Using Movement

With extremely low light levels, moving subjects such as people walking will not register in the image so long as there is very little light shining upon them. Cars are a good example of using this technique.

With long shutter speeds and moving cars, the headlights and taillights will register as streaks. The cars themselves will not register on the image. This effect can also be used at fairgrounds where amusements lighting can be recorded while moving.

In fig n.8.1, an exposure of 30 seconds at f16 was used. The long shutter time allowed the cars to move fully through the frame leaving their headlights and taillights to "streak" through the frame.

Notice that detail from the cars did not register in the image. Since there was some ambient lighting in the sky and street lighting, a high f-number was used to keep the scene from overexposing and lengthening the exposure time to enhance the effect.

In fig n.8.2 a different approach was taken. Instead of mounting the camera on solid ground it was "taken for a ride".

In this image the camera was mounted on a tripod positioned in the backseat of a car. As the car was driven an exposure of 30 seconds was used. As the car moved the street lighting and oncoming cars headlights registered in the image and drew "streaks" across the image.

The driver, viewed in the rear-view mirror, was lit with a flashgun that was used off camera and directed at his face.

Warning - Firing a flashgun at a person while driving may blind them temporarily, even from outside the car. This can be a dangerous technique that should be carried out carefully with the drivers knowledge and consent.

Fig n.8.1 - Canon EOS 500n, 28-80mm lens, 30sec @ f16, Fuji Superia 100 film

Fig n.8.2 - Canon EOS 500n, 28-80mm lens, 30sec @ f32, Fuji Superia 100 film