DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

 

Shooting in stormy weather can produce some great shots, but you need to know a few things before you start hitting the shutter button.

 

1. Safety First

Firstly, be very careful if there's thunder and lightning as this can potentially be very dangerous for you and your equipment. Make sure you are a safe distance away from the storm and don't stray too far away from your car or home, just in case. It's always worth reading up on lightning safety tips and if it's possible, consider shooting from inside.
 

2. Long Exposures

As you'll increase your chance of capturing lightning if you use a longer exposure, a tripod will be needed to stop shake spoiling your shots. If your camera has a Bulb setting, and you have a way to keep the shutter open, use this method to increase your chances further. If not, around a 30-second exposure should be fine.

Storms can occur at any time of day but trying to use longer exposures during the day can lead to overexposed skies so wait for an evening storm when the sky's darker.
 

3. Timing

The process of shooting storms can be a bit hit and miss, however, as Pete mentioned in a previous article, you can determine roughly when to fire the shutter by working out the direction of which the storm is moving.

Pete said: "In nature, light travels faster than sound, so lightening strikes first followed by thunder, but us photographers can reverse the process (wait for thunder then count the time between that and a lightning strike) to time a shot and predict roughly when lightning will strike.

When you hear thunder count in seconds the gap before the lightning strike(s). If after the next rumble the lightning strike's quicker, it's likely that the storm is moving towards you and strikes will become more frequent until it passes over."
 

4. Lightning

To capture lighting, you need patience. Set your camera up on a tripod and aim it at where the storm seems to be. Look where the lightning appears and set your camera up facing that general area as lightning tends to strike intermittently in the same area. You should use a small aperture, f/16 or f/22 if possible. Use a long exposure as mentioned earlier to increase your chances of capturing lightning. You may find you need to focus manually as autofocus can struggle in dark conditions.

You'll need a piece of card to cover the lens which you can remove when you think lightning's about to strike and hold back in place when it's happened. Timing is everything but after a few strikes, you should get the hang of it. 

 

5. Clouds

It isn't all about lightning though, storm clouds can also make very provoking photos too. To add more interest, use objects such as trees on the horizon line. This will also add scale to the shot, further enhancing the size of the storm clouds above.
 

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© GoPro

 

GoPro has expanded its lineup with the MISSION 1 PRO ILS, an ultra-compact cinema camera featuring interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lens support. Built for filmmakers needing professional flexibility in tight setups, the rugged handheld pairs a 50MP 1-inch sensor with GoPro's GP3 processor to capture up to 8K60 video, Open Gate recording, and 10-bit Log color. Launching in tandem with a free iOS monitoring app, the camera provides pro-level tools like focus peaking and LUT previews directly on mobile devices.

 

From GoPro:

 

Now Available for Pre-Order at GoPro.com

MISSION 1 PRO ILS Pairs New 50MP 1" Sensor, 8K60 and Open Gate 8K + 4K Video, and Powerful + Ultra-Efficient GP3 Processor with Interchangeable Micro Four Thirds Lens System

New GoPro MISSION Monitor App Delivers Professional Monitoring Tools Including Focus Peaking, LUT Preview and Zebra Pattern

 

GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRO) announced that a third camera in the MISSION 1 Series, MISSION 1 PRO ILS, is available for pre-order at GoPro.com. The camera will be available at retailers in September. Arriving the same day is the new MISSION Monitor app, a free professional video monitoring solution for iPhone and iPad.

Since launching earlier this year, the MISSION 1 Series has earned editor's choice awards and other recognitions across the industry, including from Tom's Guide, Gizmodo, PCMag, Mashable, Digital Camera World, RedShark News, and The Shortcut. MISSION 1 PRO ILS also collected two awards at the pro-focused NAB Show 2026 including CineD's Best-of-Show Award.

 

MISSION 1 PRO ILS: A New Class of Ultra-Compact, Interchangeable-Lens 8K Cinema Camera

MISSION 1 PRO ILS gives content creators and professional filmmakers the legendary versatility of GoPro combined with the creative flexibility to pair it with the best Micro Four Thirds (MFT) compatible lens for the shot. Whether it's intricate macro details, telephoto isolation or wide cinematic framing, MISSION 1 PRO ILS adapts to capture the vision. Built around the same new 50MP 1" sensor and ultra-efficient GP3 processor as MISSION 1 PRO, it weighs just 6.95oz (197g), small enough to rig a lensed camera into tight spaces like the interior of a car with simpler, smaller rigging. The result is the world's smallest, most rugged cinema camera, at a fraction of the cost and size of comparable 8K camera systems.

