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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Names written in sparklers
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 07/13/2012 01:08:51 PM · #1
Just thought I'd share some fun shots we did on July 4.

I set the camera to flash and then hold the shutter open for 2 seconds. The flash mostly locks the people in place, although you can still some slightly blurred outlines because there were some spotlights on out there.

I couldn't remember how to make my flash fire at the end of the shot, so you see them at their starting positions instead of the end. Not too much of a problem here, but in some cases, like a similar shot of a car, it makes the car look like it's moving backward because the lights drag and you see the car where it started.




07/13/2012 01:24:55 PM · #2
these are always fun
firing flash at the end has to be done manually on most setups, unless you have a timer or remote flash trigger, or using software to control settings (from my understanding).
some "more advanced" cameras may allow you to delay the flash like that, but i can't speak to that with any authority.

The girls did a good job with this - though it's apparent that not everybody was on the same page for speed/density of light in some of the names.

Personally i would've gone for a longer exposure and had them trace more slowly. it's easy enough to clone out incidentals such as starting/streaking lines on letters, and the effect will come through a bit more dramatic.

you could, if you want in future shots, have the girls with the sparklers behind their back and facing the camera, pop the flash so you get them facing you (potentially having the person whose name is to be spelled out raising their hand/waving), then have them turn and write after the flash has gone off.
 07/13/2012 01:39:47 PM · #3
Heh - that's a fun idea about having them face me.

This was just a fun thing we came up with on the spot, so no one was paying much attention to light density and size of letter. And although I can be obsessed with editing at times, this wasn't something I was putting together for more formal presentation.

BTW, from a quick search, I confirmed your camera can do rear curtain sync, as can mine. I just couldn't find it in the menus, although I didn't spend much time with it. You just set it in the menu; nothing else required.

edited to add: Ah - just found it. At least on the D200, it's one of the flash settings using the button on the side of the flash, NOT the menus on the LCD. That explains why I couldn't find it in the menus!

Message edited by author 2012-07-13 13:42:11.
 07/13/2012 01:53:10 PM · #4
you can also have them face you and spell normal and then flip the image in post so it reads correctly. this way they wont have to spell backwords.

but i agree on the longer exposure, it should help to kill the incidental movement more.
 07/13/2012 02:21:42 PM · #5
ahh, didn't realize that is what rear curtain sync does.
yeah, i know - i may have just said one of the dumbest things on this forum ever, but oh well. good to know you can do it!
i did a shot with the led 'flash' on my phone turned on (via flashlight app) and spelled things backwards above my head on a 30 second exposure - was hard to mentally adjust the spelling. my wife made a comment similar to what mike just said "can't you just flip the picture with software? i've seen you do it before...."

haven't done it since (this was around the end of june) but i plan on doing it soon. i might use the rear curtain setting for that
 07/13/2012 06:50:12 PM · #6
Originally posted by levyj413:
Just thought I'd share some fun shots we did on July 4.

I set the camera to flash and then hold the shutter open for 2 seconds. The flash mostly locks the people in place, although you can still some slightly blurred outlines because there were some spotlights on out there.

I couldn't remember how to make my flash fire at the end of the shot, so you see them at their starting positions instead of the end. Not too much of a problem here, but in some cases, like a similar shot of a car, it makes the car look like it's moving backward because the lights drag and you see the car where it started.



great stuff!
 07/13/2012 08:08:58 PM · #7
I would have them facing me and write their letters backwards - it's not hard to do. (Or perhaps it's a teacher thing where it is easy to do. ;-Þ)
 07/14/2012 06:38:02 PM · #8
Originally posted by Pug-H:
I would have them facing me and write their letters backwards - it's not hard to do. (Or perhaps it's a teacher thing where it is easy to do. ;-Þ)


I think you're overestimating the capabilities and interest level of the girls. :)
 07/14/2012 07:28:48 PM · #9
Here's my grandson Zach's attempt at this. We shot this about 3 weeks ago, when he was here on vacation.
It would be easy enough to flip the photo in processing so that the lettering would read from left to right. This one is as it was shot.

07/15/2012 12:08:28 AM · #10

I had some fun with this not too long ago for a challenge..


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