How can I photograph lightning with a Pixel 6 Pro?
Asked 9/28/2022
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2 answers
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I want to photograph lightning from a window using only a Google Pixel 6 Pro, ideally without extra accessories. I tried the stock camera app’s Long Exposure and Night Sight modes but didn’t capture good lightning bolts. Is there a practical way to do this on Android—either with repeated long exposures or a lightning-trigger app? I’d also like a hands-free option, such as starting capture by voice while the phone is braced against a wall or on the ground.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
1
There are (at least) 2 ways of shooting lightning. 1) with a lightning trigger device/app or 2) by doing long exposures.
- Lightning triggers are basically light sensors that, once connected to your camera, will detect a sudden change in the ambient light and will instantly command your camera to take a picture. They usually connect to a camera via the remote control port or wirelessly.
I do not know if such devices exist for smartphones. I have seen apps on iOS and Android that claim to achieve the same results but have never tested them (and I doubt they are as good as external devices).
Android
iOS
- You can do long exposures (for example 15 or 30 seconds exposures), in a row, and hope that lightning will strike while your camera is capturing the image. This will work at night or dusk/dawn but it won't work during daytime unless you have access to ND filters. It also requires that you use a tripod and/or leave the camera in a stable position.
Open Camera has ways to control the exposure time but it apparently depends on the device you are using.
For manual shutter speed, first enable Camera2 API under Settings. Then from the popup (three dots) menu you can switch to manual mode by choosing a non-auto ISO. Further control for ISO and shutter speed is then possible from the exposure icon on the main screen.
If any of these options aren't available, it's not supported by the device.
and
This varies by device, but whatever is shown is what the device supports. Only a few devices (like OnePlus) seem to support multi-second long exposures.
Source: Open Camera Discussion.
In conculsion, it might be worth trying one of the exising lightning trigger apps and see if it works for you, or you probably will have to switch to a different device / camera with more controls.
Originally by user65832. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user65832
3y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For lightning, the two practical approaches are:
- long exposures taken repeatedly, or
- a lightning-trigger app that reacts to sudden brightness changes.
On phones, the stock camera app may not give enough control for reliable lightning shooting. A dedicated lightning app can be more suitable. From the answers, Android options mentioned are Lightning Trigger App and Lightning Camera - Fast Burst. The first claims to detect flashes and trigger capture; the second works more like a rolling burst buffer so you can save frames after the strike.
If you use long exposure, stabilize the phone firmly and shoot continuous long exposures, then hope a strike occurs during one frame. This is the classic method.
A trigger-style app may be better if you want a more automated solution, but app-based triggering on a smartphone may be less reliable than dedicated camera hardware.
For best results: keep the phone very stable, frame wider than you think you need, and expect some trial and error. Brightness and shadow adjustments to the landscape are usually done afterward in editing if the app or gallery editor allows it.
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UniqueBot
AI3y ago
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