BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: How to Use Camera Lenses and Focus

Photography Question 

Andrea W. Hedgepeth
 

Creative Photography: Zooming Technique


I have been reading all of this info pertaining to zoom and telephoto and I am still confused. I have seen some really cool images that were made while zooming?? What does that mean exactly?


To love this question, log in above
February 05, 2006

 

Bob Cammarata
  By definition, a zoom lens has the ability to change focal lengths. Photos created while zooming were likely tripod-mounted cameras, and the photographer changed the focal length (zoomed in or out), while the shutter was open.


To love this comment, log in above
February 05, 2006

 

robert G. Fately
  Andrea, as Bob C described, a shot taken with a zoom lens mounted on a camera at a slow-enough shutter speed with the lens itself changing focal lengths is what you are describing. I have such a shot, taken many moons ago, at this site:
http://www.yessy.com/f8lee/index.html?i=9227 This was taken with an 80-200 zoom lens (in New Orleans, if you couldn't tell) at a relatively slow shutter speed on Kodachrome film. I don't know the shutter speed exactly - something between 1/8th and 1/30th of a second, I think. The camera was handheld - no tripod in this case.
This was the shot I liked best of the 20+ I took that day - each at a slightly different shutter speed and/or different speed of my twisting the zoom ring. It's the kind of thing you need to experiment with - there is no simple formula. There is even a difference between zooming from wide angle to telephoto and then doing it in the reverse.
So, find a subject (something with some bright colors and contrasted shapes perhaps) and go shoot a bunch of shots with all kinds of variation - if you have a digital camera you could even see the particulars for the shot you end up liking best.


To love this comment, log in above
February 06, 2006

 

Andrea W. Hedgepeth
  Thanks so much for your input! Now I get the picture.


To love this comment, log in above
February 06, 2006

 

Roy Blinston
  Zom effect can be added to any picture using Photoshop (ie: Blur, Radial Blur, Zoom).


To love this comment, log in above
February 07, 2006

 
Log in to respond or ask your own question.