Look Out Point!!

Friends went up to Look Out Point few weeks ago...which I've heard it to be the perfect dating place, and they've got a beautiful view to take pictures of... how could I miss it??? True enough... I was able to capture a shot like this up there...

The Whole City of KL!!!

My Camera Settings??

ISO 200, 30seconds, f/13, and using a kit lens zooming all the way out to 18mm..

Then I tried to take pictures of my friends, but that wouldn't be all that possible because the subject would certainly look darn, only way to make them clear was to pop the flash~

Naturally with a flash it would create enough light to make the front subject clear, but the background dark because it makes the shutter speed faster, thus not giving it enough time to absorb light, so the background becomes dark~

So I tried experimenting, turning the Dial to Manual mode, and turning the Aperature to f.8, and the shutter to 10seconds, and asking the subject to stay still for 10 seconds, I managed to create a shot like this~

Not bad I'd say....
Then everyone else wanted a try at it too~

I tried to use my handphone to create a swirl around Andrew, but it failed~~ need to practice more in drawing with light XD

Then something interesting happened while we were trying to take a group picture~~

After 3 seconds when the flash fired, Jenn Ming walked off, then some of the others walked off... and after the 10sec shutter, checked the picture and it looked like a ghost image, I guess it was because they weren't standing still for the whole 10seconds that's why the full detail couldn't be captured??? But I tried to experiment more with it~~

Asked the main subject to stand still, and the other pose, and after the flash fired, the others moved away, making the main subject to stay still througout the 10 seconds... not bad...!!!

So I increased the Shadows in the picture... giving it a more scary, mysterious feel~~ try it out yourself!!! Be creative and Turn your friends into ghosts!! XD

A summary of how I did it...

1. Set your camera to Manual mode
2. Try out different Aperature & Shutter Speeds to get the perfect background picture
3. Add your friends inside and set them to how you want them to look, picking the main subject and others to be the ghost
4. Upon firing the flash, ask those ghost characters to move away instantly after the flash
5. Ask the main subject to stay still throughout the shutter time
6. Keep trying till you perfect it!!
7. Have Fun!! XD Actually how I found out this technique is rather of an accident, but... it's a good thing~ go on, try it yourself!! It's really fun!! XD