Abstract
wood
‘Look
for scenes that are akin to a painting. The up-and-down movement of the camera
teamed with the shutter speed have created these brush stroke lines.’
Twilight
calm
‘This
image was taken in late February. The sun was setting over an unusually calm
river in rural Dumfries and Galloway.’
Beach
panorama
Wait for
low light for a heightened array of colours. This shot benefits from rich,
intense blues against backlit clouds
Colours
This image
was taken indoors using coloured scarves hanging on the wall. The camera was
panned in a vertical position to create the movement.’
Trees
‘The
vertical lines of the trees make an effective subject matter for dragging the
camera shutter.’
Beach
‘This
beach scene was created by panning the camera horizontally on a tripod. The
tripod helped to keep the horizon and lines in the image straight.’
Zoom
burst
A zoom
burst is a creative effect made possible by twisting the lens during the camera
exposure. To achieve this effect you want to set the shutter speed to around
1/5sec and keep the aperture narrow to balance the light. You can produce the
effect without using a tripod, however it does make the job easier and keeps
the lines of the burst straighter.
To take the
shot, first frame and focus your subject, press the shutter and immediately
twist the barrel of the lens. It’s a trial-and-error method so you’ll need to
make a few attempts before you get it right.
Ted Leeming and Morag Paterson
Website
www.leemingpaterson.com
About
Morag
Paterson and Ted Leeming have been working collaboratively for the last six
years on portfolios of both abstract and traditional landscape images. This
approach, while unusual in the photographic field, adds depth and dynamism to
their work. Their exploration of different techniques has helped produce a
wonderfully-varied body of work.
wonderful photography of Morag Paterson and Ted
Leeming
Ted and
Morag’s top tips for camera dragging
1.
Be open to potential
subject matter. Things that you wouldn’t normally consider photogenic can come
alive using abstract techniques.
2.
Make sure your camera
doesn’t have image stabilisation switched on. It will try to compensate for any
movements you are making.
3.
Experiment with
different movements. Start by mimicking the strongest lines in your subject eg
horizontal movements for seascapes, vertical movements for trees etc.
Gear guide
Lee
Neutral Density 0.9 ProGlass filter
Expect
to pay: $165
What you
get: An ND lens
filter will stop down the light that reaches the sensor. This is essential in
camera dragging, as the shutter will be open for long periods of time.
Essential
info: This
top-of-the-range Neutral Density filter is made with the professional
photographer in mind. This filter enables you to stop down by three stops
without affecting the colour balance. Cheaper alternative options can be found
online if this product is out of your price range.
Vanguard
Elite CP-284 monopod
Expect
to pay: $175
What you
get: A tripod is
essential to keep your lines straight while dragging the camera. Use one that
is easy to rotate. For extra flexibility, you may want to consider a monopod.
Essential
info: This monopod
from vanguard enables you a flexible approach while supporting the camera,
keeping it level. It’s light to carry and can easily be strapped to any camera
bag.
Lens
Expect
to pay: $360
What you
get: Camera
dragging works best with a lens that has a large focal length giving you the
option to zoom in on your subject.
Essential
info: With some
shopping around, this 28-70mm f2.8 lens from Tokina can be purchased for an
excellent price. It’s a great all-rounder for any subject matter.
Editing images
Enhance
colour saturation to bring out the best in your abstract image
1.
Open the file
Open the RAW file and recover the data. If you’re shooting at midday you
may have overexposed your image. Move the data slider in the Recovery Option up
to bring back as much of the detail as you can.
2. Crop
and Clone
As you are moving the camera around your image may pick up small spots.
Clone these out with the Clone tool and crop the image to remove any
distractions. For beach shots, a panoramic crop can look effective.
3. Boost
Levels
To increase the contrast, go to the Adjustment Layer icon in the Layers
palette and select Levels. Increase the contrast by moving the grey marker
right and tweaking the highlights by sliding the white marker left.
4. Increase
Saturation
To finish, add another Adjustment Layer but this time select the
Hue/Saturation option. Move the slider on the Saturation setting right to
increase the vibrancy of the colours. Flatten and save the final image.
