How to get a shot like this?

Big-Mac-Please · 14 Mar 2010 at 19:31

Evening all

I'm waiting for my Nikon D3000 to arrive (Thanx Mrs Big-Mac-Please) and have been looking into how to do light trails when I found this image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tw0r/4013334700/

How would I go about doing this image? Would I need to get the car to stop in front of the camera or just time it exactly to capture the car in front?

Any tips on this would be great!!

Thanx
BigMac

tbs · 14 Mar 2010 at 19:37

A longish shutter 1 to 2 seconds, aperture about f/3.6 or f/5.6 drive fast and click.

Maccy · 14 Mar 2010 at 19:38

Shutter open for desired length of time and get the car to stop, and then shutter closed? That's just a guess, I'm probably wrong!

Big-Mac-Please · 14 Mar 2010 at 19:40

I was thinking a long shutter and then get the car to stop. But I'm new to it all so thought it might be harder than that!

Mud · 14 Mar 2010 at 19:41

Long exposure with rear curtain flash, or a longer exposure with the car stopped (harsh shadow, so under strong light).

Paul11 · 14 Mar 2010 at 19:46

that could also be two shots merged in to one

1) the car moving to give the light trails

2) the car standing still

add them together in photoshop

just a guess though

Randomface74 · 14 Mar 2010 at 19:47

I think it's photoshop

Big-Mac-Please · 14 Mar 2010 at 20:00

Two different opinions now then

So what we thinking either drive and stop in front on camera or take a stationary shot and then a riving shot and be sure to drive/stop in the exact place?

The first option sounds easier haha

p0ss3s3d · 14 Mar 2010 at 20:13

Perhaps its stopped down to f/11-22 so quite a dark exposure and a longer exposure.They drive car with lights on untill they stop the car leave headlamps on for a second or so when stationary, then turn them off let the car expose itself to the sensor. Remember headlights will burnt out after a few seconds, an unlit car probably takes 15-20 seconds for a correct exposure. Or of course in reverse- expose car then lights on then reverse...

Having said that pixel peep the bottom of the car facing the light source. Photoshop cut-out or just very harsh lighting!!

sorn21 · 14 Mar 2010 at 20:17

it's worth noting that you will need a good tripod before trying this!

Paul11 · 14 Mar 2010 at 20:21

n1blo said:
it's worth noting that you will need a good tripod before trying this!

will an average tripod not work then ?

sorn21 · 14 Mar 2010 at 20:26

Paul11 said:
will an average tripod not work then ?

Nope, not even in the slightest!

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 14 Mar 2010 at 20:44

long shutter speed and when the car is stopped the flash is fired.
However its awfully clean so its either a combination of photoshop and the above or just very well executed technique only.

peterattheboro · 14 Mar 2010 at 21:28

Paul11 said:
that could also be two shots merged in to one

1) the car moving to give the light trails

2) the car standing still

add them together in photoshop

just a guess though

This.

I was thinking second curtain flash but I think the image would turn out better using 2 individual images.

startrek2 · 14 Mar 2010 at 21:33

MUD is correct...........

Rear Curtain Sync – this tells your camera to fire the flash at the end of the exposure. ie when you press the shutter your lens opens up and starts collecting light and just before it closes the flash will fire to light up and freeze your main subject

Paul11 · 14 Mar 2010 at 21:36

the car does not come to an immediate stop, more of a gradual one

which is why you would probably see some car trail if it were rear curtain

the fact that the car is perfect without any movement at all makes me think it was made of two seperate shots

startrek2 · 14 Mar 2010 at 21:41

http://digital-photography-school.com/slow-sync-flash#ixzz0iBmUyf71

take a peek at nice clear card at end of shot........... kinda reminds you of the car but then again it could be 2 shots.. but i would do it in rear curtain sync....

Paul11 · 14 Mar 2010 at 22:27

its certainly possible with rear curtain flash

but im still not convinced.

asim18 · 14 Mar 2010 at 22:41

Fstop11 said:
long shutter speed and when the car is stopped the flash is fired.
However its awfully clean so its either a combination of photoshop and the above or just very well executed technique only.

Yep, this according to the exif. And he has used photoshop, it's so obvious around the tyres.

Digitalle · 14 Mar 2010 at 22:55

asim18 said:
Yep, this according to the exif. And he has used photoshop, it's so obvious around the tyres.

Yes, undoubtedly photoshopped. It's actually quite shoddily done, when u really look closely at it.

Hope im not ruining the magic for anyone