Slow Shutter Speed question

So I have this idea for a picture for my schools yearbook. We have a statue at the middle of campus and i wanted to do a slow shutter shot in between classes with the statue in focus and the student body moving around it. I understand that slow shutter usually works better with moving light sources rather than with objects that give off no light.

Any suggestions?

Stop down as much as possible, lowest ISO you can choose, mount on tripod, and take a few pics adjusting the time as needed to get the correct exposure.

Try it in sunlight, & again on a overcast day. See which you like better.

I don't know about the moving light sources -- it sounds like you will need to read up on the idea and get a lot of time practicing so you don't just botch things up...?

Would an ND filter help?

I would think that a ND filter might make the trails too long. People actually move pretty fast and even an exposure of a second is going to lead to a really blurry person.

Another thing you might try is second curtain shutter. That way you get the blurry movement with a flash at the end leaving a more solid image of the person. Otherwise it's all just a blur.

Sunny 16 rule is key to understand first!...1/ISO f/16 in bright sun. 1/ISO f/5.6 is the Cloudy Overcast corrolary to Sunny 16.
So if you try to capture at 1 sec. in sunny conditions, you need -6EV of ND simply to shoot around 1 sec. shutter speed with f/16 on the lens. Do it in Overcast conditions, and you need -3EV of ND, to shoot at around 1 sec. with f/16 on the lens.

As for suitability of 1 sec. or not, folks walk at 3mph at a good clip...15840ft/hr, 4.4 ft/sec, 52.8in/sec. So base your time selection about how much or how little you want folks' trails to be. Let us assume 1/12 sec. shutter, f/16 is the combo you use without ND filter on an overcast day...

Unfortunately, unless you have people fairly close to the camera, second curtain sync will be rather useless beyond about 12', as the flash will not reach farther than 15' with 'normal' lens coverage angle and f/16 on the lens, using 1/12 sec. on the shutter to capture a fast walking person travelling 4' during that time (folks are frozen by the second curtain flash at -1EV below your ambient exposure for the statue).

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I really wish i had more time to attempt this, but our yearbook is due tomorrow and my editor just told me that we don't have a closing photo. I was really hoping to be able to get this shot, but if it seems unfeasible, fortunately I have a few back up plans. I'm taking the picture tomorrow, I'll post my results!

How is it unfeasible? Tripod, frame your shot, iso 100, shoot around 1/30th or slower, small aperture. Real easy stuff.

ajaffe wrote in post #14178583
How is it unfeasible? Tripod, frame your shot, iso 100, shoot around 1/30th or slower, small aperture. Real easy stuff.

Sunny Florida...1/100 f/16, so if you want 1/12 sec to blur the path of passing pedestrians, you need f/45 or a -3EV ND filter over the lens -- and if you can't get that filter by tomorrow, the shot is not feasible.

Or just don't shoot at noon and do it in the early morning or late afternoon.

also instead of having people walk around, get a bunch of friends and make them run around. thus you can use a slightly faster shutter speed.

ahh, i remember the days of hs yearbook photography... and i remember getting my film reimbursed. =)