Light painting, frozen time and motion capture are all possible with this technique. Photo: bing.com [ad_1]
Why is such an approach needed? To make magic in a photo, to capture an object, to pull it out of the turmoil of the surrounding world, or, conversely, to show the duration, the infinity of processes. About what to shoot at long exposure during the day and at night, they told in this material.
Light painting, frozen time and motion capture are all possible with this technique. Photo: bing.comBasic tricks
With wiring
Without wiring
Long Exposure Photo Ideas
Light
Water
people in the crowd
Cars
Stars
Dance
Basic tricks
Shooting with wire
base method. The model is in motion — a moving car, a running athlete. The photographer “follows” the subject by moving the camera so that it always remains in the center of the frame during the entire exposure time.
Reception is indispensable if:
- you can not approach the model / building / object;
- you need to capture the dynamics and speed of movement;
- you can not turn on the flash (for example, if you shoot dolphins in the aquarium).
How to take a long exposure photo? It is better to work in M (manual) or shutter priority mode (TV or S). The size depends on the task and the speed of the subject. For example, for a rider, an animal, 1/30–1/60 sec is enough. And for a car, for example, 1/125 is suitable. The slower the shutter speed, the more blurred the background and edges of the subject will be. The shorter, the sharper the frame.
It is optimal to choose equipment that works in tracking autofocus mode (AI Servo AF or AF‑C). If this option is not present, you can manually focus on the approximate location of the model when you press the shutter.
If you can still use the flash, the picture can be combined. Synchronization must be set to the rear shor. The photographer makes the wiring, the flash fires at the end of the movement. As a result, the final action will be clear, and the previous ones will remain blurry.
An example of movement at a slow shutter speed when shooting with panning. It conveys how fast the athlete is moving. Photo: thefreedomtrader.comWithout wiring
There is a second approach. There is no need to move during the shooting, only the model moves. So often they photograph water, tracks of lights (from stars to highways), people.
Long exposure photography is a wonderful artistic technique. A photo from the City of Shadows series. Photo: Alexey TitarenkoAt long exposure without wiring, beautiful night photos are obtained. For example, if you need to shoot a building with bright illumination, but there is a road between you, along which a lot of cars drive. If you take pictures at a short shutter speed, then there will be cars in the foreground. The picture is ugly and overflowing with unnecessary objects. If you photograph the city at a slow shutter speed, there will be no cars. Only tracks of lights from the dimensions and brake lights will remain.
An example of such a technique is jets of water that are washed out. So you can convey how fast the water is moving. Photo: needpix.comLong Exposure Photo Ideas
Light (freezelight)
Light source drawings, also known as freezelight, are a popular trend. The secret is that the camera will not capture individual places where a flashlight, LED strip or sparkler is located. There will be a whole picture in the frame, which can be created by a light source.
For such a picture, you will need several flashlights glued together. Each one needs to be painted in a certain color or stick a colored sticker on top. You can immediately buy colored lanterns. The model must not move, the camera must be placed on a tripod. The assistant with the luminous tape turned on must run around the model. It will move quickly and only a train of colored lights will remain from it in the picture. Illustration: YouTube channel Jordi Koalitic
To take such a photo, you need to set a slow shutter speed on the camera, and attach small luminous flashlights to the wheel. Illustration: YouTube channel Jordi KoaliticYou can get the effect of scattered sparks by winding lit sparklers to the spokes of the wheel. Important: long exposure light drawings should be not only beautiful, but also safe. Therefore, you need to remember about fire safety and be sure to keep nearby something with which you can quickly extinguish the fire.
So, using a slow shutter speed on the camera and sparklers, you can make interesting shots. Illustration: YouTube channel Jordi KoaliticTrails of lights for such shots can be obtained by tying a sparkler tightly to a wire. The assistant will have to run around the model, unwind the wire to make waves, circles. It is important to remember that this is a fire hazardous object and must be used very carefully. For example, away from flammable objects. You can make the process safer by replacing the lights with flashlights.
Water
Shooting at long exposure without wiring helps to get beautiful shots of water bodies. Therefore, this technique is often used when shooting landscapes. The stronger the ripples on the water, the longer the shutter speed will be needed to even out it.
Important: if there is a strong wind, and there are many small trees or shrubs around, then not only the waves, but also the leaves will become blurry. Therefore, it is better to choose calm days for filming.
Ocean, lake, waterfall, fountain — any place where there is water will do. Photo: resepkuu.my.id
In the water at slow shutter speeds, you can shoot not only landscapes. An unusual effect will complement the wedding shooting or love story. Image: YouTube channel B&H Photo VideoRead also:
Unusual ideas for wedding photos in 2022
A long exposure photo of the waterfall can be supplemented. For example, if there is a person in the frame, this will emphasize the power, swiftness, strength of the elements and the fragility of the human figure in comparison with it. Photo: vsegda-pomnim.comWater can be shot beautifully both at slow shutter speeds and at short shutter speeds. The first will help to show the dynamics, the movement of splashes or currents. The second allows you to stop the action. The frame is sharp and clear.
You can clearly see the difference between the long (first image) and short (second) in the photo. Illustration: British Academy of Photography YouTube channelpeople in the crowd
The ghost people in the background look very impressive. This way you can make beautiful long exposure portraits of people, unusual shots for weddings and family photo shoots.
What should be done? Put the model among the crowd. If this is a subway, a busy street, then the model just needs to stand statically for a while. The flow of people is large, there is no need to invent anything extra. But if there is no crowd, you can take 3–4 assistants and ask them to quickly walk around.
In the photo, time has stopped not for the whole world, but only for two people. Illustration: YouTube channel B&H Photo
“Ghosts” on the street. Photo: tr.pinterest.comCars
Shooting a car at a slow shutter speed with wiring is the method that we described at the very beginning of the article. It can be used to show movement. This method is difficult, since you need to adapt to do the main thing — wiring, in order to get a clear object against a blurred background.
An example of a long exposure shot. Photo: mobillegends.netIf you refuse wiring and shoot statically, you can get beautiful and spectacular streaks of light.
Bright plumes look beautiful against the backdrop of the city at night. Photo: improvephotography.comYou can get interesting photos with a long exposure color trail at night not only near busy highways. For example, against the background of a black sky, a spinning and luminous carousel looks fabulous.
An example of a snapshot of a carousel. Photo: wallhere.comStars
Taking pictures of the starry sky with a long exposure at night, you can get beautiful shots. For example, you can capture the movement of the stars. Details on how to organize such a survey were described in a separate article.
An example of a snapshot of star tracks. Photo: en.wallpaper.mob.orgDance
You can catch the movements of dancers, show expression, speed, grace with the help of this technique. You will need a flash and shooting with wiring. This will allow you to catch the last movement of the dancer, and all the previous ones will remain a beautiful blurry train.
A spectacular shot can be taken both on stage and in the studio. Photo: 2.bp.blogspot.comWe hope that the examples in this article will help you create spectacular shots. Long exposure is a simple tool that can be used to make almost any picture dynamic and interesting.
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