I recently uploaded a photo that had a few comments and questions around how I took it, it's quite a simple process so let me show you how to take your own.
We'll be using the Manual mode on our cameras, usually indicated by a little M on the shooting mode dial. Manual mode means that you are bypassing all the fancy features your camera has and telling it exactly how to take the photo yourself. Check your cameras handbook on how to adjust the settings if you're not sure.
1) Make it dark
This step is easy, go out at night. Your shutter will be open for a long time so you need the background to be dark, otherwise the image will blow out and just be a blanket of white.
2) Lengthen the shutter speed
This effect is all about the shutter speed. This is the amount of time the camera spends capturing your image, usually we like fast shutter speeds so you get nice crisp images of your subject, in this case however we want the total opposite. The photo above had a 10 second exposure, set yours to the same.
2.5) Aperture
For best results it's also a good idea to set your Aperture (aka F-Stop) if your camera lets you. The Aperture limits the amount of light that the lens lets through to the sensor. As a rough guide, my photo was taken at f.10.
3) Find a light source
Obviously for this effect to work you need a fairly strong light source. Anything can be used, my photo featured a street lamp, but you can just as easily use a city skyline or a string of fairy lights. Playing around with different sources of light makes for some interesting results.
4) Jiggle It
Finally, take a photo with your new settings in place and wiggle your camera to your hearts content. Take loads of photos and each time move your camera about in a different motion, circles, squares, vertically, horizontally, in a heart shape, seriously, just go crazy!
If you use this effect it would be great to hear how you get on in the comments.
Thanks Ross! I am learning how to adjust the controls on my camera, but I really appreciate the how-tos you've given on interesting shots. I keep seeing great inspiration shots on here, so it's nice to have someone give tips on how to try it.
today, i went into the bathroom... turned off the lights and took some photos.
i made one of the light trails my entry today:
you can also click on the links in my entry to see the other attempts of today.
i also wanted to share one my 10 year old daughter took today. i'm trying to teach her photography (she wants a 365 account, and i made a deal with her that if she could prove that it wouldn't be all work on my end, i would let her have an account... we'll see!)
(duh! i just now realized you allowed basic html in comments, makes life so much easier when sites do that.)
Here's one my friends and I did over the summer. The background is a tiny waterfall in a creek. We used my friends camera with a 30 second exposure. The light sources are two green laser pens. We basically tried to paint the entire area in the photo to create a 3d effect.
@Scrivna Thank you for the great tip I tried this last night and made it my photo for the 25th, I was pleased of the result for my first go... but I am now going to experiment.
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i made one of the light trails my entry today:
you can also click on the links in my entry to see the other attempts of today.
thanks, this was fun!
Michele Blue
(duh! i just now realized you allowed basic html in comments, makes life so much easier when sites do that.)
Travis, your picture is pretty crazy, the trails are a funky shape,maybe it's the shape of your lens opening causing it. nice stuff!
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