Choosing the Right Trigger Settings for Your Next Storm Chase

Every storm is different. Some are pulsing with constant intracloud flashes, others deliver one ground strike every few minutes. Getting your lightning trigger dialed in is about understanding both the weather and your camera.

1. Start simple

If you’re new to using a lightning camera trigger, leave most of the advanced features off for your first few sessions. Let the device do its job. The factory defaults on Bolt Hunter are tuned for most storms.

2. Sensitivity

Think of sensitivity like a microphone gain knob. Too low and you’ll miss distant bolts. Too high and you’ll get false triggers from distant reflections or car lights. The sweet spot is usually around 50–70% in moderate conditions, but you’ll learn to read your environment.

3. Ambient light adaptation

Ambient brightness changes fast during a chase. A good trigger compensates automatically, but it helps to know that darker scenes exaggerate flash intensity. If you’re shooting toward city lights or sunset, use mid-range sensitivity; if you’re in the desert under moonlight, go lower.

4. Timelapse mode

Running timelapse and lightning detection together keeps you covered. Bolt Hunter handles both simultaneously, which means your intervalometer settings can stay consistent while the trigger catches strikes in between.

5. Review and adjust

After the first few shots, zoom in. If the bolt looks overexposed, close your aperture slightly or reduce sensitivity. If you’re not getting any strikes while others clearly flashed nearby, bump it up.

Lightning photography is never fully automatic, and that’s a good thing. The more you chase, the more you’ll get a feel for your gear and how it reacts.