Long Exposure Photography

Long exposure photography involves capturing a single image over an extended period of time. This technique can be used to create stunning images of moving objects, like waterfalls, stars, or light trails, or to capture a unique perspective on still subjects.

Notice how the water looks like glass! Both photos are 25 second exposures of Downtown Chicago.

To create a long exposure photograph, you'll need a few things:

1. A camera that allows you to control the shutter speed: In order to create a long exposure, you need to be able to manually control the length of time that the camera's shutter is open.
2. A tripod: A steady camera is essential for a good long exposure photograph. Even small movements can blur the image.
3. A remote shutter release: Using a remote shutter release can help prevent camera shake when you press the shutter button.
4. Neutral density (ND) filters: ND filters are used to reduce the amount of light entering the lens, allowing for longer exposures even in bright light.
   

Once you have everything you need, here's how to create a long exposure photograph:

1. Set up your camera on a tripod and attach a remote shutter release (or better use an infrared trigger).
2. Choose your subject and compose your shot.
3. Set your camera to Manual (M) mode and adjust the ISO to the lowest setting (usually ISO 100 or 200).
4. Adjust the aperture (f-stop) to control the depth of field you want. A higher f-stop number will result in a wider depth of field, while a lower f-stop number will result in a shallower depth of field.
5. Attach your ND filter to your lens, if needed.
6. Consult the app “LE Calculator” to determine what your shutter speed should be.
7. Adjust the shutter speed based on LE Calculator. A long exposure is typically considered to be anything longer than one second, but it can be much longer depending on the effect you're trying to achieve. Start with a few seconds and adjust from there.
8. Press the remote shutter release to start the exposure.
9. Wait for the shutter to close and the camera to finish processing the image.
10. Review the image and adjust the settings as needed.
11. Repeat until you get the desired effect.
    

If you don’t use LE Calculator, you can just watch your LCD Screen to see when the correct exposure has been achieved (when it looks good!)

Long exposure photography can take some practice, but with a little experimentation and patience, you can create some truly stunning images. Remember to always use a tripod and remote shutter release to avoid camera shake, and have fun!