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How to Shoot a Light Trail
Perhaps you have seen an image of light trails taken at night. A question might have risen in your mind that can I do it? Maybe you have tried to take one as that and finished with some dark, hazy and shaky shot? However this kind of photography is one of the practiced subjects among the photography lovers and yes, you also can do that easily. You can try a line of cars entering and departing the traffic at night. To take an image of light trails, long exposures are used. You can determine the shutter speed concentrating on the number and speediness of cars or light sources.
Finding a nice setting for Light Trails in the town
Look for a nice location at daylight. Think of the composition you want to work on; it's better to think of a story or expression that can be presented through the image. It will enhance the quality of the image when you get the light trail. I suggest to reach the location at least one hour ago of sun set and watch the traffic pattern of the setting. Find a secondary spot and repeat the basics. The basic is to compose the setup and imagining colorful lights running through the image creating a trail of lights. Light trails express speed and low angles, curves, wide angles work to highlight that. You have to design the image at day time and shoot at dark hours. It's not necessary to shoot at night. It has been seen that the best effects of lights are captured before half an hour after the sun set getting the town lights just lit up, shadows are intense and the sky is not full dark yet.
Photography Gear
Have some sort of camera that permits you to control shutter settings, or better total Manual control.
There are various elementary gears that you require- A decent well-made tripod, a remote shutter controller, lens hood. The tripod will help you to steady the camera to avoid any jiggle through long exposure. You can use the camera bag to steady the tripod more by hanging the bag from the middle column. A remote shutter controller will help you to control the shutter without touching the camera. All you want to take a smooth light trail photo. Lens hood is good to prevent light pollution. You can lock the mirror up and use live view also.
Ideal camera setting for Light Trails
Keep shutter speed between 3-10 seconds, apertures f8-f16 for a decent Light Trails. The camera setting depends on the light, motion of the vehicles and your closeness to the subject. For light trailing long exposure is needed and that means a long time is required also. So to take a catchy snap you must be prepared for light pollution and obstacles. My suggestion is shoot in RAW, keep the ISO low and check the white balance taking a few trial shots.
Finding a nice setting for Light Trails in the town
Look for a nice location at daylight. Think of the composition you want to work on; it's better to think of a story or expression that can be presented through the image. It will enhance the quality of the image when you get the light trail. I suggest to reach the location at least one hour ago of sun set and watch the traffic pattern of the setting. Find a secondary spot and repeat the basics. The basic is to compose the setup and imagining colorful lights running through the image creating a trail of lights. Light trails express speed and low angles, curves, wide angles work to highlight that. You have to design the image at day time and shoot at dark hours. It's not necessary to shoot at night. It has been seen that the best effects of lights are captured before half an hour after the sun set getting the town lights just lit up, shadows are intense and the sky is not full dark yet.
Photography Gear
Have some sort of camera that permits you to control shutter settings, or better total Manual control.
There are various elementary gears that you require- A decent well-made tripod, a remote shutter controller, lens hood. The tripod will help you to steady the camera to avoid any jiggle through long exposure. You can use the camera bag to steady the tripod more by hanging the bag from the middle column. A remote shutter controller will help you to control the shutter without touching the camera. All you want to take a smooth light trail photo. Lens hood is good to prevent light pollution. You can lock the mirror up and use live view also.
Ideal camera setting for Light Trails
Keep shutter speed between 3-10 seconds, apertures f8-f16 for a decent Light Trails. The camera setting depends on the light, motion of the vehicles and your closeness to the subject. For light trailing long exposure is needed and that means a long time is required also. So to take a catchy snap you must be prepared for light pollution and obstacles. My suggestion is shoot in RAW, keep the ISO low and check the white balance taking a few trial shots.
