How to create a Zoom Burst in your photos

A zoom burst is the effect of using slow shutter speeds and a manual zoom lens to create outward streaks of color and light in an otherwise normal photograph. Follow these instructions to begin experimenting with this interesting technique.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Camera with adjustable shutter and aperture
• Manual adjust zoom lens
• Tripod

1. Locate your subject and attach your camera to a tripod.
2. Then set your camera's shutter speed to a slow setting. 1/4 to 1/2 should be slow enough.
3. Set your aperture to f/8.
4. Aim at your subject and press the shutter release.
5. Your shutter will stay open for about 1 second, during this window of time use the adjustment ring on your zoom lens to manually zoom in on the subject.
6. The result of doing this will cause anything outside of the photograph's center to burst outward in trails of color and light.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice makes perfect, and this will definitely take a few tries. The more you experiment the better you will become with your reflexes, and increase your knowledge of shutter settings and their effects.
• The effects of zooming OUT can be just as interesting as the zooming in.