Photo Cells and Lightning - off topic

hi Mike,

I am not sure the photocell would triger. My understanding is that it infrared base. You should ask someone like Ted who understand the designs better.

My suggestion would be to try and rig a slave unit to trigger the camera. Normally they are used to trigger another flash.

I know some hunters use motion sensors to trigger cameras to help them locate wildlife, may be you can modify one of those to react to light instead.

The only other way I know to capture lightning on film is to use a tripod and very slow exposure speed. Depending on the background trial and error will tell you how long you can leave your lens open.

Good luck with it!

Even though photocells use a wavelength of light which isn't visible, a common sports photocell will, in fact, fire if enough visible light floods its sensor. Try setting off a flashbulb within a meter or two of your RX cell, in direct path of its lens, and you will see what I'm talking about.

It's unlikely that a lightning flash will pack enough wallop to flood the photocell's sensor unless the lightning strikes within a few dozen meters of the aiming path of the cell.

I would wager a fellow as clever as Mr. Walker can figure out a way, perhaps using concentrating lenses, to amplify the light generated by a lightning strike to an intensity strong enough to blind the sensor of his RX cell.

Albert Vetter or Roman Merhaar at ALGE could tell you exactly how much light is required to "blind" a photocell. Albert told me last year during a discussion of photocells physics, but I forgot the exact figure he referenced.