Post your best stroboscopic (and second-curtain) shots!

[funk1196]

I need some inspiration for using stroboscopic/second curtain shots.

So post your best and most creative shots!

Also:
Any general tips for working with stroboscopic flashes?

[jcolman]

Here's one I did for fun.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x148/jcolman_photo/downtownnight-29-Edit.jpg

[funk1196]

Here's one I did for fun.

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x148/jcolman_photo/downtownnight-29-Edit.jpg

hmm.. i dont notice more than 1 flash... looks like more of just a long shutter, dragging the ambient light...?

[jcolman]

hmm.. i dont notice more than 1 flash... looks like more of just a long shutter, dragging the ambient light...? actually there were two flashes, one on each side and you're right, a long shutter speed. Technically it's not a "second curtain" sync shot but what the hell.

[eduardofrances]

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs15/f/2007/059/1/c/Earth_by_eduardofrench.jpg

I was covering this event -gosh 2 or 3 years ago times flies really fast when you have fun!- at a club and when this band of drummers were doing their stuff the illumination switched to stroboscopic-disco illumination, I instantly slowed down the shutter speed and used a second curtain flash :) -flash on camera-.

[Jarrad]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2755715012_22f685c6f6.jpg (http://www.jarradkevin.com)

Look carefully. ;)

[funk1196]

i notice that with 2nd curtain.. theres always one strong presence, and one weak one... is the first flash powerful, and the 2nd one always weak (because of recharge time)?

[tim]

There's a few on this page of my personal website (http://mrwild.co.nz/Featured/Experiments/index.html), I can't put them inline as I have hotlink protection turned on.

[Zebceponaf]

so, who wants to share how this is done? I'm a noob to this.

[tim]

Turn your flash onto stroboscobic mode, put the flash on manual. Guess an exposure setting for the camera, guess power and frequency settings for the flash, and experiment. My guess starting figures for indoor stuff: ISO400 F5.6 1sec, flash 1/32 power, 35mm, 10 flashes at 10Hz.

[Cpt.Vanquisher]

Here's one of mine

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8768/resizeimg3572fb2.jpg

Bert

[funk1196]

There's a few on this page of my personal website (http://mrwild.co.nz/Featured/Experiments/index.html), I can't put them inline as I have hotlink protection turned on.

nice ones tim.

how do you set up to do this? do i just need a really dark room with a far away wall?

[R-C-G]

This was my first attempt at a stroboscopic shot.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2523968048_a07ea1e4ec_o.jpg

[tim]

nice ones tim.

how do you set up to do this? do i just need a really dark room with a far away wall?

I was using my kitchen bench with a piece of black card as a background, with a little tidying up in photoshop. The flash was on or very near the camera, I can't remember. The key was just getting the flash speed correct, which I did by trial and error.

[TMR Design]

Here's one of mine

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8768/resizeimg3572fb2.jpg

Bert

Hi Bert,

I completely dig this image. I can't exactly put my finger on why but I've learned not to question why when it simply doesn't matter. If I like it I like it, and if I love it I love it.

I love this shot. Just great!!!

[Cpt.Vanquisher]

Hi Bert,

I completely dig this image. I can't exactly put my finger on why but I've learned not to question why when it simply doesn't matter. If I like it I like it, and if I love it I love it.

I love this shot. Just great!!!

Thanks :D

[funk1196]

Hi Bert,

I completely dig this image. I can't exactly put my finger on why but I've learned not to question why when it simply doesn't matter. If I like it I like it, and if I love it I love it.

I love this shot. Just great!!!

nice one, i don't really see 2 flashes... though i could be mistaken, but nice shutter drag

[TMR Design]

I wasn't even looking for a particular effect. I just like the image.

[funk1196]

any others?

[Cpt.Vanquisher]

nice one, i don't really see 2 flashes... though i could be mistaken, but nice shutter drag

This is taken with only 1 flash (420EX) on the camera. 0.6 sec - f/5.6 - iso 800 and flash on second curtain. I must say that I'm getting quite addicted to second curtain :)

Here is another one from the same night

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/5296/resizeimg3580fh1.jpg
http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=resizeimg3580fh1.jpg

[funk1196]

This is taken with only 1 flash (420EX) on the camera. 0.6 sec - f/5.6 - iso 800 and flash on second curtain. I must say that I'm getting quite addicted to second curtain :)

Here is another one from the same night

http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/5296/resizeimg3580fh1.jpg
http://img45.imageshack.us/my.php?image=resizeimg3580fh1.jpg

nice....
quick technical question.
which flash is brighter? it looks like the 2nd curtain was brighter....is that so? or did you twist the other way?
which flash was the ghost, and which one is the one that stands out? (1st or 2nd curtain)

and does it always happen that way?

