light movement tasks2
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Capturing movement of light using
forced flash with a long exposure
Capturing movement against still
backgrounds with a tripod
Introduction
At night, you have much greater control over the length of
time that you can leave the shutter speed open, which is
good if you are photographing still objects, however, it will
lead to blur with moving objects. However, by exploiting the
movement of a light source, you can literally draw with light. If
you use a forced flash and long exposure, you will also
capture the foreground in focus and sharp, whilst also
capturing the streaks of light.
Settings
Equipment: Tripod and light source e.g. torch
ISO: 50-200
Speed: 1-5 sec
Aperture: Refer to light meter reading/experiment
Flash: On/Off
Notes
Keep the camera still by using a tripod or place on a fixed
surface and only use a flash if you want to capture the subject
as well as the streaks of light. Remember that the light source
needs to move. For more interesting effects, try doing it
against a background of neon light or against a fast-moving
flow of traffic at night. Use different light sources such as
Christmas lights.
Introduction
When dealing with a scene that has continuous movement, it
can be effective to capture the movement over a long period
of time by opening up the shutter.
Settings
Equipment: Tripod & camera release cable
ISO: 50-100
Speed: 1-5 sec (see notes)
Aperture: f.22
Flash: Off
Notes
It is essential to use a tripod and camera release cable or
camera timer as any slight movement will result in the entire
picture being blurred. If it is done at twilight, it is easier to
control as there is too much light during the day and this
leads to over-exposure as the shutter is left open for too
long. As you are opening the shutter for a long period of
time, you need to close down your aperture to allow in as
little light as possible e.g. f.22 and use a slow film (50-100
ISO). This involves trial and error - practice with a digital
camera to understand the principles.