Hello there, I am a newbie when it comes to any camera technique. But for many months Ive been wondering how a particular special effect can be created. Please check the link below to see what I am referring to.

http://www.skinny.com/music/gallery/raves/groovedis/page1.html

These particular effects you see in this picture is what Im chasing for. The lightning chasing effect you can call it. I was told by some clerks in camera shops that this is done with a "bulb mode " option. Can someone clarify how exactly one can generate such effects? Im also curious if a digital camera carries this option. Please refer me to any model or manufacturer that supports what Im looking for. Any info is well appreciated.

Thank you, C

-- C (furthersound@aol.com), August 15, 2000

Answers

Have a look at the Toshiba PDR-M70. It has a bulb or long exposure mode that goes up to 8 seconds. It also has a special routine that takes a second exposure with the shutter closed and eliminates sensor noise that would show up in just a normal long exposure.

You just set up the shot with the available light, use a tripod to steady the camera and the timer to start the exposure and then while it's being exposed make the models freeze while you or someone else wiggles a light around toward the camera... As long as you move quickly enough in very low light, you won't expose. It almost looks like those streaks were made by one of those fiber optic light dodads that seem popular as kids toys...

Or you could just take a normal low light image and add the effects in an editing package... Probably a lot simpler and you can do much more. They have lighting pattern plug-ins and you can do any effect you can think of really...

Digital is the way to go for effects. The only advantage 35mm has in those regards is that you can still get more resolution out of scanning a 35mm frame than you can from a digicam. But, if a 5x7" is large enough a digicam will do fine. You can get varying results at 8x10" and larger...

Good Luck!

-- Gerald M. Payne (gmp@surferz.net), August 15, 2000.