Discover new creative tools by using long exposure to take you images to the next level. We travel to Whitby in this landscape photography tutorial and vlog.
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In this landscape photography tutorial I travel to Whitby in North Yorkshire to capture and share how I create my long exposure images.
If you have never seen long exposure photography before you are in for a treat and capturing these images brings new challenges and creative possibilities. Essentially what is happening is by increasing the exposure time we introduce movement into our image that would normally be frozen and it gives the picture added interest and a look that would not be seen by your own eyes.
This video focuses on capturing long exposure landscapes during the day but the principles are the same no matter how or when you use it..
You will already understand the exposure triangle so when increasing exposure time we need to balance things by reducing ISO or making our aperture smaller to prevent the image being over exposed. However, in daylight conditions, even with ISO at 100 and an aperture at f/16, your shot could still be over exposed before even one second has passed. To achieve the desired effect we want our exposure to be at least 30 seconds. The only way to do this is to use ND filters. These are filters added to the front of your lens that reduce the amount of light passing through the lens without severely affecting the colour. ND filters are rated by how many stops of light they reduce the exposure by. For example if you attach a 2 stop filter to your lens you will need to increase exposure in your camera by the same 2 stops to obtain a proper exposure.
Neutral Density Filters
Neutral Density filters like the Lee Big Stopper reduce the amount of light entering the lens. In the tutorial we are using a 6 stop filter, a 10 stop filter and a Formatt Hitech 82mm 16 stop ND filter which allows us to get some extremely long exposures of several minutes, even in bright daylight conditions.
Exposures of this length have a number of uses. It will reduce the roughest waters to a smooth tranquil scene and add lots of movement to even the slowest moving clouds. In city scenes it can also be used to remove people from your images. At night it can be used for star trail shots and create interesting and varied light painting images.
Shutter Release Cable
In addition to the ND filter you will also need a shutter release cable, unless you have a built in timer, allowing you to lock the shutter open when using the bulb mode. Keeping your camera very still is also essential so a good sturdy tripod is handy. If you don’t have a tripod you could also place your camera down on a wall or some raised ground. A bean bag can be used to allow a small amount of adjustment or to keep things level on an uneven surface. When using a DSLR it is worth covering your viewfinder with some gaff tape or a viewfinder cap because light can creep in and ruin your image.
Once you are armed with this knowledge and the few tools you need; get out and take some pictures. It is an amazing motivation to go and see the world and can really pull you out of the landscape photography dip.
My video photography blogs are designed to entertain and document how I go about capturing my work. If it provides landscape photography tips and inspiration along the way then please share it with your friends so more people can benefit from the content. If you enjoyed this photography vlog I would really appreciate it if you subscribed to the channel so you can come along for the journey.
Are you a fan of long exposure photography or would you rather leave it alone?
Hi Adam, thanks for the video. I love your tutorials and your energy also motivates me. Greet Stuff.
A year ago this video was posted on Reddit and I came over here to check it out.
Ever since then I’ve been a loyal follower and great fan of your work, Adam. It therefore makes me feel terribly sorry about the current state of your health – but I know that you are even stronger than any kind of challenge you might face.
I want to thank you for teaching, entertaining and motivating me since I found your channel. Also I wish you all the best for the future.
Keep your head up and keep on having fun out there.
Cheers
Ok, see this is the part I don't get.
Why would you do that? I mean the first shot was honestly probably not your best, the tree shot was pretty cool. But still, whatever, it is your shot and who am I right?
I don't shoot out of the moment, that single point in time because if I do I miss what it was that I was shooting.
Something catches our eye and we squint a little maybe tilt our head look at it from different perspectives and just start shooting, from everywhere, close far low high long short, something about it has got me and I absolutely have to capture it, and sometimes I fail, but I never ever post edit. Because for me that's cheating, and it defeated the purpose of shooting the shot in the moment if I can just make it how I saw it instead of capturing what I see. I much prefer capturing what I see then creating what I saw
Wonderful video! Great compositions and excellent creative eye.
Gr8 tutorial!
Great video and images
Really enjoyed this and the info you have passed on as I love experimenting with long exposures. Great work.
Thanks man. Very good information. Cheers!
Where is the the tree location at 2:30???
Nice video thanks 👍🏽
Great video Adam, great advice. Subbed and followed on Insta. Superb photos, just purchased a ND1000, can't wait to use it. 🙂
Great video Adam, great advice. Subbed and followed on Insta. Superb photos, just purchased a ND1000, can't wait to use it. 🙂
Great video. You touched on something in this video which I've noticed I do, but many others don't, and that is, stay AFTER the sun sets. The one thing I always see other photographers do is the moment that sun disappears on the horizon, most are packed up and back in their cars and gone. Stay after sunset guys and girls, most of the time the best light is after sunset.
Dude you are excellent
Doing Long Exposure is a Dream for me
Some times weights hanging from the bottom of the tripod provided d-ring/clip help with the wind and tripod movement.
Thanks mate helped my understand the filters .
I was expecting the second photo to be coloured 😑
Is a zoom or a prime lens better for this type of daytime long exposure photography, and with a zoom one, do you use the zoom for the photographs?
I'm just getting into long exposure photography and have found your videos to be immensely helpful! Thank you and keep up the good work!
how to start and make money in landscape photography and whom to we sell our photos or who are the people want the landscape photographs
I tried subscribing but it wouldn't let me, because I already did like a year ago lol. Your my favorite landscape photographer to learn from. Keep it up mate.
Nice video and thanks for the advise
Question – do you need filters
I use a Nikon d5300
can you explain the use of bulb again. I have never used it and want to start trying long exposure photos. Thanks
Thanks for all the tips Adam they are really helping me out
This web site certainly has all the information I wanted
about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.