Light Trail Photo Techniques

Slow Speed Tugu Yogyakarta

photo light trail are photo techniques with the main object is visible trailing vehicle lights follow the road, photo light trail is quite popular as a form of experimentation for the photography hobbyist. light trail photo techniques included in the category of slow speed or technique often called long exposure technique. In this article I will discuss how to generate light trail photo.

Foto by ARI DWI YUDA PRAWIRA, 25 detik, f/22, ISO 100, Loc. SEMESTA Cafe
Jln Abu bakar Ali Kotabaru 2A Yogyakarta

TOOLS

For photographing light trails we need a camera with manual control features, where we can set the exposure by changing - change one of the three components of the exposure triangle. You can use a DSLR camera, mirrorless or even a pocket from a pocket camera that offers features that I mean above. What are the extra tools and accessories are required:

1 Tripod
2 Lens Hood
3 Remote shutter

Basic techniques

In principle, photo light traces generated by cameras record the movement of the light car / motorcycle on the street at night. Due to long exposure duration (a few seconds), then the movement of the lights appear as a line of light down the road.

Foto by ARI DWI YUDA PRAWIRA, 25 detik, f/22, ISO 100, Loc. K24
Jln Abu bakar Ali Kotabaru Yogyakarta

Camera Settings Recommendations

•   Use the shutter priority mode
•  Set the shutter speed longer than 6 seconds.  
• Experiment with shutter speed, adjust until you are satisfied with the appearance of the resulting light trails, as he looked at the photos can vary depending on the speed of passing vehicles. Do not forget, there is still the option to use the bulb mode if you want to experiment further 
• Turn off the flash !! 
• Use a low ISO  
• Turn off the High ISO Noise Reduction feature (or whatever term you on camera), this feature can slow the process camera photo 
• Consider the composition of your photos. Techniques can be okay, but the composition must be considered. Form of road will greatly affect the shape of the lamp trace. Look for the form or shape of the look angle that looks interesting 
• For these types of photos like this, use manual focus or set the focus point at the infinity position, use the depth of field is not too narrow

Advanced Light Trail Tips

Here are some of the problems that often arise when shooting light trails following solution:

• Photo traces of light that makes both car / motorcycle disappeared from the photo. If the car / bike is still visible, it means that you are less long exposure. Create a longer shutter speed until the car / motor does not appear anymore 
•  Equally, if traces of light in your photo dashed. Means setting your shutter speed is still less than the old
•   If overexposure occurs (the images are too bright), lower aperture value (example: from f / 4 to f / 8). Nor vice versa.

     Okay, Good luck bro and bra. . and Salam jeprat - Snap !!!