[dcsmith40D]

I like this one. I didn't know what to look for regarding "best stroboscopic and second-curtain." I just bought the 580 ex II and don't have a clue. Any recommendations on a read?
This was my first attempt at a stroboscopic shothttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2523968048_a07ea1e4ec_o.jpg.

[ofdphoto]

The flashes fires at the beginning or at the end of the exposure ... not both.

The ghosting comes from ambient light, achieved by dragging the shutter.

Any more stroboscopic samples? I'm yet to try it myself ... interested to see how others are using it.

[funk1196]

i get 2 flashes when i use 2nd curtain, i set it to 1 second shutter to seperate them..... and well... try it, you'll see.

am i wrong?

[ofdphoto]

i get 2 flashes when i use 2nd curtain, i set it to 1 second shutter to seperate them..... and well... try it, you'll see.

am i wrong?
Yup.

The first flash is the E-TTL metering pre-flash ;)

[funk1196]

Yup.

The first flash is the E-TTL metering pre-flash ;)

ahhhh... i'm a moron.. though.. i was thinking it could be that after i posted that... heheh




so is there a benefit to 2nd curtain? you can either drag the ambient light, and then flash at the end...... or normal: flash, then drag the ambient

seems like you'd have more control if your subject was properly placed in the frame for the flash, which its easier to do while the mirror is down and you can see.....


why ever 2nd curtain?

[ofdphoto]

ahhhh... i'm a moron.. though.. i was thinking it could be that after i posted that... heheh




so is there a benefit to 2nd curtain? you can either drag the ambient light, and then flash at the end...... or normal: flash, then drag the ambient

seems like you'd have more control if your subject was properly placed in the frame for the flash, which its easier to do while the mirror is down and you can see.....


why ever 2nd curtain?
It's for moving subjects. e.g. if you're shooting a moving car and flash on first curtain, you'd get a car with headlight / taillight trails out in front of it. With second curtain, the trails go behind the car. The same applies with anything else that moves when you're mixing in ambient light.

[funk1196]

ahhh... gotcha.. i'll keep that in mind

[PacAce]

ahhhh... i'm a moron.. though.. i was thinking it could be that after i posted that... heheh




so is there a benefit to 2nd curtain? you can either drag the ambient light, and then flash at the end...... or normal: flash, then drag the ambient

seems like you'd have more control if your subject was properly placed in the frame for the flash, which its easier to do while the mirror is down and you can see.....


why ever 2nd curtain?

Yes, you're right. 1st or 2nd curtain sync doesn't really make any difference in the picture, other than which side the ghost image appears, unless there is an implied direction to the movement, like when taking a picture of a runner (in which case, 2nd curtain sync would make the shot look more natural than 1st curtain would). Otherwise, as you said, 1st curtain would give you more control over the specific instance when the flash picture is taken as you're looking through the viewfinder. I see a lot of people automatically using 2nd curtain sync whenever they want to drag the shutter with flash when 1st curtain sync works just as well.

[Warrenism]

My flash (430EX) doesnt support stroboscopic but i can do second curtain.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2401052732_b1e9268e9c.jpg

[watchtherocks]

Just mucking around at a recent gig. First time ever shooting with flash. It was fun. Reading the flash bible beforehand was a good idea:D

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/6503/music618ia9.jpg

[pr0digal]

I tend not to use the second curtain option, as I like the effect of 1st curtain flash. I will post up an example of first and second curtain use.

1st curtain
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/81963/IMG_1376.jpg

2nd curtain
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/81963/IMG_1381.jpg

Nothing too special

[tim]

1st/2nd curtain makes no difference in the majority of the cases posted to this thread.

[Radtech1]

Just mucking around at a recent gig. First time ever shooting with flash. It was fun. Reading the flash bible beforehand was a good idea:D

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/6503/music618ia9.jpg

I know it was a long time ago that this was posted, but it's the first I've seen it, and damn, I love this shot. VERY well done Watcher of Rocks.

Rad

[TampaFoto]

This is one with the built in Flash of my 7d. Just started trying this type of shot. This is my son kyle .

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4324197030_2b264a6979_o.jpg

[voodoogmr]

My first attempt at 2nd shutter. Just a Master Chief figure from the Halo video game. The green light is the power LED on my speakers. I have a lot to learn.

http://www.dpadjunkies.com/images/halo_rear_sync.jpg

Canon 50D
580EX-II
0.8" @ f/9

[PacAce]

My first attempt at 2nd shutter. Just a Master Chief figure from the Halo video game. The green light is the power LED on my speakers. I have a lot to learn.

http://www.dpadjunkies.com/images/halo_rear_sync.jpg

Canon 50D
580EX-II
0.8" @ f/9

Just out of curiosity, do you know how this differs from what it would have looked like had you used 1st curtain sync?

