Slow Shutter Speed

If you have ever used any kind of camera when is sort of dark in the area, you may notice that everything is a bit blurry.  The flash can be used in some cases but usually it make the picture look really bad.  This is a result of a low shutter speed.  A camera works by exposing the image sensor (or film) to light.  If there is less light around, then the shutter needs to be open longer to let in more light.  You can change ISO values and aperture sizes but that is an explanation for a different day.  I want to focus on how you can use a slow shutter speed to create unique photos.  Most people will be familiar with the streaks of light that are actually cars like in this picture I took a while ago in San Francisco...

an 8 Second exposure in San Fran.

8 second may seem like a while and is plenty long enough for a photo like this.  However, I am always one to explore new techniques in photography so naturally I wanted to try some photos with much longer shutter speeds.  In some more advanced photos you may notice wispy clouds, unbelievably still water, or star movement.  This is the product of much longer exposures.  One evening I decided I would just go around town and experiment.  This was my result...

2 and a half minute shutter speed taken in Fremont

As you can see, the water is very smooth and the clouds blur because they were moving.  Hopefully you like these pictures and have a better understanding of how shutter speed works.

Rush - Caravan

Caravan/BU2B Single Album Cover

At the start of June, Canadian classic rock band Rush released two new songs on a single titled "Caravan."  The song is said to be on the album Clockwork Angles that is scheduled to be released in Spring 2011.  I heard this song on the radio today.  I know lots of songs by Rush and recognized the vocals as Geddy Lee's (the band's lead singer / bass player / keyboard player.)  At first, the change in feel between the verses and the chorus caught my attention.  After the second chorus, Geddy goes into a simply awesome bass solo that flows right into a great guitar solo by guitarist Alex Lifeson.  After I got home and listened to the song a few times I started to love it.  The B-side of this single contains the song "BU2B" standing for "brought up to believe." This cut isn't quite as good as "Caravan" but is still likable.  If any of you like rock, I would strongly suggest giving this track a listen.  I will be waiting anxiously for Clockwork Angles to come out in the spring and hope that it has equally great tracks.  Click here to listen to Caravan on Youtube.

Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns

A Thousand Suns

First of all, I am not a huge Linkin Park fan.  I have most of the studio albums and a remix album in my music library.  Knowing most of the song, I really only really like a few of the songs.  A friend gave me their new album A Thousand Suns a few days before it officially released.  I listened to a few of the songs and didn't think they were anything special.  In fact, I was surprised that it was actually Linkin Park because it really doesn't sound like them.  I really wasn't feeling it, so I listened to something else.  Later, I gave it another try, listening from start to finish with no stops.  The first few tracks really are nothing special.  Tracks 2 and 4 are under one minute long and are basically just random industrial sounds.  There are only a few songs that really stand out.  The album's hit single, The Catalyst, isn't really my cup of tea.  The song is pretty repetitive and has a pretty generic tone.  I do like some aspects of the song but its not great.  I would give the album a 5 out of 10.  The album is just too generic for me and has nothing to grab my attention.  It also doesn't sound anything like Linkin Park.  I wouldn't recommend buying it, but if you are so curious about it, I would listen to it from friends or on youtube.