As soon as you start learning photography, you will hear the term ‘long exposure’ being thrown around a lot. But what exactly is long Shutter photography and how to you use it?
Long Exposure Photography requires slow shutter speeds. It blurs motion allowing you to get smooth, silky looking shots. It is often used in landscape photography.
Getting great long exposure shots is not easy. The slow shutter speed means you must have a very study hand and a good control of light. The tips in this article will help you get long exposure shots that stand out.
What is a Slow Shutter Speed?
Slow shutter speeds generally range from 1/100th of a second to one second. You can experiment with different scenes to find what works best in your situation.
What Equipment Do You Need for Long Exposure Photography?
In order to capture great long exposure photography, you will need the following gear:
A Camera with Manual Function: A camera with manual functions will allow you to adjust the ISO, aperture and shutter speed so they are best suited to your needs.
A Sturdy Tripod: A tripod will minimize camera shake that can ruin your photos.
A Remote Shutter Release: A remote shutter release will eliminate the need for you to touch the camera and create more of a shake when you take a shot. Many cameras have timers that will allow you to take pictures without pressing the shutter.
Natural Density Filters: Natural Density Filters, or ND filters, are darkened filters that are mounted to the lens to reduce the amount of light coming in. The darker the filter is, the slower the shutter speed will need to be. Filters aren’t necessary at night when it’s already dark, but they will may be needed during the day if your shutter speed is slow and your aperture is high and you’re still not getting the shots you are hoping for.
How to Take Long Exposure Photos
Now that you know what you need, you are ready to get some great photos. Here are the steps you will need to take.
Get the Composition: Find the perfect frame for your picture. Then mount the camera to your tripod to capture your image.
Apply Your Settings: Next apply settings for your shutter speed and manual mode. This can be done on semi-automatic modes, but manual will allow for more personalization.
Take a Test Shot: Take a test shot to determine the kind of results you are getting. If the photo looks good, write down the exact shutter speed you used so you have it as a reference.
Switch to Manual Mode: At this point, you will need to switch to manual mode if you haven’t already. Not doing so will cause your camera to go out of focus, especially if you’re using an ND filter.
Attach the filter to the Camera: When attaching the filter to the camera, you’ll want to make sure it’s tightly secured. Any gaps can cause light leaks that will kill your exposure.
Readjust Shutter Speed: After putting on the filter, it’s likely that you will have to readjust your shutter speed. There are several ways to do this. One is to use a Long Photography Smartphone App. All you will need to do is enter the ND filter you are using and the original shutter speed and the app will calculate the shutter speed for you.
You can also calculate the shutter speed manually. There is a formula that allows you to calculate your shutter speed based on the filter you are using as follows:
• ND0.3 or 1 stops=2x shutter speed
• ND0.6 or 2stops=4x shutter speed
• ND0.9or 3 stops=8x shutter speed
• ND0.3 or 6 stops=64x shutter speed
• ND3.0 or 10 stops=1000x shutter speed
Apply New Shutter Speed
Next you will have to apply the new shutter speed. If the shutter speed is longer than 30 seconds, you will need to enable Bulb or Time Mode.
Take Photos: Now start shooting. Keep in mind that you may have to make adjustments as you go.
Long exposure photography can get you great results. Now that you know the equipment you need and the settings to adjust your camera to, you are ready to go. So get out there and get some great looking shots!
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