 

MISSION 1 PRO ILS features include:

• Micro Four Thirds Lens Compatibility: Pair MISSION 1 PRO ILS with a wide variety of manual focus and manual aperture MFT lenses, or use an adapter to attach vintage lenses, PL mount cinema lenses and other specialty glass. Harness shallow depth of field, smooth focus transitions and selective focus for visuals that pull viewers in.1
• New 50MP 1" Sensor + Next-Generation GP3 Processor: The 1" sensor (1.0-type sensor) captures pro-quality results in a compact body, with a Quad Bayer 12MP mode in 4K Open Gate for even better dynamic range and low-light performance.
• Best-in-Class 8K + 4K Video With Open Gate: Capture up to 8K60, 4K240 and 1440p480, plus Open Gate modes up to 8K30 and 4K120 that use the full image sensor for maximum height and width delivering the most post-production flexibility. Switch to Burst Slo-Mo for 10-second 1080p clips at 960 fps for 32x slo-mo.2
• Professional Color and Control: 10-bit color, 10-bit Log encoding with GP-Log2, HLG HDR video, bit rates up to 240Mbps, and Timecode Sync for multi-camera shoots. Extend the camera's capabilities beyond stock modes with GoPro Labs to unlock hundreds of unreleased features, including 300Mbps bit rates and custom image stabilization.
• Focus Assist + Focus Peaking: Focus Assist magnifies the shot up to 8x on the rear touch screen to verify focus before recording. Focus Peaking uses contrasting color overlays to highlight what's in focus, with selectable highlight colors and a High Sensitivity mode for low-contrast and low-light shots.
• Emmy® Award-Winning HyperSmooth Video Stabilization: Get the smoothest possible footage across a wide variety of focal lengths without a gimbal, added gear or special editing software.3
• Built-in Professional Audio: A 4-microphone array delivers improved stereo recording and wind noise reduction, while 32-bit float audio recorded to a separate .wav file virtually eliminates digital clipping. Native multi-track recording, Automatic Gain Control, manual gain and limiting, Bluetooth® 5.3 audio and USB-C microphone support expand flexibility during capture.
• Over 3 Hours of 4K Runtime + Faster Charging: The all-new 2150mAh Enduro 2 battery delivers over 3 hours of continuous 4K30 recording and over 5 hours of 1080p30 recording on a single charge, with rapid charging for less downtime on set.4
• 50MP Photos + 44MP Frame Grabs: Shoot up to 50MP photos in Single, Interval and Burst modes, and pull stunning stills up to 44MP from 4:3 8K video using the GoPro Quik app or the non-linear editor of choice.
• Rugged, Rig-Ready Design: A weatherproof body with GoPro's trademark durability and three mounting options open MISSION 1 PRO ILS up to GoPro's lineup of mounts and accessories, from extension poles and mounting buckles for vehicle-mounted and follow-cam rigs to the Point-and-Shoot Grip, which turns it into a classic handheld camera.5

 

MISSION 1 PRO ILS is available for pre-order today at GoPro.com for $699.99 MSRP and $599.99 for existing GoPro subscribers.6 The camera will be available at GoPro.com and at retailers globally beginning September 2nd. Micro Four Thirds lenses are sold separately.

 

GoPro MISSION Monitor app: Free Professional Monitoring Tool for iPhone and iPad

Made for MISSION 1 Series cameras, the new GoPro MISSION Monitor app is a live preview solution that gives content creators and professional filmmakers the tools they need to compose shots perfectly. It connects the camera to an iPhone or iPad so creators can verify focus on a larger screen and see how a finished shot will look before capturing a single frame. The MISSION Monitor app is free and will be available on the Apple App Store® on September 2nd. Features include:

• Focus Peaking highlights in-focus elements, with the option to adjust sensitivity, intensity and color.
• Focus Assist lets filmmakers pinch to zoom in on the shot and check focus on a larger screen.
• Zebra Pattern overlays diagonal strips over the shot preview in real time as a visual guide to help avoid overexposure and dial in precise settings.
• Real-Time LUT Preview shows how a GP-Log2 shot will look after grading with provided MISSION 1 Series or custom LUTs.
• Shot Overlays display aspect ratios, customizable grid lines, and center point to make it easy to line up and frame the shot for the intended output or platform.
• Integrated Camera Controls let filmmakers start and stop recording and switch capture modes right from their device.

 

Availability

MISSION 1 PRO ILS is available for pre-order today at GoPro.com for $699.99 MSRP, or $599.99 for existing GoPro subscribers, with shipping of pre-orders beginning next week and availability at GoPro retailers globally in September.5 The MISSION Monitor app is free and available for download from the Apple App Store® on September 2nd.

