We are living in fast world, working longer hours and under greater pressure to produce than ever before. E-mails, social media follows, rent, mortgage payments or school fees. It is no wonder many seek escape to a slower, more natural life. That connection with the great outdoors. Photography is an excellent way of getting people out, whatever their physical ability, whatever their skills, whatever their equipment.

After a while however, photography quickly becomes a personal art and form of expression. It is not about capturing an accurate image of a favourite place, but about capturing a feeling, an experience. Modern digital photography allows everyone to embellish their artistic personality. No finer example of this is long exposure photography, where the ordinary can become extraordinary. Long exposures create mood, drama or tell a story of movement and flow that standard exposures fail to deliver. Here, I hope to inspire you to have a go at long exposure photography, whether you’re a beginner or experienced. You will find that it opens up opportunities for novel images wherever you are. I show you some examples of what can be achieved and give you some tips on how to get the best results. Thoughts about equipment can be found at the end of the article.

Dynamic skies over landmark buildings

I personally like to escape city life whenever I can, to experience the splendid landscapes, coasts and nature we have here in Scotland. Long exposures can help solve a situation where you have a strong single subject but no interesting composition. Slowing down the movement of the clouds to create streaks can add drama and mood. The subject could be modern city blocks, monuments or historic buildings. In this example, I use the technique to add even more drama to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland in England.

Tip: Study cloud movement

The best results are achieved in changeable skies, so patchy cloud on a partly sunny day is perfect. This is an excellent subject for those who can only get out in the middle of the day. The dynamism more than makes up for the light at golden hour. There are a couple of things you need to think about. Look at the direction the clouds are travelling in. Ideally, you want to position yourself so that the clouds are moving directly to or from your subject. Think about exposure time in terms of how long it takes a cloud to pass through the frame. Two or three minutes is a good place to start.

Smooth lakes

When we look at the surface of a lake, we see the bright peaks and dark shadow troughs. A long exposure of several minutes averages these away to create a smooth silky surface. In cloudy or foggy conditions, you can achieve minimalistic results. Only rocks or structures in the foreground stay in focus. This image from Loch Lomond in Scotland is a good invisible horizon result from a very foggy day.

However, the magic doesn’t end there. Shorter exposures (tens of seconds) in breezy and bright conditions can result in the water having a metallic appearance. My favourite outcomes are the unexpected. Sometimes, an exposure of several minutes can reveal colours on the water’s surface you don’t notice by eye. It’s a great moment when the image appears on the camera screen and you’re surprised by the colours. Try going beyond the time necessary to smooth out ripples and waves and see what happens in different lighting conditions. I use a 15 stop neutral density (ND) filter to achieve 5 or 10 minute exposures in the middle of the day. Use structures in your composition like piers or submerged fences. A lone tree in winter can be outstanding if you can find one. This scene from Loch Lomond in Scotland is a fine example.

Tip: Take multiple exposures

Like all landscape photography, achieving the correct exposure of the sky, water and the landscape components of an image is challenging. While you can use software like Lightroom to darken skies and brighten the landscape, the dynamic range of most camera sensors is simply not large enough to balance an image without losing information. For the subjects I describe here, typically the sky and water require a similar exposure. Parts of the landscape can be too dark however. Also, you may have a problem with vegetation or boats moving throughout the exposure. The simple answer is to take standard “bracketed” exposures at the same time as your long exposure. Many cameras have an automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) function. For example, with one shutter press, you can take five images (-2, -1, 0, +1 and +2 stops) of the same scene. I do this a standard practice without any decision making on location. When you get home, you have the option of blending exposures in Photoshop to your taste. Taking multiple exposures of an identical scene gives you freedom to be creative or fussy later on. There are no rules, so follow your own style.

Seascapes

The sea is constantly changing with the tide and light. Combined with the changing skies, you will never capture the same image twice. Think piers, harbours, breakwaters or stratified geology reaching out into the sea. This subject is ideal for those flat cloudy days when you would normally leave the camera at home. Think 5, 10 minutes or more and see what happens. The ordinary can become extraordinary. A good example is this breakwater at a small fishing harbour in Scotland. The very unusual geometry stands out against the smooth water.

