Home Camera Special Effects

Night Motion

• A night picture usually requires at least several seconds of exposure to record an image, sometimes more if the lens opening is small. Night exposures of moving traffic will record long ribbons of light created by the motion of automobiles. To make this type of picture, first find a safe location with a good viewpoint. Next set up your tripod and attach the camera to the tripod. Then insert the pointed end of a shutter release into the camera. You can use a hand-held light meter to calculate the length of exposure, and be sure to bracket your pictures. This means making an additional image at twice the estimated time of exposure and also one at half the estimated time. If using a film camera you will need tungsten-sensitive film to record the color of the night lights.

Reflective Image

• Mirrors are great opportunities for creating an unusual sense of space in a photograph. You can use an existing mirror as a compositional element or even place an mirror into the scene that you plan to photograph. The mirror can take up a small area or most of the frame, but it is probably not a good idea to have the reflective surface account for the entire picture. Car mirrors make great features in a photograph. Other possibilities exist along this line, such as using glass as a reflective surface, or items such as shiny metal bowls, sunglasses, and metal fenders from automobiles and motorcycles.

Double Exposures

• Very few cameras have a built-in mechanism for double exposure, but often it is possible to use a shutter release to make two exposures. However, for those who take the time and effort to set up a double exposure, the rewards are usually worth the effort. Always remember to cut each exposure in half, so the picture doesn't get washed out with too much light. This can be done by decreasing the lens opening or increasing the shutter speed.

  If you have an older 35-mm film camera with a manual film-winding mechanism, you can just rewind the film for one picture length and then make a second exposure. This may take a few tries until you get the alignment just right, but once successfully accomplished, you might be surprised at the final image. Some cameras have a specially designed double exposure feature, while for others making a double exposure is next to impossible. This group includes mostly point-and-shoot cameras, which are completely automated.