When making images goes past just clicking a scene as it is to making a scene more interesting and creative, you are relishing photography as more than just a process of documenting a moment unraveling before your life just way it is.

So this week’s Toecabulary discusses ‘zoom burst’, a technique that makes an image fun and even fantastic, because it renders a breathtaking, stunning sense of blurred streaks emerging continuously from the centre of a frame, usually where the subject is placed.

One doesn’t need fancy photography equipment to make a zoom burst (or zoom blur) image. A DSLR or a mirrorless camera with a zoom lens will suffice. When you use shutter priority mode, with slow shutter speed, starting from a long focal length to a short focal length rather than the other way round, you make a zoom burst image.

It works best when your lens has image stabilization turned on. If not, you can use a tripod or a bean bag.

Place your subject at the middle/center of the frame for the best result.

Have fun with the zoom burst technique the next time you are making images. Good light to you!

Interested in improving your skills?

Imparting photography knowledge that eventually increases our attention and love for various details of life on this planet is at the heart of everything we do at Toehold. If you are a photography enthusiast and are interested in learning photography methodically from our ace photographers, explore our Photography Workshops and other related courses at Toehold Academy, or if you want to harness your skills and get mentored by our team of extraordinary photographers on the field, in real-time on our Photography Tours to destinations across India and abroad, explore our Photography Travel offerings.

‍