From January 2017, I decided to embark on something I’d been putting off for a long time – a personal 52-week assignment where I go out and make themed images every week. Sounds simple? Think again.
Sometimes I’m fortunate enough to make the images earlier in the week to accord me enough time to edit and share on Instagram + Facebook (though they aren’t titled 52-week-challenge) and other times, like on Week 14, I haven’t shot anything by Sunday!
But it has to be done. The chain CANNOT be broken.
So, on Sunday April 9 at 1900h, I remember an image I’ve seen before on Instagram, tried shooting something similar and failed miserably.
I quickly set up my tripod on the back seat of my trusty old-ish steed, mount my dependable Nikon D5100 + a 20mm f/1.8 lens and head for Mombasa Road. I know the location will work because of the long smooth stretches, good traffic flow (because Sunday night) and lights everywhere.
Drivexposure Kit (very basic as you can see)
I also make sure I use the groove in the back seat as well as the cup holder next to the handbrake to secure the kit and keep it from vibrating. Any slight movement when in the middle of a shot will obviously result in a blurry shot, which isn’t what I’m going for.
For this task, I use a wide-angle lens to capture the car’s interior and the stretch of road in front of me through the windshield. Anything in the range of 12-24mm should work.
Drivexposure gear – setup from back seat
I then make the return trip up the highway and use a cable release to trigger the shutter. I am basically on the look out for;
a straight and bump-free stretch of road
a stretch with couple of cars infront (to add elements to the composition)
a steady flow of traffic
a section with street lights above
When I spot a potential shot (I have to visualize the entire duration of the shot), I hit the trigger, place my hand back on the steering wheel and ride it out until the end.
For this particular shot, I was driving along a curved section of the highway hence the curved light trails.
RAW (straight-out-of-camera) image
Above is the RAW file I started working on and below, the final versions.
Settings are ISO 200, 10s, f/13.0. White Balance is Flourescent, my main setting for the night shots.
Final version (Colour edit)
Final version (Blue edit)
Apart from the small smudges on the windshield (and the fact that this isn’t a perfect shot anyway), let me know what you make of it overall. And if you want another making-the-shot post on a photo you’ve seen on my Instagram or Facebook before, let me know. I’m hoping to make this a regular segment of this blog.
So, I challenge you to go out and make some magical images. Choose;
A smooth road with multiple lanes, so you can have more elements on your composition
A road with one-way traffic, to avoid the glare of on-coming traffic
A day with less traffic than usual, preferably a Sunday evening
Southern Bypass, Thika Road or Mombasa Road would be a good place to start.
Don’t forget to share your resulting images. I’d love to see what y’all come up with.
Have fun!
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