Pedestrian’s Foot

[Bill Burk]

No we don't, go out and do it.

OK then, I will...

That's the plan... a light background and several experimental walk-by's...

I'll composite the background with an interesting walk-by vignetted in...

 

[Bill Burk]

One-half second exposure should work for a subject with a brisk walking pace. Time the shutter opening with the planting of the foot on the ground. Dark clothing and a light background will complete the effect.

Looking again, I think this was one shot. The top-down view shortened pedestrian's form. Appears to be wearing suede jacket, swinging arms, possibly holding a paper. Some dark-ish collar or scarf. Grey hair.

This may take some staging to re-create what originally was a planned, fortunate shot.

 

[Brian C. Miller]

1 second exposure from above on a tripod, and just do it a bunch of times with people passing by. No big deal.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

A fast walk (about 4 mph) is about 120 steps per minute; that means the right and left feet each move 60 times per minute. A slow walk would be about 30 times a minute. So a 1 second exposure sounds about right.

For a slow walk (2 miles per hour) the walkers head would move about 3 feet in 1 second

 

[Bill Burk]

Keep the ideas flowing.. I'm looking for a suede jacket... And a volunteer from my neighborhood...

I'll try half, quarter, tenth. Looks like a brisk pace.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

I'd suggest 1 sec, 1/2 sec and 1/4 sec

 

[billbretz]

I've seen the effect put to use in the recent past (2000s) in press photos that have won in some of the prestigious national contests (but which I cannot source, to some frustration). These pictures are very similar to the one the OP inquires about.. I doubt very, very much that the image in question is anything more than simply what has been presented - a well (or fortuitously) timed and slow exposure.

 

[Bill Burk]

I'm not expecting to win any prestigious national contests... But I took out a roll of Panatomic-X from the freezer because I'll need slow film to pull this off.

 

[lxdude]

Geez, you guys.
It's very obvious how this picture came about.

The pedestrian exploded.

 

[Bill Burk]

Geez, you guys.
It's very obvious how this picture came about.

The pedestrian exploded.

Of course! There's some guys playing with fireworks in my town tonight. Maybe I can recruit a volunteer from one of them.

 

[MaximusM3]

I do that all the time (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Really, this is Tri-X, on a miserable, rainy day. If I remember correctly, shot at 1/15 or thereabout, handheld of course If you notice, all feet can be seen firmly planted and distinguishable, but the bodies of all beings on the left are not. They were walking fast to escape the rain. The only manipulation here is the heavy burning in and high contrast to emphasize the feeling of movement and the person sitting on the bench in the middle, perfectly still.

 

[polyglot]

I've done this before. The important point is that foot on the ground is stationary while the rest of the body is moving. You want somewhere around 1/4 to 1/2 second depending on the walking speed. Open the shutter when the shoe hits the ground, close it again as they're about to lift it.

Here's mine, though different perspective:

It was an RZ in normal shutter mode; I opened too early and closed too late. You can see the next step and the foot is a little transparent. Should have used B-mode.

 

[removed account4]

i wish i had my example, it was a guy mopping the floor
1/2 second exposure, i think tri or plus x .. with above merc vap lamps ..
it was done at a federal installation the floor glistened, and there were just legs

its now in the federal archives / library of congress

have fun bill !
john

 

[Bill Burk]

I've done this before. The important point is that foot on the ground is stationary while the rest of the body is moving. You want somewhere around 1/4 to 1/2 second depending on the walking speed. Open the shutter when the shoe hits the ground, close it again as they're about to lift it.

Here's mine, though different perspective:

It was an RZ in normal shutter mode; I opened too early and closed too late. You can see the next step and the foot is a little transparent. Should have used B-mode.

Overnight I realized this too... B is the secret... With a rangefinder watch the pedestrian walk into the frame, keeping beat with the walk, Open after foot goes down and Close before foot goes up... Let the latitude of film make up for the random shutter speed.

 

[Bill Burk]

Forgot I have no sense of rhythm... Between first and second set I switched lenses and forgot to set f/16... so one set is going to be a bit overexposed. Reluctant subjects...

But it was fun. One of my pedestrians yelled up at me... "Silver?" We talked for a bit then his son walked by for me.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Geez, you guys.
It's very obvious how this picture came about.

The pedestrian exploded.

Too much GAS!! :eek:

 

[Bill Burk]

It works!

Can't wait to show you my exploded pedestrian's feet. Film's in the wash now. Just looked at the last few frames and there are disembodied feet!

 

[Bill Burk]

See "Pedestrian's Foot, Slug Bug 2" in the galleries...

The solution is to use B and shoot only for the brief time the near foot is on the ground.

 

[lxdude]

Well, I suppose that is easier than getting pedestrians to explode.

 

[removed account4]

i hear self combusting happens all the time ...

classic image bill !
classic 60s's bug too ?

 

[Vaughn]

great bug!
very late 60's. My guess.

Oh...and good job on the foot!

 

[removed account4]

great bug!
very late 60's. My guess.

Oh...and good job on the foot!

hey V
it looks like has the bullet hubcaps for the 5 lug wheels
i wish i could see the front quarter panels or rear lights
the little vent looking doodad below the headlights, and
the tiny back lights would be a dead give away for the age ...
old bugs look so old compared to the late 60s ones

- J

 

[Vaughn]

I drove a '71 SuperBeetle for ten years -- enough differences that I know this is not one.

 

[Bill Burk]

Thanks for all the kind words!

The scoop from the owner who lives two doors down from me... it's stock, '69 black / red.

My daughter, the foot in the picture, has been playing the "slug bug" game this summer (she learned from my little sister). Everywhere we go around town I get punched whenever we pass an old beetle. There's a lot of them so I was starting to get sore. Told her maybe she should just tap me on the shoulder from now on.

Midway through summer this car appeared parked across the street from us. I tried taking a straight picture of her with the car earlier but the pose was awkward and the shot just didn't carry any feeling.

For the challenge I setup three shots. First shot, from the rooftop looking down over lemon trees on the circle the birch tree grows up from. Twin brother walked past for me several times. The slug bug was the next setup and I switched to 35mm but forgot to set f/16. Didn't realize that until I started shooting on the beach trail. So after I came back I finished the roll at the beetle at f/16.

This was the last shot on the roll, 37th frame. Seems dust flows downhill when I hang film to dry, the negative had lots of fibers on it. Took at least an hour to spot.

 

[Bill Burk]

Seconds...

Pedestrian's Foot, Lemons and Birch...

Pedestrian's Foot, Rockaway Beach (Negative Scan)...