Photography Video Tutorial: Light Speed Escalator
Earlier this year, in February, I took a fun photo at a Refocus Phoenix outing. Within the next 48 hours, that photo attracted more views (140,000+), received more comments (161) and favorites (608), and was talked about on the internet more than all of the rest of my photos combined.
Josh Gomez on the “Light Speed Escalator” — February 2007
With all the excitement around the photo, I wanted to share with everyone how simple and easy the effect is. I also wanted to show some non-believers that the effect was actually achieved without computer enhancements.
Tonight, I finally took the time to drive back to the Brickyard in Tempe and shoot a video tutorial. I took my cheap JVC camcorder ($300-$400), cheap Canon Digital Rebel XT with kit 18-55mm 3.5 lens (currently under $500), and two reeeally cheap tripods and made this cheap video!
The Result: Brian Shaler — November 2007
Let me know what you think in the comments here (general feedback), on Viddler (feedback on the video), or Flickr (feedback on the photo).
Tags: Photography, tutorial, Video
November 30th, 2007 at 2:22 am
Shaler p0wn’s all others
November 30th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Dude you look We-Todd-Did.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Very very awesome idea and shot. Love it! =)
November 30th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Thanks Josh & Dee!
I agree with you, Tony.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Very nicely done! I was interested to see how the video would end… luckily no loss of your vid camera. :)
I am looking forward to more videos of your photography techniques!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
very nice use of slow shutter technique!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Very cool!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Awesome technique. I’ll have to try it out sometime for sure. Still new to the game of photography, let alone digital photography.
I’ll keep looking at your Twits
November 30th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
really cool, looks so simple I think I’ll give it try this weekend!
November 30th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Dude, that’s cool. Something to try next time I’m at the mall.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
If you try out this technique, post a link to your photo in the comments! I’d love to see what other people do with it.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
That looks fantastic. I have a Cannon 350D (which is what the rebel is called in the UK) and now feel challenged to do some more adventurous things with it!
November 30th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Awesome work, man. Well executed.
I can’t believe you sat so still!
November 30th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Very cool idea and a nice explanation video. Good work getting both cameras on and off the escalator without incident
December 1st, 2007 at 1:09 am
Great work Brian, I wish I could have joined up with you guys for the event!
December 1st, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Very nice, great job both doing the photo and explaining clearly how you did it. We very much appreciate the fact that you took the time to explain. Information democracy in action ;)
December 1st, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I think Brian laid off the coffee for 2 days so he could sit this still. He did awesome!
Adam
December 1st, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Another cool way to do this is to put it on the railing.
December 1st, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Interesting! I’ve dabbled in long exposures myself, and am always looking for a new trick to take for a spin!
Now at full resolution do you still appear still and sharp? Because in my experience it is very difficult to keep a person still for any sort of long exposure.
Does the slight bumping of the escalator do anything to the photo either?
December 1st, 2007 at 4:18 pm
dude get a new haircut. seriously. it’s like “something about mary”
December 1st, 2007 at 4:42 pm
What about trying it with a delayed flash? Fantastic pictures, I will definitely have to give it a shot!
December 1st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Everything theoretical about this is cool. 20 second exposure to blur factual. The inherent vibration of the escalator and human inability to remain PERFECTLY still for 20 seconds makes me question how the heck your face is so sharp and in image.
That said…everyone should try it and see if they can get a cool shot like this. HOLD STILL. GET AN ESCALATOR that does not vibrate. I should not overlook an image stabilization feature that might be a component of a REALLY good digital still camera.
Kudos! Worth a try.
December 1st, 2007 at 5:09 pm
I have to say that I am puzzled as well as to how the face could be so tack sharp while moving on an escalator. The video did appear to show that the subject sat perfectly still, but I have to believe that even the slightest vibration through the escalator would cause a little bit of blur. Possibly the face was photoshopped in.
PS
Not sure about other cameras, but Canon recommends NOT using the IS function while on a tripod but I think this is mainly to conserve battery.
December 1st, 2007 at 5:51 pm
I love it! I don’t think I could sit still enough for 20 seconds, though. And a $600 dollar camera isn’t cheap by my standards, but I know you’re comparing it to other DSLRs.
