Digital SLR Photography

Pedal PowerCapture exCiting images withdynamiC motion usinga small rig anda remote–it’s easier thanyou might think! Jordan Butters is heretoshowyou how...``````Camera:nikond7 50 / Lens:samyang 14 mmf/2.8 ed as if umC/ rig:manfrotto magiC arm and super ClampPH TOSKIL LSrig shots are common practice inautomotive photography, and areoften achieved using suction cupsand long boom arms to distance the camerafar enough from the car to get the wholevehicle in shot. they aren’t limited to carshowever, you can practise your own rig shoton anyform of moving object!rig shots are a dynamic way to conveyexcitement and motion. Because the camerais mounted to, and movingat the same speedas, whatever you’re shooting, the modeoftransport stays sharp and static in the frame,whilst the environment it around blurs. the``````degreeof sharpness and blur depends onseveral factors – how secure the mounting is,how much vibration passes through to thecamera and,of course, the speedof traveland choiceof shutter speed.For this simple bike rig shot you’ll needacoupleof bits of kit, alongside your cameraand a wide-angle lens. the most importantof which is a clamp and arm to mount yourcamera to. although you can fashion a rigfrom a tripod or monopod, or use purpose-made bike mounts, Manfrotto’s Magic arm isa popular, and versatile solution. the Magicarm costs between £100-150, depending on``````the model, and consistsof a support withaManfrotto super Clampat one endattachedto a ball joint, an articulated and lockableelbow joint in the middle, and tripod plateatthe other end, again fixed with a ball joint.this allows you to the twist androtate theMagic arm into almost any position, beforelocking it securely without worrying about itcoming loose.You’ll also need aremoterelease too, to trigger the camera, althoughyou can use the self-timer function, but it’sabit fiddly. Finally, if you’re shooting in brightconditions, then an Nd filter might beneeded too, depending on light levels.