PCPhoto
Shooting BlursUse your digital camera to capture the power of motion |
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Page 2 of 3 Start off by setting your camera for the shutter-priority mode and select a slow shutter speed (1⁄4 to 1⁄15 sec. is a good place to start). Then take a series of images at faster and slower shutter speeds and play back the images on the LCD. You quickly can determine which setting will give the best results. You may even want to experiment with the different look that various shutter speeds provide. In shutter-priority, the camera will deliver an accurate exposure by selecting the aperture, but if it doesn’t, again, the LCD lets you know. Panning Moving the camera with the subject, or panning, is an important technique when creating blur. The result is an image where the subject is relatively defined while the background is significantly blurred. While following the subject with your camera, you depress the shutter release button as the action moves by. The key factor here is to continue moving the camera even after the shutter has been released. Abruptly stopping the motion of the camera will only make your entire image blurry and won’t allow the subject to stand out from the background. Lenses that include technology that reduces the impact of camera shake and vibration are popular for capturing action. These lenses allow for the use of relatively slower shutter speeds while ensuring a sharp image, and also offer features that optimize the lenses for panning. When the stabilization feature is engaged, these lenses compensate for any movement off of the pan. Neutral-Density Filters Neutral-density (ND) filters are simply dark gray optics that reduce the amount of light reaching the film or sensor without affecting color. They cut down the light by one or more stops and allow you to choose slower speeds for blurs, even under bright light. Available for both D-SLRs and some compact cameras, these filters attach to the front of a lens using either a filter thread or a special holder. In both cases, the camera’s auto-exposure system will automatically compensate for the loss of light.   |
