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The Photography Technique of Tossing

Throwing your camera in the air may not, in many peoples' opinions, be the best way to take photos, particularly when there's a chance you'll damage your equipment. But the technique known as camera-tossing has become surprisingly popular among some photographers, who have achieved mesmerizing shots, but who warn amateurs against experimenting unless they have a relatively inexpensive camera. In addition, be prepared to practice for a long time before getting the shots you want.

Lighting
- Camera-tossing entails throwing your camera into the air at various speeds, angles and heights to take bizarre, but captivating, images. The most important element is lighting. Conducting the technique in a dark room gives you full control over lighting so you can experiment with several light sources, such as a television, your computer monitor, a candle or a lamp, which will allow you to get an idea of how much light you need for your desired result. Once you're comfortable with indoor light, venture outdoors to experiment with natural light.
Self-Timer
- Set the self-timer on your camera, point it toward the light and press the shutter button. Keeping the camera directed at the light source, throw it about 1 foot into the air, then catch it as it falls. Evaluate your image, but don't expect your first attempt to be spectacular; the unfortunate truth is you'll need to toss your camera about 100 times or more to get about five decent shots.
Air Movement
- By manipulating the movement of the camera while it's in the air, you can change the visual aspects of the resulting images. For instance, you can spin the camera gently or give it a prodigious flick of the wrist, or you could toss it vertically or horizontally. Images resulting from a camera spun to the right will be different from those in which the camera was spun to the left, so the variations are endless.
Exposure Compensation
- Switch your camera to manual mode and change the exposure settings, as these can have a significant impact on the image. Keeping your exposure open longer, for instance, will allow the camera's sensor to absorb more light, but may also lead to overexposure or blown highlights. The reverse is also true: setting a quicker exposure may result in underexposure, which means the image will be too dark. Experimentation is key to determine which exposure works best for you.

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