In car light trails..... (Hmmmmm)

[Jelster]

Went out in the car and did some "through the screen" motion type shots with light trails last night.

I wedged one of my tripods behind the front seats with one leg through the rear seat squab/back, and then held down with a bungee cord.

Not that happy really - there was quite a bit of vibration coming up through the tripod - I need to place the feet on some rubber pads to damp that out. Plus as my suspension is a little on the hard side, every small hole/bump in the road picked up on the camera.

Anyway, here are the results....

1
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1674/IMG_0547_Small.JPG

2
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1674/IMG_0592_Small.JPG

3
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1674/IMG_0541_Small.JPG

4
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1674/IMG_0537_Small.JPG

5
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1674/IMG_0571_Small.JPG

6
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1674/IMG_0600_Small.JPG

I actually found that the "better" pictures came from moving slower and with a relatively faster shutter speed, like 2-3 secs. Anything much longer than that and the headlights of oncoming traffic burnt out any red tail lights in the image.

Will have to sort out a better set up in the car and try again.

(You can tell I was in the back with the camera and the wife was driving as the Turbo guage is almost always on 0 :lol: )

[shrimperblue]

Hey Jelster,

Very different but I like them. Where was your focus point on the shots?

I could see them being used for a Video Game Cover or something to do with street racing etc. Although if the dials were in focus I think they would look a lot better imo.

If it was me I would crop out the dials and the rear view mirror and be left with some very nice Abstract shots.

3 and 5 for me :)

SB

[Jelster]

Hey Jelster,

I could see them being used for a Video Game Cover or something to do with street racing etc. Although if the dials were in focus I think they would look a lot better imo.

SB

Thanks SB,

In fact, the dials are in focus, I took time to set everything up and focus on the dials, BUT the reason they don't look like it is camera shake, due mainly to the uprated springs I have on my Focus ST. I didn't think about it at the time but it really shows in the images...

.

[Jelster]

If it was me I would crop out the dials and the rear view mirror and be left with some very nice Abstract shots.


SB, you got me thinking....

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1674/0547_modify2.jpg

Better ?

Steve

[Jimmy_Lemon]

Some cool trails there. I have tried similar a few times and never really come out with anything exceptional. One trick I have learnt though is go as wide as possible with your lens to help minimize the visable blurring - it doesnt always work, but I found I got much better results with my 10-20 than I did with my old kit lens. I also used quite a high f stop to get the outside and inside in focus, again it was hit and miss, but it seemed to help draw the eye away from anything slightly blurred.

Look forward to more attempts :) Just be glad you have a willing driver, I have to do both shooting and driving :| lol

[Torpedo]

I've tried this once before, and have been meaning to try again. Like you, i suffered vibration. In the end, because i tried various shuttes speeds, I blended 2 shots together, one with a sharpish dash, and the other a longer exposure, to get this. Not brilliant, but reasonablt happy for a first attempt.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2317/2072495610_bf2af1b395.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/sypix/2072495610/)

And oh, I have to drive and shoot (by remote) at the same time too.

[Matt Sayle]

There pretty cool.

[the undertaker]

liking that torpedo

[tigerimages]

I'd like to give this a go but theres always a speed bump to ruin the shot!

[bsmotorsport]

take it the boost needle is broke ;)
looks like fun, might have to give it a go. Think torpedo has the right idea maybe, merging two different shots together to get the best of both worlds.

[daveharlow]

I tried this awhile back, just strapped the tripod and camera to the seat with the seatbelt and away you go.
Heres the only one i could find to hand..
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/n726870098_1642219_5038.jpg
Not the best quality but you get the idea.