Zooming images
This one takes a bit of practice, and as you will see I have not yet got it right! What you need to do is zoom from one extreme to the other while the shutter is open without moving the camera!
Especially for learning you need static scenes - flowers, statues, stained glass etc. Ideally choose a dull day, or even an evening shoot (you need the shutter to be open for as long as possible 1/8th second or longer!)
Set your camera up on a tripod and zoom to one extreme of your lens. Compose the shot (perhaps by moving the tripod) then zoom to the other extreme and check the results.
Once you are happy with the image at both ends of the range, set your mode to A (Aperture priority) and set the F-stop fairly high. F-16 or higher. The higher you set this the longer you will have for the speed. If you are getting less time than you need check your ISO setting is not automatic. In this case lower ISO also equals longer shutter open time.
Focus on your subject, press the shutter and immediately (without moving the camera or the focus ring) zoom the lens through its range at a steady speed. Ideally the shutter will close just before you reach the end of the zoom.
The slower the shutter speed the longer you have to twist the zoom ring but the more likely you will be to have exposure issues.
The wolf's head is lost in the shadow and the background lights are too distracting (because of the long shutter speed, they are ambient light in real life). This was the best of about 30 shots so don’t expect the first one to be right!
Once you have mastered the technique you can abandon the tripod BUT the subject should always remain relatively simple otherwise the resulting zoomed image can be a bit confusing. Try to avoid motion (camera shake) blur if hand-holding your camera.
These articles can have up to three images - if you have produced a successful image, and there are not already three images here, send it to Paul for inclusion in this piece.
