PDA

View Full Version : How to do a shot like this one?


dr_zero
09-08-2008, 01:54 PM
http://www.time.com/time/potw/20080821/potw_05.jpg

How would you go about making a shot like this with a digital camera?

Anewman
09-08-2008, 02:03 PM
1. have a Fast camera, should take at least 5 frames per second... Faster would help.

2. shoot a burst of photos at exactly the right time, and select at least 3 frames.

3. Merge photos as layers and adjust opacity to taste. I use Photoshop CS2 or CS3 = File\automate\photomerge and select option Keep as layers, and then adjust opacity on each layer.

dr_zero
09-08-2008, 02:10 PM
1. have a Fast camera, should take at least 5 frames per second... Faster would help.

2. shoot a burst of photos at exactly the right time, and select at least 3 frames.

3. Merge photos as layers and adjust opacity to taste. I use Photoshop CS2 or CS3 = File\automate\photomerge and select option Keep as layers, and then adjust opacity on each layer.

Thanks for the input! :thumbsup2

So the shot would have to be photoshopped?

If it was film I was thinking maybe a flash fired like a strobe and maybe set for Bulb or a slow shutter .?.

Disney*Dreamer
09-08-2008, 02:13 PM
Wow, that is neat! Thanks for posting that, and thanks to Anewman for the info on how to do it. Can't wait to try it myself!

Anewman
09-08-2008, 02:16 PM
Thanks for the input! :thumbsup2

So the shot would have to be photoshopped?

If it was film I was thinking maybe a flash fired like a strobe and maybe set for Bulb or a slow shutter .?.


That may also accomplish the same thing, but with the technique I use(mostly for baseball) You are left with MORE frames and you select or discard as needed to give you the best photo.

For a baseball pitcher, I can take about 9 frames during one delivery. Usually I select about 4 or 5 frames. Some overlap too closely or in some the arm is positioned where it would block the pitchers face... You just get more options this way.

If you are doing it the old double(or more) exposure way, the frame is pretty much done and there is no real way to get a do over.

dr_zero
09-08-2008, 06:34 PM
That may also accomplish the same thing, but with the technique I use(mostly for baseball) You are left with MORE frames and you select or discard as needed to give you the best photo.

For a baseball pitcher, I can take about 9 frames during one delivery. Usually I select about 4 or 5 frames. Some overlap too closely or in some the arm is positioned where it would block the pitchers face... You just get more options this way.

If you are doing it the old double(or more) exposure way, the frame is pretty much done and there is no real way to get a do over.

Cool thanks for the tips! :thumbsup2

dr_zero
09-08-2008, 06:40 PM
Wow, that is neat! Thanks for posting that, and thanks to Anewman for the info on how to do it. Can't wait to try it myself!

Yeah I thought it was cool also it was one of Time magazines photo of the week.

They have some really neat pictures if you have time to flip through them.

MICKEY88
09-08-2008, 07:10 PM
Thanks for the input! :thumbsup2

So the shot would have to be photoshopped?

If it was film I was thinking maybe a flash fired like a strobe and maybe set for Bulb or a slow shutter .?.


slow shutter and flash in strobe mode would work, but Anewman's method is easier and more accurate..

Anewman
09-08-2008, 08:12 PM
slow shutter and flash in strobe mode would work, but Anewman's method is easier and more accurate..

And it works in daylight:thumbsup2

rutgers1
09-08-2008, 10:26 PM
The camera would ideally be on a tripod. Otherwise, it would be tough to match things up, such as the background.

MICKEY88
09-08-2008, 11:46 PM
And it works in daylight:thumbsup2

you can do the other method in daylight also, just set your exposure comp for -3 and your flash comp at a + :thumbsup2

MarkBarbieri
09-09-2008, 04:22 AM
Another optoin would be to find a mutant ghost gymnast and take pictures of her performing.

jfulcer
09-09-2008, 04:41 AM
It's a process developed by a company by the name of Dartfish (http://www.dartfish.com/en/sports-enhancements/sport_performance_software/index.htm). It's called stromotion (Strobe - slow Motion). When done on video it's pretty awesome. You can see the 'Best of Beijing' in stromotion here:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0824_smbestof_ja439&channelcode=features

I saw them use this in a bunch of events, but IMHO the coolest is when they do something called Simulcam and superimpose two gymnasts in the same event, say uneven bars. I've seen them do the same for diving. Way cool.

bob100
09-09-2008, 04:53 AM
here's another suggestion,
make a video, extract a sample of the frames and merge them in photoshop.
haven't tried it but I've heard it works.

Golf4food
09-09-2008, 11:02 AM
Another optoin would be to find a mutant ghost gymnast and take pictures of her performing.

I like your idea better. :thumbsup2

Is there an age limit for mutant ghost gymnasts? :lmao:

dr_zero
09-09-2008, 11:48 AM
Another optoin would be to find a mutant ghost gymnast and take pictures of her performing.

LOL that might be kinda interesting Hmmm:scratchin

It's a process developed by a company by the name of Dartfish (http://www.dartfish.com/en/sports-enhancements/sport_performance_software/index.htm). It's called stromotion (Strobe - slow Motion). When done on video it's pretty awesome. You can see the 'Best of Beijing' in stromotion here:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0824_smbestof_ja439&channelcode=features

I saw them use this in a bunch of events, but IMHO the coolest is when they do something called Simulcam and superimpose two gymnasts in the same event, say uneven bars. I've seen them do the same for diving. Way cool.

Hey thanks for the links I will check them out!

rtphokie
02-07-2009, 08:22 PM
http://www.time.com/time/potw/20080821/potw_05.jpg

How would you go about making a shot like this with a digital camera?


Here's another take on that shot, from a NCAA gymnastics meet tonight in Raleigh, NC. Top is a NC State gymnast on the vault and bottom is a UNC gymnast on the beam.

http://rtphokie.smugmug.com/photos/469412552_3rVpx-L.jpg

And

http://rtphokie.smugmug.com/photos/469412528_65j4C-L.jpg

It's multiple shots opened in layers in photoshop. Since it was shot handheld they dont line up well so I picked a stationary reference point (a judges notebook on the vault and the intersection of some mats on the beam) and lined them up that way setting a layer to 50% opacity to make it easier. It's then a matter of erasing everything but the gymnast in all but the bottom layer. In the vault I kept some of the crowd in the tween shots since they were following the gymnast and it looked a bit more natural that way.

My camera is not nearly as fast as the olympic shot above so the action is more spread out and it was shot from the cheep seats with a entry level 300mm lens.

ford91exploder
02-26-2009, 09:16 PM
You need a camera capable of 'rear curtain sync' and a strobe capable of firing multiple flashes once triggered. Nikon's SB-800 and similar are capable of this type of operation.

Rear curtain sync, The camera exposes for the background and then the strobe fires multiple times and the subject is captured multiple times after which the shutter curtain closes.

This technique requires experimentation to get it right but results are worth it. If you have a golfer in the family they are a good test subject as they enjoy the swing analysis.