Tag: slow shutter

Slowing Down the Shutter
by Roger

When we take photos, we normally want the photo to be a literal snapshot of a point in time, a frozen moment that does not melt away or loses its flavor. We photograph many things that catch our eye or impress us. It may be our children running, riding a bike, a fancy car going down the street or some other item. My wife and I were riding down the highway when several bikers came from behind and began doing various stunts on their bikes (i.e., wheelies, standing on the side, etc.). Unfortunately, I was driving so Deborah took out the camera and began shooting. When we got home, I noticed she did a great job in taking the shot. However, there was something missing in the photo. We didn’t capture the thrill of the moment. The shutter speed was so quick that it froze the motion and it looks as if the biker is standing next to the bike.

There’s an opportunity to catch these events in a more “dramatic” fashion. It involves a slower shutter speed and the technique of panning. Panning requires the photographer to follow the subject as it moves from right to left or vice-versa while simultaneously snapping multiple photos. In order to imply motion the camera’s shutter speed must be slower than normal. This technique allows you to have a sharp image of the moving subject while the environment containing the subject is blurry. A good shutter speed, starting point would be 1/20s and you can increase or decrease the speed depending on the object’s speed or the desired effect. If we use this technique for the biker, the background would be so blurry that it leaves no question as to whether or not he was moving.

Place the camera in the Shutter Priority mode and set the time to 1/20s. Also, put the camera’s shooting mode to continuous. This allows you to hold the shutter button and the camera continues to take images. Finally, follow the action on your LCD screen or view finder and begin shooting. This is a hit or miss technique that produces plenty of misses initially. However, as you get a feel for the technique, you’ll discover a new way of photographing images. I find this technique so challenging yet rewarding that I commit to this technique whenever I travel. I take many shots. However, I usually find a few keepers that make it worth the effort.

Panning is such a popular technique that SLR lenses have components in place to help keep the moving object in focus as you follow it. It is often used in sporting events. However, they often freeze the image with a fast shutter speed (i.e., 1/250s or higher). Nevertheless, the same principles are used during slower speeds.

Thanks for reading and “Keep Shooting”.

        

        

-Roger

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Drawing with Light
by Roger



The word “Photography” comes from the Greek “phos” which is light and “graphê” which is drawing.  Just as we draw pictures with pencils, crayons, and brushes, onto paper or a canvas, photographs are drawn with light onto the camera film or digital sensor. 

Any photo needs light.  You can have on the best outfit with the most dazzling jewelry, see the most beautiful landscape, or witness the most action-packed sporting event.  If your light is not good, you might as well put away the camera because no one will see the image.  Therefore, we need a good light source (a camera flash, the sun, studio strobes, etc.).  The common trait of the previous light sources is they are stationary while the photo is captured. 

Our typical photos are taken faster than the blink of an eye.  Therefore, there isn’t much time for anything to move.  However, what about photos that require a slow shutter speed?  Try taking a picture in a dark room without a flash.  The person or image will be blurry because of camera shake or he/she moved.  We often discount these images as a mistake or bad photos.
  However, what happens when this is done on purpose?  What if we want to photograph the light moving?  We have seen many examples of light moving in an image.  Photos showing streams of light from car headlights or taillights are common examples.

Deborah and Jordyn noticed a small fair near our neighborhood during their excursion into the nearby town centre (we spell it “re” in the UK).  Jordyn was excited to visit and experience the many rides.  However, I was eager to photograph the rides during twilight to capture the moving light patterns with the background of the cobalt blue sky.  Since twilight only lasts for 10-15 minutes.  I would have to work quickly.

Two of the images are taken without any movement.  They are placed next to the ones with movement to show the difference. However, most of them captured diverge from the normal shots one would take.   I captured several rides as they twirled in the night sky.  The blurry subjects represent the light forming colorful patterns more interesting than if I took the shots at a normal speed.  The moving lights were the paintbrushes drawing the picture.  I just provided the canvas.

-Roger


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