techniques for composing the shot

Tom · Low User Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 31 Location: uk

ok so I know how to pan and get motion blur in the background or use a low apeture to get a portrait type shot so the backgound is blurred but is there anyother techniques I could try for example zoom burst (I know how to do this but using it as an example as I think I may have just confused people)

JAW

Hamish · Forum Veteran Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Posts: 1011

I think the main part of the confusion is that is't not really to do with composition. He's discussing advanced techniques rather than simply compositions with a regular "correct exposure, shutter speed and focus" approach.

Zoom burst is where you take a picture with a slower shutter speed and adjust the zoom so that it blurs the object, making it appear as if it's moving forward. See here for more details:

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Creative-zoom-bursts

I think it'd be very tricky with a moving subject, usually you'd do it with more static subjects, such as a rider beside the bike. It's easy to cheat using radial blur in photoshpo but it doesn't give as nice or natural a technique. It could be worth a try if you want to give something different a go but composition would be tricky. I'd be interested to see the results. In fact, I might give it a try for a biking shot, myself.

Other different techniques could be multiple exposures within the same exposure (rather than mulitple exposure sequences put together in photoshops), or strobe flash to create a similar effect in the dark.

Double defocus can give instersting effects, but again is for static subjects (usually flowers). You use two exposures within the same image, each being half of the correct exposure. One is in focus and the other is out of focus. Creates a sort of dreamy effect. Can't really see it work for biking pics, other than frames/wheels/etc.
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Hamish

Tom · Low User Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 31 Location: uk

yeah thats the sort of thing i was after hamish, thanks, just wanted some new techniques to try and experiment with just didnt know how to word it right, cheers