Alpha Photography Blog

Photography isn’t all technique and teaching the eye what to look for, it can also be about breaking the rules and having some fun.

There are so many different things you can do with a camera – it’s open to your imagination.

Here are a few of my favourites – I hope you have fun with them too.

Star trails

As a kid I was fascinated by the night sky. I would camp out in the back corner of the yard, where my parents couldn’t ‘obviously’ spy on me.

My faithful companion Perro (a very solid Ridgeback) would be with me and we would look out at the sky and sleep under the stars – well, in a tent under the stars…

So, the first time I saw Star Trails in a book I thought they were fantastic.

Essentially, Star Trails are achieved by aiming the camera directly towards a clear, star-filled night sky (out in the country is the most effective – away from those pesky city lights). You then hold open the shutter while the earth rotates and the stars form lines on your frame.

Ideally suited to an old mechanical film SLR camera (they have an almost infinite battery life), you could still practice this on newer cameras:

Ø You’ll need a sturdy tripod, SLR camera, fully charged battery, and a shutter release cable.

Ø Set the tripod and camera so the lens is angled upwards towards a cluster of stars.

Ø Set the Aperture to the widest it can go (e.g. f5.6)

Ø Set the Shutter Speed to Bulb

Ø Make sure the cable release is firmly attached, now press and lock it into place – the shutter is now open.

Ø Ideally, keep the shutter open for a minimum of 5 hours – 8 hours is better.

Sit back, and enjoy the starry sky while your camera does all the hard work for you!

Name in Sparkler

This is a great gimmick and a perfect activity for a quiet night while camping.

Your surroundings must be pitch black, and you’ll also need a tripod, SLR camera, and a shutter release cable, not to mention a handful of sparklers.

Ø Set your camera’s Aperture to f5.6

Ø Set the Shutter Speed to Bulb (you’ll find Bulb beyond your slowest Shutter Speed on the dial)

Ø Attach the shutter release cable

Ø Get the sparkler ready

Ø Start the sparkler and lock open the shutter

Ø Write your name back to front, from right to left

Ø As soon as you’ve finished writing, close the shutter

Remember, it’s like writing to see your name in a mirror.

Also, really spread out your letters. I learnt from experience that big arm movements work better!

Zoom Effect

This one is also fun and has nothing to do with focusing or setting up the perfect composition.

Again, you’ll need a tripod and an SLR camera.

Set up the camera, facing whatever view you’ve chosen. I personally like this one with a bridge at dusk, when the lights have just been turned on.

Ø Set your Shutter Speed to 1” (1 second) or longer

Ø Set your Aperture so it provides the correct exposure, based on the available light

Ø Adjust your zoom until it’s extended to its greatest focal length (e.g. 90mm or 300mm)

Ø Keep your hand on the zoom and make sure you know which way to turn it, so it will become fully retracted

Ø Press the shutter, and simultaneously begin slowly and evenly turning the lens until the zoom is completely retracted (e.g. to 28mm). Preferably, you will have finished turning the zoom, just as the shutter closes.

The opposite also works well – that is, starting with the zoom completely retracted and fully extending it when the frame is being captured.

This effect results in a twilight zone appearance!

Soft Running Water

Do you know those wonderful waterfall shots that make the water look all misty and smooth? Don’t they just look wonderful?

But, wouldn’t they be difficult to achieve? Well, actually, it can be pretty easy to capture soft water, it’s just taking the photo so everything else is correctly exposed that can be a little tricky.

This is where a Neutral Density (ND) filter comes in handy – especially when photographing a waterfall, or water hitting a rocky beach when there is a bit of light around.

An ND filter is a shade of grey, and there are various levels of opacity available, depending how much light you want to block out.

The soft water look is merely the result of a long exposure, using a slow Shutter Speed.

Generally, you would need to set your Shutter Speed to around 1.5” (1.5 seconds) to actually see a result.

But, if there is too much light around, and going down to an Aperture of f32 isn’t enough to gain a correct exposure, you may need an ND filter to reduce the amount of light you’re working with.

Once again, a tripod, SLR camera, and shutter release cable is required for this effect:

Ø Set up your tripod, camera, and attach the cable, facing what it is you want to photograph

Ø Set the Aperture & Shutter Speed (with a minimum of 1.5” – potentially lower, depending on how misty you want the water to look)

Ø Take the photo

Voila! You have a beautiful, charismatic photo!

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