Ray trajectory shooting skills

Ray tracing has always been something that many photographers like. In fact, ray tracing can also be a training ground for those who want to get rid of manual mode and try long-term exposure with small aperture. Let me introduce you to the shooting skills of light trajectory.

Ray trajectory shooting skill 1. equipment

In order to capture the light trajectory, you need not only a camera and equipment, but also a camera that allows you to control the exposure settings, especially those that allow you to choose a long shutter speed. This means that you need a camera that can shoot in full manual mode or shutter priority mode (digital SLR and multi-point camera should have both).

You also need a tripod (or any other way to make your camera completely stable), because it is almost impossible to take a long shutter speed by hand.

The following are possible, but not necessary: hood (which can help block the interference light and affect the glare of the lens), remote control cable release or wireless remote control, warm coat (if you go out in cold weather).

Ray trajectory shooting skills II. fundamental principle

On the overall photography level, the light trajectory includes: find a point where you can see the light trajectory, fix your digital camera, set the long exposure option, and then shoot a period of light trajectory that the car will create. Of course, it's actually a little more complicated than this, but the basic element is that long exposure will make the car (group) that makes the light track effect move on your screen.

Shooting skills of ray trajectory 3. practice

Although there are many points about the shooting of light trajectory, the most important thing I learned in the process of trying to shoot such photos in the early days is a lot of practice. The advantage of digital photography is that it can not waste extra money in practice, and it will get immediate results (unlike when I shoot with film, I have to wait until the film is developed, let alone wait more than N days to see my shooting effect).

Ray trajectory shooting skills 4. Start shooting.

It is not difficult to shoot the light track, just like finding the street where any car passes after sunset. But if you want to take attractive photos, you need to pay attention to choose your location and take photos regularly. Here are some key points about how to set shooting options:

Time/light? Some people may think that midnight is the best time (possible) to shoot the light trajectory, but a very effective shooting time is just after sunset (just beginning or just ending). If you shoot at this time, you will not only capture the light of the car, but also the interference light in the sky can set off the atmosphere of the photo. You can also choose to shoot in the early hours of the morning, when more vehicles and even pedestrians can enrich your photos? Dynamic? .

Innovative perspective? Some of the best light path photos I took and saw were taken from a distant view, not from the height of people standing. Finding a low-lying place or a high place overlooking your shooting scene will make a big difference.

Location? Regarding the choice of location, the most obvious point is that you need to be close to a highway, but you must consider more than that. The location you choose can be a street with high-rise buildings nearby, and the intersection of many streets that can create light trails in different directions, which will make the trajectory run through this picture, a curved street, a circular trajectory near the circular intersection, and capture the traffic conditions in both directions, such as two-way streets.

Pictures? The most basic combination principle is also applicable to this kind of photography. An image needs a point of interest, which can be effectively used by trisection. Reasonable use of lines can make your picture more attractive, and the foreground and background should be integrated into the picture.