Post by Saknika on Nov 2, 2009 1:35:29 GMT -5
Long exposure isn’t necessarily a difficult technique to master, however it is difficult to choose the right time for when to use it, and to get the actual exposure correct. That is why we shall practice.
When you hear long exposure, this means that the shutter speed is slowed down so that it takes longer to get a photo. This will allow for movement to be captured and purposeful blurring to occur. You will often see this technique used for night photography, light trails, ghosting, and for capturing the softness of moving water.
To achieve long exposure, you should do one of the following with your camera:
1) Set it on Shutter Priority mode, and set the shutter speed for 1/30sec or longer. The camera will then choose the proper aperture for you.
2) Set it on Manual mode, and set the shutter speed for 1/30sec or longer, and choose an appropriate aperture to match.
3) If you do not have the option of Shutter Priority or Manual mode, then turn off the flash of your camera. This will automatically make it have to use a longer exposure. However, you probably won’t be able to capture moving water unless you go later in the day with this one.
For all of these, you should definitely use a tripod, otherwise you run the risk of camera shake. These shutter speeds are too slow for hand-holding. If possible, you also want to use either mirror-lock-up or timer so that the clicking of the button doesn’t cause camera shake as well.
If you don’t have a tripod, then setting the camera on something stable works as well. This could be a rock, stack of books, the roof of your car, ect…
These are some ways to use long exposure that you may want to try:
-Ghosting: Ghosting is created by exposing through an object. To do this, start off with your subject clearly in the photo—usually a person. Set the exposure to at least 10 seconds or more, and at the 7 second point (you’ll have to count or use a stopwatch) have them run out of the photo, or move the object away. This movement has to be done relatively quickly! Then, the last three or so seconds will cause for what was behind them to start to be exposed through them. Voila! Instant ghost!
-Light Trails: Light trails are usually done with the lights of moving cars at night. You set up on a street or sidewalk, and aim the camera at the middle point of the road to get a good focus. Then, set your shutter speed to 2.5 seconds or longer, and take photos of the moving vehicles. All you will see are trails of light. Make sure to play around to find the proper exposure for these. This is also a common technique for fireworks.
-Moving Water: This is a favourite. Set up your shot at a waterfall or some other body of moving water, and set the shutter speed to 1/30 second or longer. Generally, you’ll need something more like 1 second, but it will depend on just how fast and hard the water is running. Focus on the rocks around the waterfall, and then take your photo.
-Night Photography: These are shots done at night using the available light. Because there isn’t much, it requires a longer shutter speed. This will vary based on the amount of available light.
Important to Note!
Something that you should be aware of, however, is that the moon is not photographed with long exposure! Since it is reflecting the light of the sun, it is actually properly shot with a shutter speed of 1/125sec at f/16. The stars, however, can be done with long exposure.
That being said, lets get to the actual photography part!
Here’s how to make the community practice work:
1. Decide on how you want to use long exposure, and photograph.
2. Post your photo, along with the shutter speed, aperture, and time of day if possible.
3. Constructively comment on the photo by the person before you.
4. Reshoot or try a different idea using the constructive comments you received, and try to improve your technique this way.
5. Share your new image, and enjoy your improvement.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 as often as desired.
This practice closes at 11:59pm EST (that’s 8:59pm in California and 4:59am in England) on November 30th 2009.
I will share an older photograph of mine for this, to show how light trails are used in fireworks. Yes, this is a firework.
Shutter Speed: 2.5 seconds
Aperture: f/13
Time of Day: 9:52pm (ignore the EXIF data on the site, it’s wrong. I hadn’t set up the time yet in the camera)
When you hear long exposure, this means that the shutter speed is slowed down so that it takes longer to get a photo. This will allow for movement to be captured and purposeful blurring to occur. You will often see this technique used for night photography, light trails, ghosting, and for capturing the softness of moving water.
To achieve long exposure, you should do one of the following with your camera:
1) Set it on Shutter Priority mode, and set the shutter speed for 1/30sec or longer. The camera will then choose the proper aperture for you.
2) Set it on Manual mode, and set the shutter speed for 1/30sec or longer, and choose an appropriate aperture to match.
3) If you do not have the option of Shutter Priority or Manual mode, then turn off the flash of your camera. This will automatically make it have to use a longer exposure. However, you probably won’t be able to capture moving water unless you go later in the day with this one.
For all of these, you should definitely use a tripod, otherwise you run the risk of camera shake. These shutter speeds are too slow for hand-holding. If possible, you also want to use either mirror-lock-up or timer so that the clicking of the button doesn’t cause camera shake as well.
If you don’t have a tripod, then setting the camera on something stable works as well. This could be a rock, stack of books, the roof of your car, ect…
These are some ways to use long exposure that you may want to try:
-Ghosting: Ghosting is created by exposing through an object. To do this, start off with your subject clearly in the photo—usually a person. Set the exposure to at least 10 seconds or more, and at the 7 second point (you’ll have to count or use a stopwatch) have them run out of the photo, or move the object away. This movement has to be done relatively quickly! Then, the last three or so seconds will cause for what was behind them to start to be exposed through them. Voila! Instant ghost!
-Light Trails: Light trails are usually done with the lights of moving cars at night. You set up on a street or sidewalk, and aim the camera at the middle point of the road to get a good focus. Then, set your shutter speed to 2.5 seconds or longer, and take photos of the moving vehicles. All you will see are trails of light. Make sure to play around to find the proper exposure for these. This is also a common technique for fireworks.
-Moving Water: This is a favourite. Set up your shot at a waterfall or some other body of moving water, and set the shutter speed to 1/30 second or longer. Generally, you’ll need something more like 1 second, but it will depend on just how fast and hard the water is running. Focus on the rocks around the waterfall, and then take your photo.
-Night Photography: These are shots done at night using the available light. Because there isn’t much, it requires a longer shutter speed. This will vary based on the amount of available light.
Important to Note!
Something that you should be aware of, however, is that the moon is not photographed with long exposure! Since it is reflecting the light of the sun, it is actually properly shot with a shutter speed of 1/125sec at f/16. The stars, however, can be done with long exposure.
That being said, lets get to the actual photography part!
Here’s how to make the community practice work:
1. Decide on how you want to use long exposure, and photograph.
2. Post your photo, along with the shutter speed, aperture, and time of day if possible.
3. Constructively comment on the photo by the person before you.
4. Reshoot or try a different idea using the constructive comments you received, and try to improve your technique this way.
5. Share your new image, and enjoy your improvement.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 as often as desired.
This practice closes at 11:59pm EST (that’s 8:59pm in California and 4:59am in England) on November 30th 2009.
I will share an older photograph of mine for this, to show how light trails are used in fireworks. Yes, this is a firework.
Shutter Speed: 2.5 seconds
Aperture: f/13
Time of Day: 9:52pm (ignore the EXIF data on the site, it’s wrong. I hadn’t set up the time yet in the camera)
