Light Trails Photography Tutorial
Introduction
Taking photo's of light trails may seem difficult, but it's rather easier than expected, and is based on a lot of trial and error.
The best light trails come when there’s plenty of street lighting around, so shoot in lit urban areas where you can drive at a steady, consistent speed.
The image above is an example of night photography with car light trails. The camera was a Canon 400D (Rebel XTi) Digital SLR, set on shutter priority with a speed of 30 seconds.
Capture stunning urban light trails
Michael Bosanko
Nothing brings an urban landscape to life more than traffic trails ...
LIGHT TRAIL - A line recorded on film resulting from movement of a point of light (or camera movement) during the exposure. Star trails are one example.
Light trails is another photographic effect where motion blur is used. Photographs of the lines of light visible in long exposure photos of roads at night are one example of effect.
Light trail - image track recorded on photographic material when a point of light is shifted during exposure.
Light trap - system of entry to a darkroom which allows easy access, but prevents unwanted light from entering.
Photographing Car Light Trails "
The key to photographing car light trails is choosing a good composition and capturing plenty of trails.
When it comes to photography at nighttime and long exposures to get light trails or make a light painting, that's when you really need a tripod since it can get impossible otherwise.
To solve the first-curtain sync problem mentioned above, and to get the light trails looking like they're following behind the moving object as they should, you need to fire the flash right before the shutter closes.
What looks better is if the light trails are behind the moving car, and that's what you get when using second curtain sync. You get the light trail during the regular exposure, plus the sharp flash image at the end rather than the beginning.
Always use a tripod.
Capturing the light trails of an aerial display requires long exposure times. Long exposure times require camera support to ensure sharp exposures. Whether you're using film or a digital camera, bring a sturdy tripod.
Look for some blurred motion gems such as traffic streaking by or boats making light trails across the water. Try a few exposures at longer shutters to see what the action will look like as a light painted blur.
Taken during a full moon (which puts colour into the surrounding land and sky), and pointing true South (showing centre of rotation top centre). Note the torch light trails of someone going out to wash dishes, and the candle light in the windows.
A polariser can also serve as a handy ND2 filter to give you that extra long exposure or that shallower depth of field. Try simulating vehicle light trails in Photoshop; sure, you can do it with some practice.
Press the shutter release and slowly move your camera in one direction. This technique is best done at night with subjects which include lights such as buildings, streets, or signs for creating interesting light trails especially with varied and ...
You normally use this mode only when the other modes can't give you the results you want. Some cameras have a bulb setting in this mode that lets you capture time exposures such as light trails at night.
 See also: Camera, Photograph, Light, Photography, Digital
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