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RandomConnections
12-20-2006, 06:55 PM
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomconnections/280525996/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/115/280525996_c8d7a337c7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Scenes from I-85" /></a>

Where Was it Taken?
The photo was taken on Interstate 85 somewhere between Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

What settings did you use?
Full auto with no flash. Camera was set to "interval" mode, firing one shot every 30 seconds. Setup allowed random photograph while leaving my hands free to drive. The image below shows how it was done...

You can see the rest of this series on my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomconnections/tags/i85/">Flickr account here</a>.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomconnections/281746412/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/90/281746412_947d11b7b5_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Drive-by Camera Setup" /></a>

What gear (camera, lens etc) did you use?
Nikon S1 Point-n-shoot with mini tripod.

Why did you compose the shot as you did?
The interval mode combined with 80 mph speeds down the highway didn't allow much room for composition. I guess randomness can be a compositional technique.

What post production work have you done on the shot (if any)?
none

What were you hoping to achieve with the shot?
I was hoping for interesting light blurs radiating from a central focal point, all with a feeling of movement and speed.

What did you do well?
I believe the image achieved the desired effect. Of this series, this photo was my favorite because it included an overhead sign.

How could you have improved it?
First, make sure I have a clean windshield!:)
Next, I need better stabilization of the camera. It was subject to bounces from the road and some slippage. I can't eliminate the bounces, but I can keep the tripod from slipping around by using Velcro or something else. I would also like to try this with my Nikon D50 and a remote to fire the camera. I would be better able to select the subject since it wouldn't be random, and I would have better control over exposure, etc.

Penny Haywood
12-22-2006, 02:05 PM
That's a great effect. Well done. Must have a go.
Penny

googlit
12-22-2006, 10:38 PM
Nice.

I did something similar with mine... I had my camera crammed between the dash and the windshield to reduce shake, and ended up with something like these:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/330390331_aa0ae65a06_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/googlit/330390331/) http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/330390329_aa0ae65a06_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/googlit/330390329/)

ployoung
01-07-2007, 10:59 AM
I like the perspective and the colours.

Gromguitar4
01-07-2007, 04:54 PM
Sweet effect but don't get pulled over... and drive safe!

RandomConnections
01-08-2007, 12:58 AM
Thanks, Grom. I guess I should have loaded this with disclaimers about safety. If you do plan to do something like this, make sure you can do it hands-free. Better yet, have someone else drive while you shoot.

andy206uk
01-10-2007, 09:11 PM
Nice shot! I did one myself recently (I was in the passenger seat):

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy206uk/248376571/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/87/248376571_23ab5e6226_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSC00023" /></a>

Seltzer
01-11-2007, 02:44 PM
I had tried this recently, maybe I should take my little tripod with me one of these days and set that up. I was driving fairly slowly but just the slight corrective turn of the wheel curved all of the lights. Interesting but not what I was going for. Maybe I'll try a similar shot with an exaggeration of the light curve sometime.

mdwsta4
01-12-2007, 01:44 PM
done this a number of times too. got a new flash and some flash gels so i think i have a cool idea on what to do next...

handheld while it was raining
http://images19.fotki.com/v32/photos/5/51621/4246906/IMG_0111-vi.jpg

tripod in my back seat
http://images20.fotki.com/v356/photos/5/51621/3817133/DPP_0007-vi.jpg

steevdavis62
01-22-2007, 02:09 PM
Mate i loved that photo, like u said originally, the street signs really bring it to life, make it a WOW photo. I went and looked at your whole series, and fell inlove with all of them mate. Really good job, brilliant

loosestring
01-22-2007, 05:33 PM
I had done this just last week. My brother-in-law and I were going kayaking and I took this one on the way back (Hwy A-1-A around Ponte Vedra, Fl.). I had posted it in another thread the other day.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/caddmonkey/361537792/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/361537792_8b75395ddc_m.jpg" width="240" height="160" alt="Close Encounters" /></a>
I have several others that I have yet to upload. I took a couple of police cars where they had someone pulled over on the side of the road. It makes for some interesting light effects. :)

softcell72
02-26-2007, 12:03 AM
That's a fantastic affect.I'm definately going to be trying this one out soon since I have to do alot of night driving.