Light Blur Question

[Dai Capp]

Probably really simple but I'm very new to this photography lark...

I've seen a few photo's on here that look like they're take off motorway bridges or the like with the headlights etc blurred into a long line...

To get the effect is it just a question of highish ISO say around 600 and a slow shutter speed. Also, is this the technique used when photographing fast flowing water to make the water look white (sorry for the non technical wording!)...

Cheers

DC

[andyquantum]

Basically, yes



Exposure: 25 sec (25)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 2/3 EV

Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution: 72 dpi
Y-Resolution: 72 dpi
Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 Windows
Date and Time: 2008:05:05 14:00:16
YCbCr Positioning: Co-Sited
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Date and Time (Original): 2008:01:19 22:54:02
Date and Time (Digitized): 2008:01:19 22:53:05

[Dogsey]

Dai Capp said:

Probably really simple but I'm very new to this photography lark...

I've seen a few photo's on here that look like they're take off motorway bridges or the like with the headlights etc blurred into a long line...

To get the effect is it just a question of highish ISO say around 600 and a slow shutter speed. Also, is this the technique used when photographing fast flowing water to make the water look white (sorry for the non technical wording!)...

Cheers

DC

Spot on, apart from you'd want a low ISO rather than a high one.

[4hero]

A couple of mine. Low ISO recommended



Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 20 sec (20)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: Flash did not fire



oops, didn't save the exif with this shot, similar settings to the water shot though..

[Dai Capp]

thanks for the replies...

I'll give it a try - just waiting for the memory card for my new camera to get here and I'll be away!

I'll give ISO 100 and 200 a try, apertures and focal length I'll just have to try until one works and if I can get a 25 sec shutter speed I will.

I'll post the results - may be the weekend though!

All the best

DC

[leightonjames]

like this sort of thing?


just a long shutter speed, i used about 13 seconds. left everything else on auto including ISO, white balance etc. A nice sturdy tripod and a good choice of location.

water i think needs a polariser to help it look like smoke although im not too fond of the effect.

[Fordo]

I'd keep the iso low - raising the iso, especially with night time/ long exposure shots, will increase the noise in the image






nice photo- but had you locked the iso to something low, like 100, i think there'd be less noise in the sky. (sorry if i sound nit picky! your probably a way better photographer than me)


I'd dabbled with light paining, but havent made anything stunning yet. Although ive got a pack of sparklers that im going to play with when the weather gets good.

Anyone remember seeing that picture of a Skoda Fabia, someone took using a half hour expoure, a lot of mates and a lot of sparklers? Stunning image. might try and find it when i get home.

Edited by Fordo on Monday 2nd June 12:36

[Dai Capp]

leightonjames said:

like this sort of thing?


just a long shutter speed, i used about 13 seconds. left everything else on auto including ISO, white balance etc. A nice sturdy tripod and a good choice of location.

water i think needs a polariser to help it look like smoke although im not too fond of the effect.

exactly what I mean - great photo!

I'll see whether I can adjust just shutter speed and leave all else on auto and see what happens! I'm going enjoy playing with this and see what I get. If it's anything like your photo I'll be seriously chuffed!

All the best

DC

[S4E Jord]

i took this one:


It was one of the first images i took with my 350D

[Dai Capp]

Finally got a bit of free time and this was my first ever attempt at light blur!

Didn't work so much on the composition as you can tell but more on how to get the effect. Next time I'll come up with a more imaginative shot than the M1...



C and C welcome of course!

Cheers

DC

[ian_gate]

my effort from a while ago.

[rhubarb]

Dai Capp said:

What time of night was this? These usually work best when its really dark rather than at dusk, unless of course it is the middle of the night, then I'd say your exposure is too long. There's no EXIF details with your shot, what settings did you hav your camera on?

Just as an observation, I know it's the M1 but why's there nothing on the inside lane? Although I guess thats pretty typical these days. And what happened in the middle lane coming towards you? There's some very strange light trails there. Did you have this on a tripod as it looks like you nudged it, or there was some very interesting driving !!!!

Edited by rhubarb on Monday 9th June 14:29

[Dai Capp]

rhubarb said:

Dai Capp said:

What time of night was this? These usually work best when its really dark rather than at dusk, unless of course it is the middle of the night, then I'd say your exposure is too long. There's no EXIF details with your shot, what settings did you hav your camera on?

Just as an observation, I know it's the M1 but why's there nothing on the inside lane? Although I guess thats pretty typical these days. And what happened in the middle lane coming towards you? There's some very strange light trails there. Did you have this on a tripod as it looks like you nudged it, or there was some very interesting driving !!!!

Edited by rhubarb on Monday 9th June 14:29

Thanks for the comments...

It wasn't really dark enough to be honest - only around 9.30pm - I just got way too excited about trying it out! Pathetic for a 38 year old I know

I set the camera (Canon 400D) to Tv mode with a shutter speed of 25 secs and it was mounted on a gorillapod attached to the bridge rail. The shake is probably when I took hold of the camera strap just to make sure if anything happened to the gorillapod I wouldn't be picking up camera pieces!

Oh yes - the inside lane here is the filter off to the A42 which is why it is quiet - having said that M1 at the weekend normally means empty inside lane

So I guess reading your thoughts - later at night and a better tripod and I should see some half decent results...

Thanks for your input - it's much appreciated...

All the best

DC

[Goldeeno]

Looks good, also you might find using the self timer helps.

[leightonjames]

Fordo said:

I'd keep the iso low - raising the iso, especially with night time/ long exposure shots, will increase the noise in the image






nice photo- but had you locked the iso to something low, like 100, i think there'd be less noise in the sky. (sorry if i sound nit picky! your probably a way better photographer than me)


I'd dabbled with light paining, but havent made anything stunning yet. Although ive got a pack of sparklers that im going to play with when the weather gets good.

Anyone remember seeing that picture of a Skoda Fabia, someone took using a half hour expoure, a lot of mates and a lot of sparklers? Stunning image. might try and find it when i get home.

Edited by Fordo on Monday 2nd June 12:36

I can't see any noise in the sky?

I wasnt aware the ISO was high? May have been 400

[_dobbo_]

leightonjames said:

Fordo said:

I'd keep the iso low - raising the iso, especially with night time/ long exposure shots, will increase the noise in the image

I can't see any noise in the sky?

I wasnt aware the ISO was high? May have been 400

ISO 50 from the exif

Camera Make: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Camera Model: KODAK P880 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
Image Date: 2008:01:23 20:23:11
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 5.0mm
Exposure Time: 13.000 s
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO equiv: 50
Metering Mode: Center Weight
Exposure: shutter priority (semi-auto)

[ezakimak]

wish my ISO went to 50
the old d70 only goes down to 200

[AndWhy]

I'm starting to prefer night photography

One circuit of a local roundabout (Exposure 25s):


Outline drawn with a torch (bulb exposure c 120s IIRC):


Dead of night, no ambient lighting and (to the naked eye) a crystal clear sky (bulb exposure c 30 mins). Straight out of camera:


EDIT: All ISO 100. Unless time is critical, low ISO is far more important for night and light shots than during the day IMO.

To the OP, wait until it's almost as dark as it's going to get to get the real rich inky blue rather than washed out (too early) or pitch black (too late).

Edited by AndWhy on Tuesday 10th June 13:50

[arej]

As a result of always wanting to try and this thread I have had a quick go of this tonight. Only 1 I am really happy with (the first one), other one is OK (a bit yellow), the rest aren't good at all. Not really sure what I did the first time to make it come out differently to the others. Do any of you process them to make them look better, or generally just straight from the camera?


C&C welcome.
Thanks

[RobDickinson]

Stable camera, ISO100 or so, in camera noise reduction on - if the shot is likely to be longer than 30 seconds this helps a lot.

Heres one I took and during walked around the scene with a LED torch: