Fine Art Photography Techniques

Learn All About ZOOM BURST Photography

This Blog Will Be Divided Into Three Areas:

• The Meaning Of Zoom Burst
• Photographic Process Of Taking A Zoom Burst Picture
• Edit Zoom Burst Blur Motion Into A Picture With Photoshop

ZOOM BURST

This Process Is An Easy Playful Creative Option To Use When You Taking A Photograph. A Zoom Burst, Or Zoom Blur, Is A Fantastic Photographic Effect That Involves Zooming In Or Out While You Take A Photo, Causing The Shot To Blur From The Center Outwards As If The Scene Is “Bursting” Towards You.

This Is A Great Technique To Use When Shooting Sport And Showing A Form Of Motion As The Sports Person Moves Within The Frame.

Here Are Some Examples Of Zoom Burst Effect Pictures With The Sport.

2. Photographic Process Of Taking A Zoom Burst Picture

Okay, You Might Be Thinking! How Can I Take This Type Of Photograph?

With This Technique, You Don’t Need To Use A Tripod And You Can Play With Zooming Your Lens Forward & Back And Possibly Complete A Double Motion Of Moving The Camera From Right To Left.

Camera settings

• Aperture - When shooting a zoom burst picture I would begin with either F7 – F16. Make sure that you decide which aperture will help when taking this type of photograph. Don’t forget that we all have a different types of lens so test out your lens upon its capability when shooting either a narrow or wide aperture.
• ISO - I would keep this at the lowest possible ISO to prevent noise
• Shutter Speed - If you are shooting during the day and holding the camera, then you can use either 1/30 or 1/60 of a second. The main point of the speed is to give you enough time to move the lens back or forward. Make sure that as you are using manual mode that your exposure is correct and links to the ISO and aperture you are using so that you do not take an under or over exposed image.

Step By Step Process:

1) Place Your Camera On A Tripod And Compose The Image. Use Your Lens’s Widest Focal Length Or Use Its Longest Focal Length. REMEMBER TRIPOD IS OPTIONAL

2) Either Focus Manually Or Set The Right Focus Now Using Autofocus And Then Turn Off Autofocus, Once Ready To Take The Picture.

3) Set The Exposure Parameters Suitably. I Always Have My Speed At A Certain Speed So That I Am Able To Turn The Lens Within The Set Exposed Time I Am Using.

4) Press In The Camera’s Trigger.

5) Immediately After The Exposure Starts, Begin Twisting The Lens’s Zoom Ring Smoothly Towards Your Desired Composition.

Here Are Some Examples Of The Same View And The Differences Is The Speed I Took Each Photo To The Turn Of The Lens.

3. Edit Zoom Burst Blur Motion Into A Picture With Photoshop

To Add The Zoom Burst Effect To A Photograph Is Simple And Effective. This Process Can Simply Be Edited With The Use Of The Radial Blur Filter.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS:

• Open Up A File
• Duplicate The Layer
• Select The Duplicated Layer
• Click On The Filer Tab In Photoshop
• Find The Blur Section And Click On The Radial Blur Option
• To Form The Effect Of The Zoom Burst You Need To Click Upon The Zoom Option.
• For Extra Experimentation, You Can Move The Point Of Where The Zoom Effect Starts On Your Picture
• You Can Also Play With The Strength Of The Zoom Effect

Take A Look At Some Of My Experiments With This Process.

I Do Hope That This Technique Is Something You May Wish To Use For Your Own Camera Processes.

If You Would Like To Have More Information And Learn More, Then Please Give Me Some Blog Suggestions In The Comments Below Or Arrange A 1:1 Photography Session With Myself.

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