Photography has always been about finding ways to capture light in a way that tells a story. While fast shutter speeds are perfect for freezing a moment in time, slowing things down with long exposure can turn ordinary scenes into something extraordinary. Whether you’re standing in the heart of a busy city or surrounded by the stillness of nature, long exposure opens the door to creativity and expression in ways that few other techniques can.
In today’s post, we’ll dive into what long exposure photography is, how to set up for success, and—most importantly—some creative ideas to inspire your next photo shoot.
What Is Long Exposure Photography?
At its simplest, long exposure means leaving your camera’s shutter open for a longer period of time—sometimes a few seconds, sometimes minutes, and in rare cases even hours. Instead of freezing a moment, you’re capturing movement and time itself. Light streaks, flowing water, moving clouds, or even the quiet glow of stars are all revealed in a way our eyes can’t normally see.
The beauty of long exposure lies in its ability to transform the everyday into the magical. A bustling highway becomes a canvas of glowing trails. A flowing river turns silky and smooth. Clouds stretch and blur into dramatic streaks across the sky.
Getting Started: The Essentials
Before jumping into creative ideas, let’s cover the basics of what you’ll need:
- Tripod: Absolutely essential. Even the steadiest hands can’t hold a camera still for seconds or minutes at a time.
- Remote shutter release (or self-timer): Prevents camera shake when pressing the shutter button.
- Neutral density (ND) filter (optional): Helps reduce the amount of light entering your lens, which is especially useful for long exposures during the day.
- Manual settings knowledge: You’ll want control over shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to fine-tune your exposure.
Tip: Start with a shutter speed of 2–5 seconds and adjust based on your subject.
Creative Ideas for Long Exposure Photography
Here’s where the fun begins! Let’s look at some ways you can use long exposure both in the city and in nature to unleash your creativity.
1. Light Trails in the City
If you’ve ever seen a photo of glowing streaks of car headlights and taillights weaving through downtown streets, you’ve already witnessed the magic of long exposure. City lights become brushstrokes when captured over time.
- Where to try it: Busy intersections, highways, or bridges with plenty of moving traffic.
- Settings to experiment with: 10–30 seconds at ISO 100–200. Adjust your aperture to balance exposure.
- Pro tip: Look for elevated viewpoints—like parking garages or pedestrian overpasses—for a dynamic perspective.
2. Silky Waterfalls and Rivers
One of the most popular uses of long exposure is smoothing out moving water. Instead of freezing splashes, you get a dreamy, silky flow that adds a touch of magic to any landscape photo.
- Where to try it: Waterfalls, rivers, ocean waves, or even fountains in the city.
- Settings to experiment with: 1–10 seconds. Longer exposures may require an ND filter in daylight.
- Pro tip: Keep the rest of your scene sharp by using a small aperture (f/8–f/16).
3. Star Trails and Astrophotography
Night skies are the perfect playground for long exposure. With your camera pointed skyward, you can capture the trails left by stars as the Earth rotates or even reveal the Milky Way with enough exposure time.
- Where to try it: Far from city lights, ideally in a dark sky preserve.
- Settings to experiment with: Start with 20–30 seconds for Milky Way shots; for star trails, use multiple exposures of 30 seconds each and stack them in post-processing.
- Pro tip: Use a wide-angle lens and the lowest f-stop possible to let in as much light as you can.
4. Ghostly Figures and Motion Blur
Want to add a surreal twist to your street photography? Try capturing moving people with a long exposure. Stationary objects stay sharp while figures blur into ghost-like shapes.
- Where to try it: Crowded plazas, subway stations, or busy shopping districts.
- Settings to experiment with: 2–5 seconds, depending on how fast people are moving.
- Pro tip: Keep one person perfectly still in the frame to contrast against the blurred motion around them.
5. Cloudscapes in Motion
Long exposure doesn’t just work on water or light—it also works wonders on the sky. When clouds are moving, slowing your shutter speed can stretch them into sweeping streaks that add drama and movement to an otherwise still scene.
- Where to try it: Wide-open landscapes, mountain ranges, or city skylines with lots of sky visible.
- Settings to experiment with: 30 seconds to several minutes (ND filter required in daylight).
- Pro tip: Use a composition with leading lines—like a pier or road—that draws the viewer’s eye into the moving clouds.
6. Painting with Light
Why wait for moving lights when you can create them yourself? Light painting is a fun and hands-on way to explore long exposure. Use a flashlight, sparkler, or glow stick to “draw” in the air while your camera’s shutter is open.
- Where to try it: Indoors with the lights off, or outdoors at night.
- Settings to experiment with: 10–30 seconds depending on how much time you need to paint.
- Pro tip: Use a friend as the “painter” while you control the camera, or set up your self-timer and do both!
Tips for Success
- Scout locations ahead of time: The best compositions often come from planning.
- Shoot in RAW: You’ll have more flexibility in editing.
- Check your histogram: Long exposures can trick your eyes on the LCD screen; rely on the histogram to avoid blown highlights.
- Experiment, experiment, experiment: Small changes in shutter speed can create dramatically different results.
Final Thoughts
Long exposure photography is about more than technique—it’s about curiosity and creativity. By stretching out time in your images, you reveal a side of the world that most people never get to see. Whether you’re capturing the rush of city lights or the quiet flow of a river, each photo becomes a blend of patience, vision, and artistry.
So next time you head out with your camera, try slowing things down. Push beyond what you usually capture, and let your shutter stay open a little longer. You might be surprised by the magic waiting in that extra time.
Ready to take your photography further? Join us at Learn Photography Canada, where our hands-on workshops and community of passionate photographers will help you unlock your creativity and master new techniques.
#LearnPhotographyCanada #PhotographyTips