Some time ago I presented you with a mini-gallery in which the protagonists calmly levitated above their beds, performing acts of meditation or daily activities such as reading a newspaper or making a phone call.
In today’s tutorial we will see the simple steps to follow to be the protagonists of a levitation photo.
What is Bed Jumping?
“Bedjumping”. This is what this photographic practice is called. Its very name indicates it: people who are dedicated to jumping on a mattress, giving free rein to their creativity and imagination. In a short time the Bed Jumping It became a fashion that caused (and continues to cause) a furor among not only “geeks” but anyone who wanted to experience sensations of freedom, fun and stress. Jumping on top of a bed has never been as creative, artistic and fun as with this practice.
Next, I will detail the material that must be available as well as the steps to follow to achieve a photo of this type:
Necessary material
To carry out a successful levitation photo we will need material that is easy to obtain:
- Digital SLR camera (with a compact camera you could also try).
- Remote trigger (or a friend who will do us the favor of shooting us the photo).
- Stable tripod or adjustable table, or any support that serves to support the camera.
- Bed with resistant mattress and structure. Attention: beds with wheels, or folding beds are not valid. They can be broken. Make sure your bed frame and mattress are sturdy.
- Room with a high ceiling, to avoid possible accidents hitting our heads against the ceiling.
5 Steps to Get an Awesome “Bed Jumping” Photo
Step 1: The first thing we need to do is configure the camera settings to get the photo we want. Due to the complexity of the shooting here we can not afford to play with the manual and semi-manual modes. This is one of those few situations in which we will put our reflex camera in automatic mode.
Step 2: If a friend takes the photo for us, fine, but if we take it ourselves, this is the time to activate the remote release mode. My advice is to activate it with a delay of 2 seconds, this will give you time to shoot the photo and prepare for the jump.
Step 3: We open the flash. It is likely that when you are in a closed place (room, bedroom) the flash will jump automatically, but just in case, keep it open expressly.
Step 4: We regulate our lens to a focal length as short as possible. If our objective is 18-55mm, we choose 18, and if it reaches up to 16mm, better, etc. Remember, as open as possible. We need the photo to look spectacular, for which a wide angle will be of great help.
Needless to say, the focus has to be set to automatic.
Step 5: Get on the bed. Jump and shoot.
Tips for a good “Bed Jumping” photograph
- Position the camera from a perspective that helps to give magnificence to the photo. Perspectives from the corner, or from very low, will help the subject of the photo appear taller than he actually is.
- The first photos will be horrible and incorrect. You’ll need to take a few photos, view them on the camera screen so you can decide where you went wrong, and then do a few jumps again. You will notice that after the fifth or ninth jump the photo is coming out more successful.
- If you want to convey the sensation of levitation, make sure your legs are not in a vertical position.
- Once you have got the hang of it and you have correctly synchronized with the camera shot, you can start introducing accessory elements such as a newspaper, a landline phone, a toothbrush… Things that suggest everyday life and normality in the photo.
- Clothing plays an important role in conveying that “fantasy” feeling. Pick clothes that will make a big impact in the final photo.
Examples of “Bed Jumping” photos
For the delight and inspiration of readers, here are four photos I took last month while “levitating” in a hotel on the Cote d’Azur French, near Nice.
Postscript 1: If you dare to practice your own Bed Jumping, do not hesitate to upload the photo to our Facebook wall so that we can discuss it with each other. Yes, be very careful please. Make sure that the bed is moderately resistant before practicing Bed Jumping.
Postscript 2: If you have enjoyed this article or it has been minimally useful, do not hesitate to recommend it to your friends, giving it a vote on Google Plus or on Facebook. THANK YOU 🙂 as always