

[elagache]

Dear dfw, X-Air, and WeatherCat stutterbugs,

Sorry, I forgot that my Lightroom export settings strip away some info. The full exif is copied below.

  . . . Hey, would you come over and get my copy Lightroom working?  It was my Christmas present and is still sitting in the box waiting for me to find the time to upgrade! . . . 

For this, I used the "heavy artillery", lol! One thing I can't recommend any stronger, is a good arca-swiss style ball head and solid tripod.
. . .
I use a I took Thom Hogan's advice and bought a good ball-head and tripod first, because after you've bought a bunch of junk and realize you should have done it right the first time, you end up spending more money. That's my two unasked for cents.

I think I'll also have to follow Thom's advice, but it isn't that high up on my priorities.   I picked up a nifty Dolica traveling tripod from Costco that is more than sturdy enough to hold my iPhone for taking movies of my trusty wagon starting (I'm still tweaking the fuel injection! . . . .)  My only standard weight tripod was bought by my parents about the time - I was born!!

I also got a shot of the man-made lightning last night, too!

That's another nifty shot but next time, get the weather instruments involved! 

Cheers, Edouard