themegalomaniac

Expose for the sky - if conditions permit - set the time to bulb (Perhaps this is why you got burnt out skies ).

Point at location where lightning might occur. And keep clicking.

The setting are best determined by switching to Av mode and setting the smallest possible aperture i.e. f24 - etc. Basically you want to improve your chances of getting the lightning shot by having the shutter open as long as possible. You do this by using the smallest possible ISO and the smallest possible aperture. You definitely need a tripod.

You need to focus correctly before you start. I think I used the sky/clouds and autofocused

Oh yeah - it helps if you're using a wide angle lens to cover as much sky as possible and then crop to the lightning if needed later.

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