021/365 Racking it

January 21, 2013  •  Leave a Comment

021/365  Racking it021/365 Racking it

 

Day 21

Took the camera out for a little racking tonight. Getting ready to try this technique next month. Friends shared this with me today - it is called focus racking. It can create some wild fireworks photos. Hope to try that next time I have the oportunity.

This photo is not of fireworks of course. It is a photo of lights I have on my bushes outside. Small white lights, and a string of large red white and blue stars. But the blue didn't really show up. At least not until I played with the white balance. But the red is great.

Cool technique. Thank you Michelle! And thank you Daveyj - http://www.daveyj.ca/fireworks

 

Photo info:  For this photo, I setup the tripod and added a 10 lbs. weight to stabilize it.  I needed that because I was actively working with the camera during the exposure, so I wanted the tripod to stay put.   I then focused the lens on the lights, getting it as sharp as possible.  With the lens focused, I marked this point with a small sliver of white tape on the focus ring, lining it up with the white line on the lens body.  It helps that the 24-70 has a nice wide focus ring.  With sharp focus now marked, I was ready to go.   I set the camera to Manual, and experimented with the aperture.  I liked f/6.3.  I then set the exposure time to 1.3 sec.  Released the grip on the ball, defocus towards infinity, and then wiggled the camera while rotating the focus ring back to the sharp focus setting.    Check the image, and give it another try. And another. another. and so on.   I discovered that I didn't have much until I started moving the camera during the exposure.  With the camera stationary, it just looked like an unfocused mess.   So shake it baby!

Lessons learned:  There are endless possibilities in photography.  Can't wait to give it a try with fireworks!   Cool with lights, will be awesome with fireworks.

 


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 “You don't take a photograph, you make it.”
Ansel Adams

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