December 1st, 2007 at 6:06 pm
i also wonder how your face could be so bloody sharp on a 20 second exposure. My first thought was a long exposure with a second curtain sync flash (where the flas comes at the very end of the exposure in order to freeze the image, so to speak). Enlighten us as to how you sit so still, please
December 1st, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Very cool. I did something like this a while back at the Portland airport on one of the “moving sidewalks” by just putting the camera on the handrail.
December 1st, 2007 at 6:43 pm
You totally suck. Long Exposures are soooo groundbreaking
December 1st, 2007 at 7:13 pm
This is really great. love the photo.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
this is a great tutorial thanks a bunch.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Reminds me of the Willem Dafoe escalator movie in Mr. Bean’s Holiday.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Blur techniek says:[...] Shaler legt op zijn blog uit hoe je een leuk blureffect krijgt met gebruik van een tripod en een bewegend voorwerp zoals een roltrap. Je kan deze techniek [...]
December 1st, 2007 at 9:20 pm
how did you stay so sill for 20 seconds?
December 1st, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Yeah, I’m assuming the image stabilization in the lens helps keep the face steady.
Thanks for the tutorial. I already knew how it works, but it was worth it seeing you jump up and grab the tripods as the escalator reached the bottom!
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:58 am
Great idea. I would never have thought to use an escalator for a motion blur shot.
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:10 am
Hey Brian, fyi – you typed “refresh phoenix” but linked to “refocus phoenix”… idk if anybody caught that… :)
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:17 am
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December 2nd, 2007 at 4:56 am
Nice photography technique. I always try to think of new ways to better my wedding photography business. These ideas create nice motion-like pictures. I will definitely use it at my next wedding ;D
Cheers
December 2nd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Great technique.
The same little trick can be used in a driving car or on a rotating carusele in Paris.
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I think you should try that on a glass elevator. Lets see what happens
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:05 pm
My Night Life « TheWheat Field says:[...] coughing bouts, the type where you almost puke =S Then after taking this picture and having read Photography Video Tutorial: Light Speed Escalator (Digg it!) in the afternoon I decided to try get fancy and actually do something. So 189 photos [...]
December 4th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Awesome picture
and great job with the tutorial video
I will definately be trying this in the local mall :-)
December 7th, 2007 at 5:34 am
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December 10th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
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December 10th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Urls Sinistras » Blog Archive » del.icio.us entre 03/12/2007 e 10/12/2007 says:[...] Photography Video Tutorial: Light Speed EscalatorI wanted to share with everyone how simple and easy the effect is. I also wanted to show some non-believers that the effect was actually achieved without computer enhancements. [...]
December 15th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
The Viddler Spotlight » Brian Shaler’s escalator photography says:[...] shared a video that shows how he created a neat effect on an escalator using his camera. You can read more about this technique on Brian’s web site (which you may have seen on the digg.com [...]
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:27 am
simple easy and great picture! i like this technique
December 26th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
kick ass man. I’ll give that a try sometime.
December 26th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Can’t wait to see it, Clintus! Maybe you should come out to a Refocus Phoenix meeting. That’s how the original photo was taken.
January 7th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Hello!
Thankx for your tip, i will try it someday ;)
cheers from Portugal
January 10th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Cool!! might wanna try the idea one of these days.. :D
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February 16th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
cool tutorial. I want to give it a try. I’m new to phoenix. Maybe I’ll come to a refocus event.
April 19th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Technology » Blog Archive » Awesome Photography Technique - Video Tutorial for “Light Speed Escalator” says:[...] the Digg front page earlier this year: http://digg.com/design/ Awesome_Long_Exposure_Escalator_Photoread more | digg story Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can [...]
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I’m definitely going to have to try this in some form. Thanks for the tutorial.
August 16th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
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March 21st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
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April 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Well said, finally a good report on this stuff
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January 24th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Great effect – thanks for sharing! You made it look so quick and easy – love it! I just pray for escalators and similar lighting conditions during one of my future wedding photography assignments!
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January 8th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Neat shot.
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