METHOD: Kodak DX4330, Tripod, 4 second exposure.
With a digital camera such as the one I use, it's quite simple, and cheap. All you need to do is mount the camera on a tripod, and set the exposure time for 4 seconds. With other cameras, you can set the "time exposures" for much longer, with the result that you could get many strikes in one shot. Be careful for over exposing, however. Obviously, it's only possible to do this at night, because of the exposure. Shorter time exposures can be done during the day, but you would have to take a lot more pictures to get a few good ones. Because it's all digital, you can throw away the pictures that don't have a good image on them, and only use the good ones. Far less expensive than developing film to see what you got.
The 4 seconds gives plenty of time to get a good picture.
Of course, you should never expose yourself to danger, so stay covered, and away from trees.
ANYONE can take pictures of lightning. You don't need expensive equipment.
Again, these next images were photographed on the same evening, from the same spot.
METHOD: Kodak DX4330, Tripod, 4 second exposure.
A big storm came over on 20 January 2005, this shot was taken from the shore of Lake Illawarra, and the bolt of lightning went in two opposite directions in the sky, and the reflection on the lake is genuine. Click on the image for the full resolution version.
METHOD: Kodak DX4330, Tripod, 4 second exposure
METHOD: Kodak DX4330, Tripod, 4 second exposure Lightened and cropped with Photoshop