[voodoogmr]

Just out of curiosity, do you know how does this differs from what it would have looked like had you used 1st curtain sync?
From my understanding, the flash fires right before the shutter closes, instead of when it first opens, so you can catch more of the ambient light before the flash fires to freeze your subject. But I guess I'm not sure what would happen in this case if I used the same long exposure, but fired the flash at the first curtain. Didn't try that, but I will.

My test wasn't that good since the ambient light was virtually non-existent and I had to fake the motion by moving the camera. I'm still fairly new to using DSLRs, so I'm anxious to learn as much as I can.

[Austin.Manny]

From my understanding, the flash fires right before the shutter closes, instead of when it first opens, so you can catch more of the ambient light before the flash fires to freeze your subject. But I guess I'm not sure what would happen in this case if I used the same long exposure, but fired the flash at the first curtain. Didn't try that, but I will.

My test wasn't that good since the ambient light was virtually non-existent and I had to fake the motion by moving the camera. I'm still fairly new to using DSLRs, so I'm anxious to learn as much as I can.

Basically what 2nd Curtain Flash does is catch the image at the end of the exposure so that it looks like the subject is moving and is frozen at the end.

But as posted above, most of these images would've looked pretty similar with 1st Curtain Flash.

[polobreaka]

some from last year with 2nd curtain flash

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_h9Lt27i5SyE/SdQbB2NIXVI/AAAAAAAAAUk/CDEcrh-gsTw/IMG_7743%20s.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_h9Lt27i5SyE/SdQvIVh9O5I/AAAAAAAAAXM/38bk8IzxhHE/s720/IMG_7828%20s.jpg

[czeglin]

This is a good example of second curtain sync. the subject is frozen at the end of the exposure rather than the beginning. In this case it looks like he would have been totally out of frame when the shutter opened and the flash fired. With first curtain sync you wouldn't see the scooter at all--just the light trails ending at nothing.

http://www.canon.co.jp/imaging/flashwork/functions/curtain/img/02-05_r4_c2.jpg

[tim]

From my understanding, the flash fires right before the shutter closes, instead of when it first opens, so you can catch more of the ambient light before the flash fires to freeze your subject. But I guess I'm not sure what would happen in this case if I used the same long exposure, but fired the flash at the first curtain. Didn't try that, but I will.

My test wasn't that good since the ambient light was virtually non-existent and I had to fake the motion by moving the camera. I'm still fairly new to using DSLRs, so I'm anxious to learn as much as I can.

I think Leo's point is that in 99.9% of 2nd curtain photos, and 99% posted on this thread, it makes no difference whatsoever. Generally anyone who suggests using 2nd curtain sync is someone I stop paying attention to, as it's useful in an exceptionally small number of situations.

[voodoogmr]

I think Leo's point is that in 99.9% of 2nd curtain photos, and 99% posted on this thread, it makes no difference whatsoever. Generally anyone who suggests using 2nd curtain sync is someone I stop paying attention to, as it's useful in an exceptionally small number of situations.
Honestly, the first time I ever even heard of rear curtain sync is when reading one of Scott Kelby's Digital Photography books (vol. 2, page 21) last year. Never tried it until last night. In my shot, you are correct. I don't think it made any difference. I'm learning new stuff every day.

Thanks for the info.

[TampaFoto]

2nd curtain really helps when you tell a subject not to move even after the flash has gone off. Well just as soon as the flash goes off folks move anyways. With 2nd curtain it's ok the shutter is closed and their free to move with out ruining the shot.

[PacAce]

2nd curtain really helps when you tell a subject not to move even after the flash has gone off. Well just as soon as the flash goes off folks move anyways. With 2nd curtain it's ok the shutter is closed and their free to move with out ruining the shot.

What is you're shooting in E-TTL mode? The preflash will still go off before the shutter opens and you'll have the same people moving before the main flash goes off at 2nd curtain. :)

[TampaFoto]

I always shoot manuel so it's not an issue. Thats me tho but shooting E-TTL would sure be an issue that 2nd curtain will just not help.

[tim]

Plus the preflash will go off and people think they can move when the actual exposure's taking place.

Edit - I see you shoot manual. Doesn't apply in that case.

[TampaFoto]

It always amazes me no matter how well you explain to a person what you doing and why you do not want them to move after the flash has gone off they will still move . Flash means move!!! thats it .

[tim]

With exposures that long unless there's zero ambient light on the people it's not going to be sharp anyway.

[PacAce]

It always amazes me no matter how well you explain to a person what you doing and why you do not want them to move after the flash has gone off they will still move . Flash means move!!! thats it .

When shooting a group, I tell them I'm going to take two pictures just so they know that they need to stay put until after the 2nd shot. And hopefully, the 1st shot is the keeper.