Tip: Get to know your location

You need to get acquainted with coastal locations. You must pay attention to the tide and how structures and rocks are revealed and covered. Where do waves form? Can you get back safely in a rising tide? Where is the sun rising and setting? It does pay to do some homework before you set out. Always check the tide times when you set out and prepare to get your feet wet. I find The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) app to be a highly useful tool in planning my shoots. The image above benefited from knowing on which morning the sunrise would coincide with high tide and that the angle of the sunlight at that time of year would hit the structure in the way I hoped.

Some locations are so stunning, you will want to return again and again. The Ponta da Piedade, near Lagos in Portugal is one of those jaw dropping places. Heavily weathered limestone cliffs have been carved into rock pillars, natural tunnels and hidden grottoes. The sandstone cliffs of misshaped angles stand at stark contrast to the deep turquoises and greens of the calm seas. There are so many angles to shoot from. The changing tides, light and weather dramatically change the scene. In this example, I wanted the sun to be high enough to light up the colour of the sea but still have a low enough angle for nice shadows and a sense of depth. A high tide coincided with late afternoon light to give a very pleasing result. The turbulent waters produce something like the metallic surface I referred to above.

Beaches and waves

Beaches are many people’s favourite places, even if they are not sun worshipers. The opportunities for photographers are limitless. Some the best images capture the motion of the sea and record the dynamics of waves as they flow around pebbles or rocks. The best results are achieved when there is a bit of surf. The bright white foam will leave wonderful trails as a wave retreats. You could capture a full wave in its retreat or focus on a few pebbles or a nice rock. Spend some time studying your subject first. See what the water does.

Think about your timing. It does depend on how fast the water is moving. I suggest starting with 0.8 sec and see if your subject needs more or less time to create nice lines that illustrate the flow of the water. Ideally work in a falling tide. You will avoid getting hit by big wave. Experienced coastal photographers are prepared to get very wet and never walk away from their tripod. Unexpected large waves do happen and can soak you and knock your camera over. Always be alert, be ready to lift your tripod and start again.

Canon 70D | 18 mm | f7.1 |0.8 sec | Portimao, Portugal, Dec 2016

Tip: Securing your tripod in sand

You will be using a tripod for best results, but they do sink into wet sand very easily. You can ram the tripod hard into the sand, but you may lose a rubber foot (I have!) and you are forcing sand into the fittings. The simple answer is to use something to spread the weight of the feet in the sand. Collect up some nice big shells and put them under your tripod feet and push down gently. If you do get sand and salt water into your tripod, shower it down when you get home and dry out before folding it up.

The magic of twilight

Most photographers know that the golden hour around sunrise and sunset offers the most wonderful light. However, don’t restrict yourself to the yellow and orange light. If you are lucky enough to be in a coastal location with a large ocean and no clouds over the horizon, you can capture intense violets long before sunrise or after sunset that our eyes struggle to see. These violets are reflected off the stratosphere over the horizon and can be dazzling. Sometimes the sea is brighter mauve than the sky, which can trick your mind. Set your white balance to fluorescent light at the location and see what happens. The conditions are nearly dark, so you will need a torch and be very familiar with your location to be safe. The results can be jaw dropping without any manipulation. This winter scene from near Portimao in the Algarve, Portugal is a fine example.

Waterfalls

This is a very popular long exposure subject and most photographers will have nearby waterfalls to practice their technique and achieve a beautiful image. The main attention should be on your composition. Frame up so you can see the water cascade across your image. I often prefer the small complex falls over the mammoth falls that get all the attention. Shoot on a cloudy day if there are trees over the waterfall so you can achieve a more balanced and moody exposure. Then you have a choice. Some prefer a middle length exposure of around 0.8 secs to illustrate the flow without creating milky water. I personally prefer the dreamy effects of 1 or 2 minute exposures. The timing will depend on the size of the falls and the volume of the water. This is probably the easiest long exposure subject to get a pleasing result from.

