I'm Puzzled

took this photo at a party, Don't know what I did but I like the effect and would like to reproduce it in other contexts. Anyone got any idea on what i did?

[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/6hkolg.jpg[/IMG]

I suspect you had a slow shutter speed and the people at the back moved causing ghosting - if that is the bit you are referring to?

I agree with the slow shutter speed - and then did the flash fire as well, which could give this. So the camera moved and picked up the background lights (being bright) and blurred them, then the flash 'froze' the people in the foreground
Andy

If you upload it to your PU-gallery, we can see your exif data (I can't see it now, maybe someone else can?) but at a guess I'd agree with alfpics... Slow shutter (maybe camera movement also) caught motion blur and flash froze it...

To recreate that effect, I think you just need to give booze to your subjects!

Camera Model: PENTAX K-x
Image Date: 2012-01-01 00:01:42 (no TZ)
Focal Length: 42.5mm (35mm equivalent: 64mm)
Aperture: f/4.5
Exposure Time: 1.300 s
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: -1.00 EV
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure: program (Auto)
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Software: K-x Ver 1.00

I'm guessing copious amounts of alcohol will faithfully recreate that effect for you - ably assisted by that delightful young Belgian lady called Stella!!

As the flash didn't fire, It looks like the camera was held pretty steady for most of the 1.3s exposure and then moved away causing the lamp trails.

Adding flash in slow sync mode will allow ambient expose ( long shutter speds ) and you can get the flash to stop motion

Off topic but I would consider a firmware update on your K-x... It will improve your battery usage/accuracy of battery metre if nothing else...

Question... Your flash did not fire... Were there any lights in the room that were flashing?
Fairy lights maybe?

The lady and the gent in the foreground are much sharper than I'd get for a second+ exposure without flash...

I wonder if there was an ambient source (ambient is the wrong word but a light source unconnected to the camera)that was flashing; causing a freeze in the forgroung and ghosting in the background?

He might have used a flash that doesn't "communicate" with the camera. The foreground really looks like it's "frozen" by a flash.

I've had a few pics like this where I surprised part of the shot was without motion blur even on long exposures with no flash. sometimes you can hold the camera steady for quite long periods of time. It's not repeatable every time

You can tell there's no flash becuase there's no shadows from the main subjects

Thanks peeps. I couldn't tell you about the flash as i am clueless. but i get the slow shutter with flash at the end.

ok now to figure updating this firmware

Too drunk to notice whether the flash went off?


Or at the beginning.

Could the bright area to the right be a clue? Is that someone else's flash firing whilst John was taking his photo?
It would create the same effect.