Zoom burst

Zoom burstis a photographic technique, attainable withzoom lenseswith a manual zoom ring.

Using the technique involves zooming while theshutteris open with a relatively slowshutter speed,generally below 1/60 of a second. For this reason low light or smallaperturesare required. It is also possible to achieve a similar effect with either computer software likeAdobe Photoshop(after the photo has been shot) or aphotographic filter.In these cases the shutter speed can be as fast as necessary.

Photographs taken with this technique are characterized by blurred streaks emanating from the center of the photograph. The effect is nearly identical to a motion blur image in which the camera is traveling towards the subject. For this reason the zoom burst is typically used to create an impression of motion towards the subject.

Examples

• 
  Long basement corridor, Exposure time of 1.3 sec on a 34 mm 18-55 lens
• 
  Costumed person during martinique carnival, Exposure time: 1/20 sec
• 
  Nightly skyscraper, Exposure time: 6 sec
• 
  The Zoom Burst effect leads to a decrease in image contrast if the exposure is not compensated. Exposure time: 3 sec

See also

• Intentional camera movement

Reading list

• Bryan Peterson,Understanding Exposure,1990,ISBN978-0-8174-3711-4
• Bryan Peterson,Understanding Exposure,2004,ISBN978-0-8174-6300-7