How to Do Floating Photography

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Cameras capture the world and open windows of insight into everyday lives, but on the flip side, they can also create reality-defying illusions, such as the floating photography popularized by Japanese photographer Natsumi Hayashi. This type of photography requires no props or time-consuming post-processing techniques and can be done in any location with a compelling backdrop.

Instructions

Tripod (if shooting yourself)
Remote shutter control (optional)

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- 1
  
  Set the camera on a tripod on a stable surface if you are doing a floating self-portrait.
- 2
  
  Look through the viewfinder and center the subject in the camera’s focal point. Hold the shutter button down halfway to meter and auto-focus the shot. After the camera has focused, switch to manual focus mode.
- 3
  
  Set the shutter speed. You will need a relatively fast shutter speed – between 1/500th to 1/1000th of a second – to freeze the jumping motion, so if your camera’s metering shows that you need a slow shutter speed, lower the aperture or bump up the ISO to compensate.
- 4
  
  Compose the shot. If you are using a tripod, secure the tripod head.
- 5
  
  Set the camera’s shutter mode to timer if you are shooting a self-portrait. You can also use a remote shutter control, though you will need to press it in mid-air.
- 6
  
  Instruct the subject to jump. The subject needs to maintain a normal facial expression to create the floating illusion.
- 7
  
  Press the shutter button when the subject is in mid-air.