What’s Your Preference?

teilhet · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Hey- I want to get a photo of my 8 mo old boy, toddling around the room before he gets too fast. He's just learned to pull up and move around the room hanging on the the couch, wall, etc, etc.
I took a shot at it last night with a long shutter and rear flash, it almost worked, but didn't really portray his movement like I envisioned it. Only his last position was clearly visible, and all the prior movements were too blurry. I just got a Nikon D80 with the kit lens, so I'm thinking that will do the job.

ANy suggestions on how to take this shot? At the moment I only have aperture and iphoto for post work, so layering several photos together is outta my league.

windrider86 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 08:04 PM

Unless you want blur, dont use a long shutter speed. A faster shutter speed will lessen the movement blur

teilhet · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windrider86

Unless you want blur, dont use a long shutter speed. A faster shutter speed will lessen the movement blur

Hey thanks for the move, this is a much better place for this question. I think he moves to slow for a faster shutter speed, as in he doesn't cover enough ground fast enough to get the idea of his progress across the room.

I was thinking something along the lines of this........
http://www.insidedigitalphoto.com/wp.../snowboard.png

....but in the context of my son working his way around the room.

Wooglah · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 08:41 PM

What you need is multiple exposure. So, put camera on burst mode, set it to every 2 or 3 seconds to take pic with short exposure and freeze the kid in motion (from fixed position, tripod), then just blend all the pictures together in editing software and enjoy...

teilhet · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wooglah

What you need is multiple exposure. So, put camera on burst mode, set it to every 2 or 3 seconds to take pic with short exposure and freeze the kid in motion (from fixed position, tripod), then just blend all the pictures together in editing software and enjoy...

Perfect thanks, I kinda figured it'd be a multiple exposure job, but as I don't have software that will blend them, I wondered if it was possible in a single shot. This will work though, I've got friends with the appropriat software

Wooglah · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 09:22 PM

You can always get GIMP, it's free (as in freedom, AND free beer).

teilhet · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 09:35 PM

Oh yeah, Sandeewig suggested that too. I'm on it.

SandeeWig · #8 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 10:06 PM

Here is a link to one of my fave engagement photo examples (I didn't take it) that, I think, sort of displays what you have in mind, no??

The trick is to have the camera in one position (on a tripod preferably) and take several pictures as he toddles across your frame; that way the background is static and you can use the editing software to layer the images on top of each other.

I haven't mastered the technique, but am working on one of my own. Good luck!

Wooglah · #9 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 10:18 PM

This is what friend of mine did with GIMP in just half an hour... http://www.flickr.com/photos/urke/2909651545/

I dont want to embed picture because it's not mine, you'll have to follow the link.

BTW, GIMP - http://www.gimp.org/