MISSION 1, MISSION 1 PRO, and MISSION 1 PRO Grip Edition are $100 off for a limited time and available now at GoPro.com. MISSION 1 PRO Creator Edition, MISSION 1 PRO Ultimate Creator Edition and the full suite of MISSION 1 Series mounts and accessories are also available now at GoPro.com and at retailers globally. To learn more, visit GoPro.com.

 

Footnotes

1 MISSION 1 PRO ILS is compatible with Micro Four Thirds lenses designed to cover a 1" or larger sensor with manual focus and a fixed aperture (no greater than f/4.5) or manual aperture adjustment. MISSION 1 PRO ILS does not have electronic contacts and is not compatible with lenses that require electronics to control focus, aperture and other camera features. Micro Four Thirds lenses are sold separately.

2Burst Slo-Mo (1080p960) is limited to 8-bit and does not support GP-Log2 encoding.

3 In-camera HyperSmooth video stabilization is supported with five specifically profiled fisheye lenses — Laowa 4mm f/2.8, 7Artisans 6mm f/2, 7Artisans 7.5mm f/2.8, Brightin Star 7.5mm f/2.8 and Meike 7.5mm f/2.8 — and with rectilinear MFT lenses from 6mm to 500mm. GoPro has tested rectilinear lenses up to 50mm for guaranteed performance; lenses longer than 50mm may deliver varied performance. Lenses sold separately.

4 Runtime measured at a temperature of 77°F (25°C) with a wind speed of 0.6m/sec; Bluetooth® and HyperSmooth on; front and rear LCD screens on with a 1-minute screensaver; voice control and GPS off.

5 Accessories sold separately.

6 $100 off is available to yearly subscribers only upon subscription renewal.

 

Most of the time, when you're out taking photographs, even if it's a quick snap, make sure your shot has a strong point of interest as if it doesn't, you'll find anyone who looks at your image will look at the image, their eyes won't find anything to settle on and they'll simply move on to look at another shot. Without a focal point, there's nothing to draw them into the photograph so they'll simply lose interest with it. Of course, the more interesting the focal point is, the better your shot will be but there are a few other things you can do to make sure your focal point draws the viewer's attention.

 

1. One Main Focus Point

Images can have various points of interest but don't let them pull the attention from the main subject as your shot will just become confusing and the viewer will be unsure what to look at. Less attention-grabbing points of interest can be used on lines to draw the eye to a final resting point.

 

2. Lead In Lines

As mentioned above, by placing minor points of interest along a line you can guide the eye to your main point of interest. Straight lines such as fences or paths work well but other shapes, as talked about in our beginner's composition guide, can work equally as well. The spiral of a staircase will guide the eye up or down while positioning items along an S curve with the main point of focus at the end will lead the eye through the image. There's also the triangle where key features appear along the sides and points of the shape and when it's used correctly, you can create balance in your shot and also guide the eye through the photograph. Repetitive or symmetrical objects such as lamp posts lining either side of a street, a line of palm trees, statues or a series of arches can also be used to guide the eye to a single point.

 

3. What's In Focus

By using a larger aperture if you're working manually or by selecting Portrait Mode or Macro Mode if you're working close-up, which lets the camera know you want to use a larger aperture, you'll be able to throw the background out of focus, leaving all the attention on your main subject which will be sharp. By putting more distance between your subject and the background you'll be able to make the effect more prominent too. If you're a DSLR user, switching to a longer lens (zoom or prime) with wider maximum apertures will make it easier to get the blurry backgrounds you're looking for.

 

Photo by Joshua Waller 

 

4. Blur

When your main subject is moving, be it a pet, a person running, a car or bike, try using a slower shutter speed and pan with them, blurring the background into streaks but leaving them sharp. This will mean all focus falls on your main subject and the sense of speed is increased thanks to the horizontal streaks the background now has.

 

5. Size

A more obvious way to make sure you have one main point of focus is to fill the frame with it. This works particularly well when photographing flowers but can be applied to portraits too.

Photo by Joshua Waller 

6. Colour And Pop

Use contrasting colours or take it one step further and have a go at colour-popping, where you leave your main point of focus in colour and turn the rest of the image black & white. If you're shooting portraits, positioning your subject against a dark background will really make them 'pop' from the image.

 

7. Frame

By adding a frame you guide the eye to one main focal point in the scene that you want highlighting. You can also hide other objects you don't want to be in the shot behind your frame and it does have the added effect of just making your image more interesting generally.

 

8. Crop

If you have images on your computer that seem a little busy try cropping it to see if removing some of the elements makes it less busy and as a result, you get a main point of focus.
 

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