Trippy Lighting Effects

[buddyboy101]

Hey ya'll, I'm new here and still learning the basics of concert photography. I was wondering how photographers can create really cool light trails but still keep the image aesthetically pleasing.

If you know, please describe the technique used and what settings/equipment are needed.

Here are some examples of what I mean:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/buddyboy101/Trippy/digz20trippy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/buddyboy101/Trippy/olg_jas_trippy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/buddyboy101/Trippy/DSCF0058.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/buddyboy101/Trippy/111530327_b8c9c257c5.jpg

[livewire-photography.com]

Hello and Welcome, to be frank i think the last image is the best by far, and i do quite like it.
it would be cool if you could say who the bands are and where you shot them etc basically explain a little. personally im not all into shutter drag, only if someone is jumping or something, If u want to get shutter drag, slow the shutter speed right down and get an external flash 430 Ex and use rear curtain sync function.
good to have you on board any way.
James...


P.S. who is the 3rd band?

[CanonXTuser]

yes, the last one has amazing saturation and "hard" contrast ... really makes the pic look intense ... even though he's probably just bending down to tie his shoelaces ;)

dish the light trails, go with the last one!

btw, is that how the pic came out or did you heavily process in photoshop or your raw processor?

[buddyboy101]

hey ya'll, thanks for the replies. i have no clue who took the first two pics or which bands they are. i just googled "trippy lighting concerts" haha

the third pic is of Team Sleep. i'm not sure who took it.

the fourth pic is of Chino Moreno of the Deftones. Their webmaster Donk took the picture. I'm not sure if he processed it, but I love the end product.

What is curtain flash/sync? Thanks!

[blackshadow]

The first two look like rank amateurs using a point and shoot camera - that's typical type of results. To be perfectly frank they look like sh1t.
The third looks like it is a double exposure; personally I don't like that example and very rarely like DE for concert photos. If you want a DE effect you are much better off doing it in photoshop with seperate shots.
I agree the last photo is by far the best of the four; not sure what equipment, settings or techniques were used but I am guessing a point and shoot digital with flash from up very close to the subject.
I think you would be far better served looking at some of the images posted on this forum if you want some examples of high quality shots. To me the selection of images you posted were a long way from professional quality.

[kmb]

Hey ya'll, I'm new here and still learning the basics of concert photography. I was wondering how photographers can create really cool light trails but still keep the image aesthetically pleasing.

If you know, please describe the technique used and what settings/equipment are needed.

Search for "shutter drag" or "shutter dragging" from these forums or Google.

Here's one page describing the technique: http://www.photo.net/learn/concerts/mirarchi/concer_4.htm

Shutter dragging is nice for some bands, I guess HC and some of the alternative metal would be good choices to start with. It's a technique that I think is quite hard to master. The "error" I see most often is that the light trails are artificially painted to the picture thru moving the camera, while the content of the picture does not go well with that. I think one should strieve to capture movement rather than create it by moving the camera.

Here's a lot of shutter dragged images (and a few that are not):
http://www.presleybastards.com/anger/valokuvat.htm
I like some of them, and others not that much...

Here's the closest I've come to using the technique:
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/uploads/KalleBjorklid/LutakkoLiekeissa2006/oo/_MG_1004.jpg
EXIF:
f22, 1/3 s, ISO 1600, 28 mm

[livewire-photography.com]

KMB, nice shot, bit on the blown out sid if things, but still like it aswell.


Buddyboy, i thought it was deftons, thats why i asked.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/Livewire_photography/Kominkinow2.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/Livewire_photography/Kominkinow.jpg

some of my shutter drags, its funny, i liked these when i firsed started, i though they were good but im slowly going off them, id much rather have clear shots that still show energy. but saying that i spose there ok. (by the way i have osted these before incase you think you have Deja Voux, not sure on the spelling of that lol)

Buddyboy, the only time i slow the shutter speed down and have drag, is for Clubbing shots.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l314/Livewire_photography/Image00099.jpg

Oh black shadow, well said on the first examples,

James....

[niqqunos]

i've managed one such lucky shot which i quite like of this type of thing before...

http://static.flickr.com/131/321266301_649679a4f6.jpg

[kmb]

i've managed one such lucky shot which i quite like of this type of thing before...


While it might not make the cover of a music magazine, that's certainly a very interesting and different concert picture :)

Was it a strobe on stage or the strobe of your camera's flash that created that effect?

[buddyboy101]

yeah yeh yeah!!!! these are exactly the types of photos i was referring to. so shutter drag is the techique that is used?

i realize this is not "professional" technique, but i do think it's cool looking and adds energy to the photos

[buddyboy101]

after reading marichi's article...

1. can you pull off this effect without using a flash?
2. will the Rebel XT's built-in flash suffice or do you need to buy an external flash? if you need a separate flash, any suggestions as to which model?

thanks!

[kmb]

after reading marichi's article...
1. can you pull off this effect without using a flash?


No, you'll have to 1) freeze the picture with a very short flash of light (which would be produced by the flash, of course), and then 2) capture the ambient light sources and/or ambient light reflected by something. Not necessarily in that order, though.

2. will the Rebel XT's built-in flash suffice or do you need to buy an external flash? if you need a separate flash, any suggestions as to which model?


No, I'm sure that the internal will be powerful enough. External flash will give more flexibility, though, as you can bounce it (because the head can be turned into different directions, unlike the built in unit) - if there's something that will reflect light. I think that most people do use direct flash for this purpose, though.

[buddyboy101]

sweeeeet, thanks for all the help. i can't wait to try it out!!

[johnstoy]

Livewire, James....Those shots are awesome...I'm amazed at how they end up when you put your mind to it...

niqqunos...that multitude of strings is spectacular...what a technique...

sweeeeet, thanks for all the help. i can't wait to try it out!!

Did you luck out or what buddyboy101...It's like taking "Intro to Cool Photography 101", with these guys as tutors/teachers...Can't wait to see more of this stuff from you guys, in the future...

[narlus]

james, #2 is f*kin great! really love it.

[gcobb]

I've done similar shots like that with the second sync shutter option. They're okay for a minute but in moderation I think.

[livewire-photography.com]

Thanks v ery much, John and Narlus.

Buddy as i said its much better and easier with external Flash, as then you can use the rear curtain sync setting.
SOrry its shrt, but i gotto go work :(
James...

[niqqunos]

While it might not make the cover of a music magazine, that's certainly a very interesting and different concert picture :)

Was it a strobe on stage or the strobe of your camera's flash that created that effect?

it was an onstage strobe and a 1.5 second shutter speed... ironically one of my favourite shots and it was done accidentally and using the 18-55mm lens that comes with the EOS 350D!!