Tutorial: Light trail
Sat, Jan 24, 2009
We’re back. Pheww… The exam was harder than previous years, but we need to move on right? So, let us start with some cool photo technique in which you can experiment it yourself. Probably long before you read this line, your eyes already caught by the light trail. And yes, we’re going to teach you how to do that.
Picture: I’m trying my first ever light trail.
What you need:
- Camera that can control the shutter speed.
- Tripod? Not really, you can also find a place to put your camera.
- LED or anything that produce light. (Preferably the colour should be outstanding than the ambience – do I get this right?)
Here’s the step – for one man show light trail:
- Find a place to put your camera. Look at the view finder (What is viewfinder?) to see if you are going to be in the frame.
- Adjust your camera settings as follows:
- Now you’re set to go.
- Press the shutter and turn on your LED.
- Hold the initial position of your hand. Once you heard the shutter has been activated, draw anything that you like.
- To stop, hold the final position until the shutter has been deactivated – meaning that the image has been captured.
• Use Shutter Priority mode (TV in Canon DSLR, S in Nikon – for other model, please refer to your manual book)
• Try a long expose. For this picture, it’s about 8 seconds. You can change this one as you please.
• Set a self-timer.
• *Other settings: You can adjust the AWB (Auto-White Balance), ISO, AI focusing, etc – but I’m too lazy for that.
You’ll be amazed that with what you’ve done – for the first timer at least. That’s all about it.
We no pro, but we love what I do. Enjoi!
You can also join our flickr group and share your light trail pictures. Keep ‘em coming people. See ya’
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January 29th, 2009 at 12:36 AM
nice one… ; )
March 27th, 2009 at 7:27 AM
Salam alaik,
Urm, err, since I’m a newbie, x dpt cari the ‘long expose’. Huhu.
March 27th, 2009 at 7:33 AM
Long expose isn’t a function in Canon DSLR camera but rather a term. You need to use the Tv mode (Canon) which represents Shutter Priority. Then, you can change the exposure by turning the dial located just behind the snap/release button.
Turn it (the round dial) to the left and look at the LCD. The number will turn from (example: 1/50) to 1/10. Keep turning on until you get 5″.
Note that:
If it shows 2″, it means
If it shows something like 1/250, that’s faster.
So, in this case you need something like 5″ to 8″
Happy drawing! Thanks for dropping by and asking us. We hope that is useful
March 27th, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Sorry forgot to mention that, for example, 2* means (2 second) exposure.
and 1/100 means, one onehundreadth of a second. which is 0.01 second
Exposure means how long the shutter opens up, how long the sensor was exposed to light. Hence the name exposure.
Nways technical jargon aside, light trails are fun to make ; )
May 9th, 2009 at 12:56 PM
It’s good to use a manual setting as well.
Try a pitch dark room.
Set the cam on a tripod.
Set the cam to “M” (manual)
ISO/ASA to 100
Shutter to 20 (or a high number)
Speed up to one minute or more.
Have fun!