Bulb Shooting...What is it when it's not shooting light bulbs?
Bulb Shooting… What is it when it’s not shooting light bulbs?
Bulb Shooting… What is it when it’s not shooting light bulbs? By Raphael Chieza
I still remember when I was first asked whether I shoot “Bulb”. It was a long time ago and I was very new to photography at that time so my answer was rather embarrassing. Since then, I have become much wiser but still, there is a big difference between knowing what Bulb mode is and how to use it in practical photography. I mean, there are still many around who could tell you what it is but just look blank when asked when it should be used. That’s why I’ve set out here what is “Bulb Shooting”, how to go about it and when it is most applicable.
What is Bulb Shooting?
To put it simply, bulb mode is when you make the shutter completely manual. At all other speeds, shutter speeds are preset for the duration between shutter opening and closing (e.g. 1/3000s, 1/500s, 1/30s, 2s, 10s, 30s) but in bulb mode, the duration is completely controlled by you. The shutter opens when you press the shutter button and will remain open as long as it is pressed. Once you take the finger off the button, the shutter will close. This will allow you to keep the shutter open longer than the slowest shutter speed. However, that is not the only use. It also allows you to control the duration of the shutter more flexibly so that you can ensure that your shutter is opened throughout the time required for your composition.
How to shoot in Bulb mode?
Depending on your camera’s make and model, you may or may not have the option altogether. For those that have this function, it may be a separate mode (denoted by “B”) or as a setting on your shutter speed. If it is the later, you will find it as the slowest shutter speed setting (usually after 30s). Given that you are likely be shooting in dim light with a relatively long duration, a tripod and shutter release are both must haves. The Tripod will obviously offer the steadiness you require but it’s not enough because if you are pressing the shutter button the whole time of your shot, you will contribute camera shakes. Hence a remote shutter is vital. There is no need to get anything fancy unless you find the need for it, a wireless or wired one is also just fine. What may be useful is the lock shutter function that some offers, that way, if you are going for a really long extended exposure, you can press the shutter button and lock it. That will free you up to do other things, like charm fellow photographers with bad jokes, until you need to unlock and release the shutter. There are remote shutters that work on the basis of one press open, second press close. Both does the job and are wonderful if you like to shoot star trails, where exposure times tend to be long.
All set but not sure what to shoot?
Popular usage for Bulb mode includes shooting star trails, painting with light and shooting fireworks or lightning. As previously mentioned, shooting star trails require long exposure times and so Bulb is required. Of course there are other ways to shoot star trails, such as combining multiple exposures, but Bulb shooting would be the most straight forward method. Next, you have painting with light. What this mean is that you can actually create an image by moving lights about in a dark room with the shutter open. You would need to wear very dark clothes to ensure you merge with the background and not get picked up by the sensor. The affects could be quite interesting. The outdoor version of this is shooting fireworks, lightning or even other moving bright objects like amusement park rides. With fireworks, the bulb mode is essential because it allows you to start the exposure while the firework is going up and stop it just as it starts to fade. With the control you can exercise over the shutter duration, you can ensure that you won’t miss out on any bit of the action. Shooting lightning is also similar in theory although this is one area where I’ve not had any hands-on experience. Comments on this would be appreciated. Finally, it’s important to remember that these are merely common usage. Part of the fun of photography is about experimentation and creativity, so don’t be afraid to use Bulb mode in other situations if you feel it can achieve interesting results. Happy shooting!
Popular usage for Bulb mode includes shooting star trails, painting with light and shooting fireworks or lightning. As previously mentioned, shooting star trails require long exposure times and so Bulb is required. Of course there are other ways to shoot star trails, such as combining multiple exposures, but Bulb shooting would be the most straight forward method. Next, you have painting with light. What this mean is that you can actually create an image by moving lights about in a dark room with the shutter open. You would need to wear very dark clothes to ensure you merge with the background and not get picked up by the sensor. The affects could be quite interesting. The outdoor version of this is shooting fireworks, lightning or even other moving bright objects like amusement park rides. With fireworks, the bulb mode is essential because it allows you to start the exposure while the firework is going up and stop it just as it starts to fade. With the control you can exercise over the shutter duration, you can ensure that you won’t miss out on any bit of the action. Shooting lightning is also similar in theory although this is one area where I’ve not had any hands-on experience. Comments on this would be appreciated. Finally, it’s important to remember that these are merely common usage. Part of the fun of photography is about experimentation and creativity, so don’t be afraid to use Bulb mode in other situations if you feel it can achieve interesting results. Happy shooting!