Review Digital Camera World 05-01-2013

Digital Camera World

9 creative photo ideas to try in May 2013 Apr 30th 2013, 23:01 As part of our ongoing series to help you get more creative with your digital camera, each month we publish some fun, seasonal, creative photo ideas to help inspire your imagination. Along with some amazing images, we've also provided some quick photography tips by both amateur and professional photographers who are experts in these fields. This month our list covers fun projects like shooting long exposures, puddles, stormy seas and painterly plant portraits, among many other fun and creative photography projects. On each page you’ll find a stunning image and an explanation from the photographer on how it was made. If you attempt any of these photo ideas, don’t forget to share them on our Facebook wall! 01 Shoot creative spring light painting effects Light painting photography doesn't have to be restricted to the longer nights of winter. As spring arrives, why not make the most of the milder evenings with this clever twist on a familiar technique? Simon Berger created his 'Pouring Rain Noir' shot after seeing a tutorial on steel wool light painting and experimenting with the technique. It was taken using nothing more than a tripod-mounted Canon EOS 5D Mark III, a willing model (Martin) and some burning steel wool. "We used ordinary '0000' steel wool for this shot," says Simon. "To control the direction of the sparks, I rotated the steel wool towards the camera and Martin, and  the sparks bounced from the ceiling onto the umbrella." The technique is pretty simple. By placing steel wool in a metal whisk suspended at the end of a chain, igniting the steel wool with a 9V battery and then spinning the chain, you can create impressive arcs of sparks using a long exposure. Of course there are risks, and it needs to be carried out well away from anything flammable. "The umbrella we used was a really cheap one," Simon says. "We had some bottles of water, but the shooting took place in a tunnel so there was no real danger of anything catching fire. I knew I wanted the sparks to look like rain, but I had no idea how to do it until I found this location. Then it just clicked." Get started today… * Safety warning! Spinning molten steel wool at the end of a chain carries a high risk of injury. Don't attempt it alone and make sure you wear goggles, gloves and suitable protective clothing. Protect the front element of your lens with a clear UV filter. * Experiment with exposure times. Simon used an aperture of f/8 and shutter speed of 20 seconds at ISO200. * Consider converting the original colour shot to black and white for added intrigue. PAGE 1: Shoot creative spring light painting effects PAGE 2: Shoot painterly plant portraits PAGE 3: Shoot the beach during a spring storm PAGE 4: Shoot zoo animals with environmental context PAGE 5: Shoot reflections in puddles PAGE 6: Shoot plane trails PAGE 7: Shoot portraits with reflections PAGE 8: Shoot water birds at your local pond PAGE 9: Shoot images with motion blur READ MORE Free night photography cheat sheet: how to shoot popular low-light scenes A different type of light painting tutorial: use handheld flash during long exposures Night photography tips: 9 essential steps for beginners 99 common photography problems (and how to solve them) Night photography ideas: light painting your subject over ultra-long exposures Apr 30th 2013, 10:00 If you’re looking for new night photography ideas to boost your creative output after dark, painting with light is the perfect technique, which can be used with just about any subject. In this quick tutorial we’ll show you how light painting your subject while shooting in your camera’s Bulb mode can help you create a range of different moods in your images.  Light painting involves using a light source such as a torch or a flashgun to illuminate your subject. By leaving the shutter open for a long period of time you can shine the light onto parts of the subject, so that you create pools of light. This gives your night shots a unique and slightly surreal appearance. By moving the lights during the exposure you can control the brightness of specific areas of the subject, and even use different light sources or coloured gels to achieve different 'moods'. Judging the exposure is one of the most difficult aspects of light painting, so remember to time how long you paint each area of the subject. Also, try to make sure that you light the subject from the same distance each time. Get more advice below… Night photography ideas for creative photographers: how to set up for light painting Frame your shot Composing your photos in the dark can be tricky, so set your camera to the highest ISO light sensitivity setting. You do this via a dedicated button or menu entry, so check your manual. Then switch to Live View mode to give a visible image on the screen. With the camera on a tripod, use this Live View image to compose your shot.   Set up the camera Now set the camera to manual focus, making sure MF is selected on the side of the lens if appropriate, and carefully focus on the subject that you are going to illuminate with the light. Remember to change the ISO light sensitivity down to ISO 200, and in Manual exposure mode set the shutter speed to 'B' (Bulb exposure) and the aperture to f/11.   Light your subject Using a remote release, lock the shutter open and start painting the light onto the subject. Just like any other form of lighting, a directional side-light will reveal much more detail than lighting from the camera position. Just remember not to wander into the frame, or it will render the whole exercise pointless!   Check the result Because of the nature of painting the subject with light it's very difficult to judge the exposure and direction of the lighting. You'll need to check the results on the LCD screen on the rear of your camera. Don't forget, if the subject is under-exposed you need to light the subject for a longer time or move the light a little closer. READ MORE 12 common errors of night photography (and how to solve them) NIght Photography Tips: 9 essential steps for beginners Night Photography: how to set up your camera to shoot anything Painting with light: what you need, and where and how to do it Free night photography exposure guide

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