Shutter drag is a flash technique that creates colourful swirls of light across your photos, while ensuring that your subject is frozen in place. It works by combining flash with a slow shutter speed, and all you need is a camera with a flashgun attached to the top.
Every shot you take will give you completely different results, based on the direction and speed you move the camera around while the shutter is open. So, take a number of shots, and then look through the results to check that you’re getting the shots you’re looking for!
Shutter drag technique in six steps
1. Shoot in Manual
For this technique, start off by switching your camera over to Manual mode (M on the mode dial), and set the aperture to f/16 to restrict the amount of light that is entering the camera.
2. Slow shutter speed
In order to achieve the swirling trails of light, you’re going to need to use a slow shutter speed. So select this now – an exposure of around 1sec should be plenty slow enough.
3. Set a low ISO
Next, reduce the ISO sensitivity to the lowest setting available on your camera, to reduce the amount of noise within your image and balance the exposure settings. This is usually around ISO 100.
4. Flash settings
Turn on your flashgun, and attach it to the top of your camera via the hotshoe port. Set the power output to around ower to begin with, though you may need to increase or decrease this later.
5. Test shot
With your model in place, frame up and take a shot. Once the flash has fired, move the camera around in a twisting motion until the shutter closes. Review the results. If the flash is too bright or dark, adjust accordingly.
6. Rinse and repeat
Once you have the exposure perfected, keep taking shots and reviewing them periodically. This technique is all about trial and error, so keep experimenting until you have a result that you’re happy with.
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