Pic(k) of the week 45: FOREST ZOOMBURST


Post-processing techniques are pretty much endless and sometimes I push them quite hard to show my photographic vision of a certain scene. Whenever possible, I do however also like to finish a photograph 100% "in-camera", i.e. no post-processing at all! 

This was the case in the image below of a zoom-burst I shot in a forest in southwestern Belgium. 

What is a zoomburst
Well, it is a very simple technique where one zooms a lens (does not work with prime lenses, sorry....) while the shutter is open. The idea is that the center of the frame, remains more or less static and becomes the point of interest and focus.

Depending how fast one turns the zoom-ring, you will need a shutterspeed of at least 1/30s, preferable longer. I do recommend using a tripod whenever possible for the best results.

One can either start with the lens zoomed out and then starting zooming in while making the image, or just work the other way around; i.e. start zoomed in. Suggest you try both, as some scenes work better in one or the other. Especially when using a lens with a large zoom range, one does not need to use the full zoom potential. 

Don't expect to have great results straight away, it takes patience and lot of shots... but that is all part of the creativity process. 


Image details:
Fujifilm X-T1 with the Fujinon XF10-24 f4 lens
ISO 200, f8, 1/2sec
Started 10mm and zoomed in to 24mm while making the image
All done in camera, no post-processing

As photographers we all spend too much time behind the computer in the first place, so trying to be creative in-camera, boosting ones creativity is great! Enough said. Go out there and try it!  

Remember: "Creativity is allowing one to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep" - Scott Adams

BJORN

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