How is this done?

[redmonkee]

Just come across this shot on Flickr and i'd love to know how it was achieved.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chavals/2137222210/

 

[Andy_S_T]

I'd say a long exposure to get the light trail, with flash either at the start of expose or 2nd curtain sync, to freeze the person.

 

[redmonkee]

Cheers Andy I figured it was a long exposure for the light trail. Not sure how or what exactly is second curtain sync? Also is the flash fired manually after the trail has been achieved?

 

[God]

http://SPAM/6zppf4l

 

[Will James]

Useful info!

 

[jambobowron]

basically the shutter opens for 2 seconds for example.. the flash fires, just as the shutter starts to close after the selected time. Its the opposite of 1st curtain sync when the flash fires as soon as the shutter opens, meaning you get the light trail, and the sharp image from the flash as well

 

[Stratman]

Would 1st curtain sync not give the same effect? The girl would be 'frozen' as the shutter opened, then the torch would draw the lines while it was open. Or have I got it horribly wrong?

 

[squishy]

Would 1st curtain sync not give the same effect? The girl would be 'frozen' as the shutter opened, then the torch would draw the lines while it was open. Or have I got it horribly wrong?

1st curtain would give you an image of the girl where she is at the start of the exposure.
2nd curtain would give you an image of the girl where she is at the end of the exposure.

 

[milou]

Inspiration: http://www.hobsonish.plus.com/torchwaving/Wavingtorchesatthings.htm

 

[jambobowron]

Would 1st curtain sync not give the same effect? The girl would be 'frozen' as the shutter opened, then the torch would draw the lines while it was open. Or have I got it horribly wrong?

1st curtain would give you an image of the girl where she is at the start of the exposure.
2nd curtain would give you an image of the girl where she is at the end of the exposure.

if you imagine it was a car travelling along a road, 1st curtain would give the car in the distance- with the light trails (bizarrely) in front of where the headlamps appear to be, 2nd curtain would give the light trails behind it where the car had come from, with the car close.

That's how i remember it, useful if anyone is struggling to grasp it

 

[Stratman]

That makes sense. Ta muchly.

 

[lensflair]

You just hold the shutter open on bulb while she paints the patten, then fire the flash using the test button manually to light her, then close shutter. Best to use off camera flash for nicer light and heres a time when any flash can work off camera

Thats the easy way to do this sort of thing, sparklers at weddings etc, because otherwise you have to mess around with shutter speed etc. to get the timming right.