Last month, I introduced you to some basics of available light photography and invited you to play with your camera settings. This month, I’ll want to go a bit more experimental. Come to the dark side where you can play with colorful light effects.
Usually, when taking pictures with a tripod or holding our breath to enable a hand-held picture in the dark, we try to avoid any kind of camera shake. In this post, I’ll show you some pictures, where I used movement on purpose to create some funny light effects.
How was it done? Fairly simple, I put my camera on a tripod, set the exposure time to 4 seconds, released the shutter, counted 1-2, quickly turned the zoom ring and waited for the remaining seconds to pass. That’s the result:
I zoomed on the famous Viennese Giant Wheel in the Prater amusement park. Amusement parks or locations with plenty of colorful lights are ideal places to play around with these kind of effects.
A few steps further, I took pictures of the carousel. Here, I split my 6 seconds exposure time into 3 2-seconds parts and zoomed three times. When you try it out the first time, give yourself some pictures time for practising. You need to get a feeling for how much to zoom. Additionally, the shorter the total exposure time is, the faster you need to act.
Another easy way of adding light effects, is taking pictures of streets by night. The cars passing by make everything for you. Setting up the tripod or putting the camera on some street barrier or railing close to traffic lights even makes the timing as simple as possible. Whenever the traffic lights turn green, it’s your turn to release the shutter.
Light effects can easily add some spice to your pictures – you only need to use them. It’s like cooking, add some flavor to your pics and try out new combinations. Zoom, spin or turn your camera or phone as creative as you like.
Photography literally means “painting with light” – thus, use your “light-pencil” for drawing on your pictures.The good thing about experimental and artistic photography is that you can always tell that it was done on purpose!
If you like to join, link your post at Photo101Rehab or create a pingback and tag it with #availablelightrehab. I will add a wrap up with your entries at the end of the following topic. Next month, I’ll focus on “Cities by night”.
Here is the link to last month’s post: Available light – start playing. In this first post, I summarized some basics and invited you all to start playing with challenging light conditions.
Nalinki
Lucile initiated the Photo101Rehab after the Photo101 Course in December 2014 for all photo enthusiasts to stay connected and to learn from each other. Meanwhile, it became a constant feature that continuously grows: Perelincolors is presenting Tech of the Month, Desleyjane from Musings of a frequent flying scientist is featuring the monthly Image Reboot. It’s a great pleasure for me (angleandviews) to join them in featuring this monthly series about Available Light. Each month, I will focus on one application or method of available light photography in detail. In all pictures, you will find the chosen camera settings in the caption.
Sights & Insights 
These are amazing, I am actually taking a photographer course right now focusing on motion and depth of field. these are so so very cool. I will try this one day.
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thank you so much, I learned this tricks while doing a one-day course. since then, I like playing around with these effects
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you’ve become expert. I may come back with questions 🙂
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anytime, just let me know!
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Great picture of the Riesenrad!!!
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Thank you!
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This is spectacular! I’ve done some things a little like this in a class but never deliberately gone out to do it. I will be experimenting now – thank you for sharing!
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Thank you, looking forward to see your pics then ☺
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Now I know for sure that I need to get a tripod AND get off my duff and learn more than the very basics of how my camera works. Thanks, Lucile.
janet
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It’s so much fun that it’s worth carrying the tripod 🙂
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I’ve also been playing with this technique. It’s a lot of fun and the results can be smashing!
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These photos are amazing and you proved that photography is like painting with light. But…just like in life, not everyone is a painter. You are.
I am enjoying this series so much, as I am learning a lot.
How did you make the last two photos? The last one is an impressive photo.
I hadn’t yet attempted to experiment with it, but yesterday I went out for my first trial. Super funny to bring a tripod inside a boat around the canals in Amsterdam. I was panning myself….
Anyways, I made loads of photos to experiment and will continue making more, not from a moving boat, and in due course I will share them with you.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
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thank you so much! the last one was done with 5x zooming an waiting for 2-3 seconds at every zooming step. the other one, is zooming once, here the moving cars made the rest 🙂
A tripod on a boat sounds like fun 🙂 the moving boat makes it tricky, but this could have some cool effects when the water is reflecting the lights as well.
I will be in Las Vegas in a few weeks. There, I will have lots of blinking lights to play around again.
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Wow it sounds very elaborate process and one that only you could do! Chapeau!
The tripod on the boat was a silly idea, of course, because Durk never stopped to move along the canals!!
It felt like painting with light, just as you said! If they are good photos, that’s doubtful.
I’m so looking forward to seeing your photos in Las Vegas! You’ll have a lot to shoot!
Thanks for replying and the explanation.
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LOL, I can imagine you both on the boat while you try to take some shots 🙂
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Someone should have shot us! Lol
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Absolutely stunning photos. I’m blown away.
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Thank you ☺
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These are great tips which I’ll be definitely trying out. I also like the concept of painting with light.
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Thank you, Michelle
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Such amazing photography! I can’t wait to get back to a city and try it although I think I will have to work on it for YEARS to get anything that looks like what you’ve shared here.
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Thank you! I ‘m sure you’ll do fine ☺
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Love this post!! I do not think I’ve ever tried zooming in the dark like this. Now, it’s on my list of things to do! Thanks again for sharing…I love the first three the most!!
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Thank you and have lots of fun trying it out!
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These are exceptional photos. Bravo!
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Thank you ☺
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