• What are these dots on this lightning pic?
    43 replies, posted
Hey guys, Figured this was the best place to ask (my usual forum for photography related things is down at present). My brother recently started getting into photography, and is using a Nikon D70s with whatever the typical stock lens is (18-70mm DX I think?). Anyway, we had some storms recently and he was taking long exposure pics of the lightning, and all of the photos came out just fine except this one, but we're at a loss as to explain what exactly is going on in the pic; [media]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6113/lightningdots.jpg[/media] I at first thought it might have been some wierd static effect but, I have no idea. Thoughts? *edit* On the original sized 3008x2000px image, at full size the little lights look like 4-pronged stars. If that means anything...
aliens
Dust particles that got super lit up by the lightning? No idea really.
Weather balloon.
Cumulative noise from the CCD during long exposures.
Noise inherent in the camera. Take other pics and you should notice the exact same pattern of spots. Usually they are removed by the camera taking a second picture with the shutter closed (no light gathered, black image other than the noise), then subtracting the closed-shutter image away. Guess that didn't happen for some reason?
[QUOTE=IpHa;18779663]Cumulative noise from the CCD during long exposures.[/QUOTE] That would sound about right.
The air becomes so charged from the lightning that it is picked up on the CCD and ultimately the image itself.
Rain drops?
I zoomed in close, and they all seem too perfect to be something on the lens/in the photo. I'd say your camera glitched up. wow, ninja'd about three times.
If this was the only picture that have this problem, it is possible that the CMOS processor on your camera failed to calibrate properly for that image.
That lightning is awesome.
I would say swamp gas, but apparently that's bannable now, so I won't. Instead I will write a sincere and meaningful post... Since they are in front of the buildings as well, I would assume it has something to do with the lens. It's also a bit strange how they are all red, blue, or green. Maybe some sort of refraction between dust particles and some part of the lens? I'm not too sure. whoa, mega ninja'd - 11 posts
[QUOTE=IpHa;18779663]Cumulative noise from the CCD during long exposures.[/QUOTE] All of the exposures were identical in length and every single one except this one turned out OK... Would the CCD generate the necessary heat (noise) to cause this within 30 seconds? And why not in ANY other shot? :ohdear: [QUOTE=B1N4RY!;18779675]If this was the only picture that have this problem, it is possible that the CMOS processor on your camera failed to calibrate properly for that image.[/QUOTE] That seems more likely to me...
photoshoped dots
Id say bad camera? Or maybe the ligtening was intense and it affected your camera?
Anyway, here are a few of the other shots. The last one was just a 5sec exposure but it looks awesome; [media]http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8752/lightning1b.jpg[/media] [media]http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5148/lightning2l.jpg[/media] [media]http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7397/lightning3w.jpg[/media]
[QUOTE=Sobek-;18779753]Anyway, here are a few of the other shots. The last one was just a 5sec exposure but it looks awesome; [media]http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8752/lightning1b.jpg[/media] [media]http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5148/lightning2l.jpg[/media] [media]http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7397/lightning3w.jpg[/media][/QUOTE] All i can say. Thats no lighting THATS THE COMBINE PORTAL.
[QUOTE=Sobek-;18779753][media]http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5148/lightning2l.jpg[/media] [/QUOTE] There can be only one! [img]http://theflickcast.com/wp-content/uploads//highlander.jpg[/img]
Someone should move this to the photography section, better answers there.
[QUOTE=IpHa;18779663]Cumulative noise from the CCD during long exposures.[/QUOTE] That only happens if you have a really old, or crappy camera, I figured it was imperfections on the lens or dead pixels.
Santa Clause gave your brother a new camera early. He added in some Christmas colors.
[QUOTE=IpHa;18779663]Cumulative noise from the CCD during long exposures.[/QUOTE] Exactly that, I get a similar thing happen with my long exposures
ORBS :tinfoil:
[url]http://www.wheresgeorge.com/[/url] doesent work. just comes out white to me, tried in chrome and firefox
Awesome photograph, you should be able to open it up in photo shop to remove all the dots.
[QUOTE=Hendo;18780139][url]http://www.wheresgeorge.com/[/url] doesent work. just comes out white to me, tried in chrome and firefox[/QUOTE] Ummm wrong topic? Sorry but this is the "What are these dots on this lightning pic?" Room/topic.
those are some pretty awesome pictures
thanks mate this is my new desktop bg
They're dots of sheer awesome.
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