Accidental Exposure
 

I was attempting to take some shots of Christmas lights half buried in snow but, being clumsy in gloves, I pressed the exposure button before I meant to. I realized that I had done so and started to turn away and set up the camera for what I wanted to do. Later, when I uploaded the pictures I found this unintended time exposure. I thought it interesting enough to want to share.

Hmmm, 30 second exposure!

That's a really cool looking bit of abstract art, no matter if it was unintentional. People spend hours and hours trying to create this kind of image. You just go out and do it without thinking about it, that's quite a talent!

Nice one snowyowl, its great when you get these surprise shots, if you had set it up to just that, the effect wouldn't be quite as striking. Glad you didn't bin it its great. Thanks for sharing.

Very nice for an unintentional photo.

I agree. Partial to a bit of abstarct myself.

Nogbd

Really good photo. I'd have boasted that it was deliberate.

Are you sure you did it by accident, if so please send me details of your technique, I want to make slip ups like this one too!

nirofo.

Thanks, guys. It really was an accident, I'm not smart enough to do this deliberately. It was pretty cold and dark. I had gloves on and I accidentally pressed the exposure button. Realizing what I had done I started to turn away as the camera was exposing and that was the result.

I really like the shot. Serendipity, you should have claimed it was deliberate! :D

So the technique is to turn away at the correct moment as you are exposing for the shot, any idea what the rate of turn should be, is it fast, slow or somewhere in between? Judging from the streaking of the lights it was a fairly slow turn.

nirofo.

The key to this shot is to make a "casual" turn so unfortunately this can not be planned ahead of time.

I can't stop returning to this photo. We try so hard to keep the camera steady (tripod, image stabilisation). But to move camera - have you discovered a new technique? Is anybody else out there experimenting? With so many variables, it would be interesting to see results.

So what you are saying Snowyowl is that the casual turn at the precise moment is something that only years of photographic instinct, (or yin!) can give you. I'm beginning to realise now what the meaning behind some of the modern art paintings really is ?? Great shot nevertheless!

nirofo.

It's just an awesome shot, the colours and the way they streak across the frame you would be hard pushed to do this deliberately. john20d

I'm sure I couldn't do it deliberately although this shot has created so much unexpected amount of comment that I may just have to try something on purpose.

Or, at the very least, stick it in your gallery.