Long exposures for creative effects
From WhiteWall expert Katharina Wergen
Long exposure opens up a fascinating world of creative possibilities for photographers. By deliberately extending the exposure time, breathtaking images are created that capture movement and time in a unique way.
In this blog post, you will learn what long exposure is, how to use this technique creatively, and what camera settings and accessories you need. Let yourself be inspired and discover the many applications of long exposure in photography.
What is long exposure?
Long exposure is a technique in which the camera's shutter speed is lengthened to capture movement in the image. With a long exposure, the camera sensor can capture more light, which can lead to spectacular effects. While regular shots often have an exposure time of just a fraction of a second, long exposures can last several seconds, minutes, or even hours. This makes it possible to blur motion and create light trails that wouldn’t be visible with a shorter exposure. Long exposures are often used in night photography or low-light conditions to achieve impressive and artistic results.

Creative uses of long exposure
Landscape photography
In landscape photography, long exposure gives images a detached, almost magical quality. Flowing water, such as waterfalls or rivers, turns into a silky surface, while clouds in the sky blend into soft, dynamic shapes. Imagine photographing a waterfall. With a long exposure, the cascading water turns into a smooth, mystical veil that gives the image a calming, dreamy atmosphere. At the same time, stationary objects such as rocks or trees remain sharp, creating a strong contrast to the flowing elements.

Portrait photography
Long exposure also offers interesting possibilities in portrait photography. Longer exposure times can capture motion, resulting in dynamic and creative portraits. For example, a dancing person can appear as a whirling, ghostly figure through long exposure. Or you can use light sources such as flashlights or light sticks to draw patterns around the model during the exposure, giving the image a mystical and artistic touch.
Another option is to combine static and moving elements in a portrait. Imagine photographing a person sitting still while people or vehicles move in the background. With a long exposure, the moving elements blur, while the portrayed person remains sharp and clear. This creates an interesting contrast that adds depth and dynamism to the image.
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Light painting
Light painting is a fascinating application of long exposure where light sources such as flashlights and LED sticks are used in dark environments to "paint" images. During the long exposure, the light source can be used to draw shapes, patterns, or even letters in the air, which then appear as glowing trails in the photo.
A typical example of light painting is glowing hearts or stars drawn in the air. This requires careful planning and coordination. Movements must be performed precisely to produce the desired pattern. The results are often spectacular and have a surreal, magical character.

Light trails in the city
Long exposure can be used at night to depict the lights of vehicles on busy roads or highways as long, glowing streaks. With the extended exposure time, the headlights and taillights of moving cars are captured as colored light trails, while the rest of the scene remains sharp. These light trails give the image a dynamic and energetic atmosphere, reflecting the hustle and bustle of the city. You can also capture light trails from bicycles or motorcycles this way.

Street photography
In street photography, long exposure captures the movement of people and vehicles in urban environments. This illustrates the dynamic energy of city life. For example, people in motion appear as blurred silhouettes, while static elements like buildings and streets remain sharp. Conversely, a person can be sharply depicted while a train passes by in a slight blur behind them. In this case, it's important that the person doesn't move during the shot, or they will also appear blurred.

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Star trails
Star trails are best captured under a clear night sky. With an exposure time of several minutes or even hours, the stars can appear as long, circular trails that fill the image with a hypnotic and fascinating pattern. This technique requires patience and planning, as the camera must remain completely still for the entire exposure.

Abstract art
By deliberately moving the camera during a long exposure, images can be created that resemble paintings or modern art. For example, landscapes can be transformed into colored stripes through horizontal camera movement, reminiscent of impressionist paintings. Vertical movements can turn trees into abstract, blurred shapes that appear almost ghostly.

Camera settings for long exposure
Several camera settings are needed for successful long exposures. Here are some basic steps to help you choose the right settings:
Shutter speed
Shutter speed is the key factor in long exposure. The longer the shutter speed, the more light is captured by the camera, and the more motion is recorded in the image. Depending on the desired effect, shutter speeds can range from a few seconds to several minutes or hours. For beginners, it's recommended to start with an exposure time of 10 to 30 seconds and adjust as needed.
Aperture
The aperture controls the amount of incoming light and affects the depth of field in the image. In long exposures, a smaller aperture (higher f-number) is often used to achieve greater depth of field and avoid overexposure. Aperture values between f/8 and f/16 are often a good choice.
ISO sensitivity
ISO sensitivity determines how sensitive the camera sensor is to light. For long exposures, it's important to use a low ISO value (e.g., ISO 100 or 200) to minimize image noise and ensure high image quality. A higher ISO may be necessary in very dark scenes but should be used sparingly to avoid noise.
Manual focus
Autofocus is often not ideal in low-light conditions for long exposures. Therefore, it is advisable to focus manually. Set the focus point on the main subject and adjust sharpness manually, for example with digital magnification or focus peaking. In focus peaking, edges are highlighted in color when they are sharp.
Useful photo accessories for long exposure
In addition to proper camera settings, the right accessories are crucial for successful long exposures. Here are some important items that can help you achieve the best results:
Tripod
A high-quality and stable tripod is essential for long exposure because the camera must remain absolutely still throughout the exposure. A shaky tripod can result in blurry images. Choose a tripod that is stable enough, including the tripod head, to securely support the weight of your camera and other equipment, and ensure it's placed on a solid surface.
Remote shutter or self-timer
A remote shutter or the camera’s self-timer helps avoid camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button. A remote shutter allows you to start the exposure without touching the camera. Alternatively, you can set the self-timer to 2 or 10 seconds, so the camera has time to stabilize after pressing the shutter.
ND filter
A ND filter (neutral density filter) reduces the amount of light entering the camera without distorting colors. This makes longer exposures possible even in bright daylight. ND filters come in different strengths and help prevent overexposure during the day. For example, they are excellent for capturing water surfaces with a silky smooth look in daylight.
Flashlight or headlamp
A flashlight or headlamp is especially useful for night shots, to illuminate your surroundings, see your equipment, or paint with light. Choose a flashlight with multiple brightness levels to stay flexible.
Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer, long exposure gives you the opportunity to see the world in new and exciting ways. Let this technique inspire you, experiment, and explore the many facets of long exposure. Patience, planning, and creativity are the key factors. By combining motion and stillness, dynamic and high-contrast images can be created that captivate the viewer.
Learn more about the author
As a trained portrait and wedding photographer, Katharina Wergen brings her extensive knowledge to photography. She has been working as a sales consultant at WhiteWall since 2018 and supports exhibition projects for museums and galleries. She is also increasingly focusing on reportage photography. Take a look behind the scenes of the photographer, here in the interview.

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