Burst with excitement

Find a colourful subject and try your hand at shooting dynamic zoom bursts

Here’s a trick that will spice up your shots: a zoom burst. It’s easy to fake this look in Photoshop, but it’s far more rewarding to learn to take them yourself. You don’t need any special kit to attempt this technique, which essentially consists of zooming your Nikon’s lens out in one smooth movement during a long exposure.

You can attempt to shoot a zoom burst indoors or out, but a bright, easily recognisable subject is best. A bright flower set against a plain background, such as grass, is perfect to start with. Don’t worry about shooting in dark conditions or taking shots without a tripod, you’ll still be able to get a great shot. There’s a knack to zooming out smoothly at the right speed, but it’s worth persevering for a final shot that packs a punch.