How to Take Long Exposure Photographs

Have you ever seen those magical photos of waterfalls that look like silk or car lights that leave trails in the night? That's the magic of long exposure photography!

Let's dive into this fascinating world and discover how you can create these stunning long exposure images yourself.

Table of contents

What is long exposure photography?

Long exposure photography is a technique which consists of leaving the camera shutter open for an extended period of time. This allows the camera to capture more light and movement, creating unique effects that are not visible to the naked eye. It's like capturing a time lapse in a single image..

Why should you try long exposure photography? First, it allows you to be very creative and experiment with different visual effects. Also, it can transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary ones, giving you a new perspective on your surroundings.

Recommended equipment for long exposure photography

To get started with long exposure photography, you might need some basic photography equipment:

Camera

Any camera that allows you to manually adjust the shutter speed will work, but a DSLR or mirrorless camera will give you more control and better results.

Tripod

A tripod is essential to avoid any camera shake during long exposure. This will ensure that your images are sharp and clear.

Neutral Density Filter (ND)

ND filters are useful for reducing the amount of light entering the camera, allowing you to use longer shutter speeds even during the day.

Remote Trigger

A remote shutter release or camera timer will help prevent camera shake when you take the picture.

Camera settings for long exposure

Configurar tu cámara correctamente es crucial para obtener buenos resultados en la fotografía de larga exposición. Aquí detallamos cómo hacerlo paso a paso:

Manual Mode

The manual mode is essential to have full control over the camera settings. Allows you to adjust shutter speed, aperture and ISO to suit the specific needs of your shot.

Benefits of manual mode:

Total control over exposure.
Flexibility to experiment with different configurations.
Better results in varying light conditions.

Example of configuration in manual mode:

Imagine you want to capture a waterfall with a silk effect in broad daylight. You could start with the following setup:

ISO: 100 (to minimise noise)
Aperture: f/16 (for large depth of field)
Shutter speed: 10 seconds (to obtain the silk effect on the water)
ND filter: Use a neutral density (ND) filter to reduce the amount of light entering the camera and allow long exposure without overexposing the image.

ISO setting

The ISO determines the sensitivity of your camera to light. In long exposure photography, it is essential to keep the ISO as low as possible to minimise noise in the image. A low ISO (100 or 200) is ideal to ensure sharp, low-grain photos.

ISO setting table:

Light Condition	ISO Recommended
Bright daylight	100
Moderate light (dawn/dusk)	200
Low light (indoor/night)	400 or lower, depending on noise tolerance

Opening

The aperture affects the amount of light entering the camera and the depth of field. In landscapes and long exposure scenes, a small aperture (f/11 to f/16) is often ideal for keeping everything in focus.

Opening considerations:

f/11 to f/16: Ideal for landscapes with large depth of field.
f/2.8 to f/5.6: Useful in low-light situations or for creative effects with shallow depth of field.

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed is the most critical setting in long exposure photography. This parameter defines how long the camera shutter stays open. Long shutter speeds allow you to capture movement in a way that is not possible with short exposures.

Shutter speed table: