Question about removing people from the photo: I saw a photo on the web ( can't remember where) of a tourist attraction in Europe that was crowded with people. The photographer then...

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

I saw a photo on the web ( can't remember where) of a tourist attraction in Europe that was crowded with people.
The photographer then adjusted his settings ( I think by increasing the shutter speed) and took the photo and all of the tourists were gone.
Can someone in this forum tell me how to do this.
Thanks

Wheezer1

I've seen this done on the internet using neutral density filters so only let a small amount of light into the camera. They took a long exposure so people moving in the picture don't show up just the background..

RWCRNC wrote:

I saw a photo on the web ( can't remember where) of a tourist attraction in Europe that was crowded with people.
The photographer then adjusted his settings ( I think by increasing the shutter speed) and took the photo and all of the tourists were gone.
Can someone in this forum tell me how to do this.
Thanks

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

Thanks Wheezer. Don't have one of those,but looking in to getting one, specifically for the silky waterfalls.
BTW, love your avatar

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Wheezer1 wrote:

I've seen this done on the internet using neutral ... (show quote)

Right. Adorama has a video on doing this with ND filters. The photographer set up his tripod near a busy highway. By keeping the shutter open for a period of time, the cars were not in the frame long enough to register. The road was empty! I tried to find it agin, but I couldn't.

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

I found it Jerry. Thanks so much. Turns out it is a slow shutter speed that I need.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

RWCRNC wrote:

I found it Jerry. Thanks so much. Turns out it is a slow shutter speed that I need.

This is the one I had in mind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpNtAXbaNr0

Can you post the link that you found?

RWCRNC Loc: Pennsylvania

That is the same one I found, but I still haven't found the one of the tourist attraction in Europe.

cgchief Loc: Jarrettsville

RWCRNC wrote:

I saw a photo on the web ( can't remember where) of a tourist attraction in Europe that was crowded with people.
The photographer then adjusted his settings ( I think by increasing the shutter speed) and took the photo and all of the tourists were gone.
Can someone in this forum tell me how to do this.
Thanks

An easy way to remove the peasents is to make up a 'pinhole' adapter to use instead of the lens; use tripod because the exposure will be a minute or more.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

cgchief wrote:

quote=RWCRNC I saw a photo on the web ( can't rem... (show quote)

So, do you just drill a body cap? If so, what size hole?

wteffey Loc: Ocala, FL USA

You might do this later in PS Elements with good results. You simply take two or more photos from exactly the same spot, with exactly the same settings,(a tripod makes it easier), then use the Photomerge Scene Cleaner. Worked like magic the few times I tried it, removing anything that moved between shots and replacing the empty spaces with the correct background. A little cloning finished the job.

MN BAM

There was an article in the August Tamron newsletter 'Shooting in the Big Apple'. The photographer used long shutter speeds to eliminate people from his shots.

I was able to do this by using long shutter speeds to shoot a boat passing by on the river. I captured a wake, and the tail lights but no boat. No special filters or technics - just used a tripod.

philo Loc: philo, ca

I always found that if I don't want people in my images I wait for them to move. If it is really busy them they become part of the moment.

Wheezer1

You started me to thinking so I bought a 58mm Vivitar ND8 filter from Amazon. It was only about $5 plus shipping. I don't expect much at that price but it will let me try some long exposure daytime pictures.

RWCRNC wrote:

Thanks Wheezer. Don't have one of those,but looking in to getting one, specifically for the silky waterfalls.
BTW, love your avatar

cgchief Loc: Jarrettsville

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

quote=cgchief quote=RWCRNC I saw a photo on the ... (show quote)

To make a crude pinhole; cut a square piece of a soda can about 1/2" X 1/2" and make a very small hole in the center.
The drill size #77 to #80, no drill that small you have to push a hole in with a needle and try to prevent the edge of hole bending in. Thats why drilling is better. But the best is a laser precision hole. (Lenox Laser)
Then drill a 1/4" hole in center of body cap and attach the thin metal to the back of the cap.
Mounted to the body directly will be 'wide angle' or with extension tube will be 'longer'.
The further the pinhole is from the senser the longer the exposure; experiment, try one minute then more or less from there.

WxGuesser Loc: Portland OR

wteffey wrote:

You might do this later in PS Elements with good results. You simply take two or more photos from exactly the same spot, with exactly the same settings,(a tripod makes it easier), then use the Photomerge Scene Cleaner. Worked like magic the few times I tried it, removing anything that moved between shots and replacing the empty spaces with the correct background. A little cloning finished the job.

Just about any software that has masks and layers will do. Just take several pictures with a tripod, so only the people change from image to image. Then in a new image put each picture in a different layer and just work your way through the layers masking out the people. I have found this is also a good way to take group pictures so that no one is yawning, or has eyes closed or is looking the wrong way etc.