Canon 70D | 10 mm | f8 | 1.3 sec | Isle of Arran, Scotland, Oct 2016

Tip: Cover the eyepiece

A key aspect of long exposure photography, especially the very long exposures with ND filters is the avoidance of light leak. If you own a DSLR, where light from the lens is sent to the viewfinder eyepiece via a prism, light can also take the reverse path. This is particularly a problem if the sun is behind you and shining onto the eyepiece. A portion of that light can make it all the way to the sensor. It’s a small amount, but enough to create glare and streaks on your beautiful image. There are two solutions. First, always shoot in Live View if you have it. It helps with your composition and focussing, but also locks the reflex mirror up. Many DSLRs also have a mirror lockup mode. When the mirror is up most of the light from the eyepiece cannot make its way towards the sensor. However, this is not perfect when in bright sunny conditions. So the second easy tip is to cover the eyepiece during the exposure. Most cameras come with a cover attached to the manufacturer’s strap, but you can use anything. Some use a piece of foil or their hand. I just place my cap on the camera. Simple!

Equipment you will need and that you would like…

The camera: Long exposure photography can be performed on mobile phones and compact cameras as well as higher end mirrorless and DSLRs. Photography should be about ideas and technique, not the latest equipment, so don’t be afraid to try. The key thing is being able to shoot in manual mode. Normally, you will want to reduce your ISO setting (the sensitivity of the sensor) to its lowest value, typically 50 or 100. You then vary the aperture and neutral density filters (optional) to lengthen an exposure to achieve your desired exposure time. Long exposures with higher ISO settings can result in accumulated digital noise with all but the higher end sensors.

Desirables: A camera with a “bulb mode” to allow exposures over 30 seconds is required for the longer exposures referred to in this article. A camera with live view is a big asset and will make life easier. You can ensure that your focus is pin sharp and can often get an exposure preview to help you estimate the best settings.

A sturdy tripod. Invest in quality. The value tripods you see online are great at first, but the components do come apart quite quickly with use. They struggle with sand and dirt and the heads are often not stable enough. You don’t have to go for a massive carbon fibre pro tripod, although they make life easier. I frequently use a travel tripod (Manfrotto Befree) as it is light, very compact and does a fine job in most circumstances. Choose something you are prepared to carry around. I also prefer levers over screws for the legs as they are less vulnerable to sand and dirt.

A remote shutter release. The super cheap digital ones you see online are perfect. Pros buy two in case one ends up the sea (mine did!). Those with wifi on their cameras can also use an app on their phone as a remote release. I have used this when I want to be in shot as it can work over 50-100 metres quite easily.

Circular polarising filters. These are probably the only filter that are essential for landscape photography as they achieve something that software could never emulate. They act to block out light waves reaching the camera from specific angles. By rotating the filter, you can reduce haze and reflections. You will get more intense sky colours, better cloud contrast and deep colours on water surfaces.

Neutral density filters. You don’t need them, but you will really want them if this is your kind of photography. You can take multiple short exposures and average them in Photoshop (Smart objects>Stack mode>Mean), but you will struggle to create multi minute exposures this way. Neutral density filters are darkened glass that pass through a defined percentage of light. There are different densities for different applications. Typically, you would want to carry a 6 stop (aka ND64) and a 10 stop (aka ND1000, Big Stopper) or 15 stop (aka ND1500, Super stopper) ND filter. Use the former for golden hour and the latter for the middle of the day. You can download exposure guide charts online or use apps provided by manufacturers to figure out where to start, but you get a feel for this very quickly.

ND filters that do not create a colour cast are not cheap. The cheaper ones online are not completely neutral and can add a red or brown cast to your images. If you are serious about your photography and are steadily building up your kit, you will need to come to a decision as to whether to stay with screw-in filters, or to invest in a filter system that can clip onto all of your lenses. Screw-in ND filters are good from the perspective that there is zero risk of light leaking in between the ND filter and the lens, but you will require one for all your different lens sizes. If you do invest in a filter system, I do recommend a leading brand like Lee or Nisi. The mounts are very well made and the ND filters have tight fitting gaskets that prevent light leak. You often can use other brand filters in a system. For example, I use the excellent Haida ND filters in combination with my Lee system and their filters.

Check out my free tutorials, equipment guides and latest work at www.adamwest.co.uk.