Photo #1 - Tundra with kayaks, Alpine County, CA. This photo was shot at 1/15 sec as the Tundra was moving.

“Have you become obsessed with one aspect of photography?” That was a question asked recently on one of the photo forums I contribute to. That got me thinking. Lately, it seems I have a “love affair” with zooming.

Zooming is similar to panning, but instead of following the subject with your camera as it moves across your field of view, you zoom the lens in or out during your exposure. This creates a streaking effect around the edges of your photograph, while keeping the center of your photograph fairly sharp.

Photo #2 - Bougainvilleas, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California. This photo was shot at 1/5 sec. I also fired my flash.

Tips for creating great zooms

1. You can use either a stationary or a moving subject.
2. You need to use a slow shutter speed (1/15 sec or slower works best). You will need to use a low ISO, unless you are working under really low light. Try adding either a polarizer or a neutral density filter to let less light in when not working under low light, which will let you use a slower shutter speed.
3. This is a great technique to use when there is not adequate light to capture a standard image.
4. A flash can also be used while zooming.
5. Keep your camera as still as possible. A tripod is recommended, althought I rarely use one for this.
6. Experiment with different shutter speeds and lenses for different effects.
7. During your zoom, try to zoom in or out as smoothly as possible for the best results.

Feel free to add your zooming tips. You do not need to register or login to comment on this blog.

Happy zooming!