Long exposures can be a lot of fun. You can captre spectacular light trails created by moving cars or blur running water but often the smallest wobble ruins a great shot. How do you stop the dread wobble and shake? Night exposures need a tripod!
A tripod will keep your camera stable enough to create cool effects like the ones here. I usually carry my Manfrotto monopod as it gives that essential touch of stability in day time but, for this evening study class, I borrowed one of my tutor’s lightweight tripods. This was the first time I had been out for a night shoot. If you have a Joby Gorillapod it ill fit nicely in a camera bag or rucksack and not take up too much space.
Remember buildings or your landscape won’t move so the contrast with a moving vehicle (or water running around rocks) can be spectacular.
This building is the cinema that hosted the world premiere of The Hobbit back in 2012!
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Long Exposures On A Smartphone
I have a few tips I gathered during my experiments. On an Apple smartphone do the following:
- Use Live Photo to take a picture.
- Open the image in the Photos app.
- Swipe upwards underneath the photo and find Long Exposure.
- Tap the long exposure ‘image’ to get the Long Exposure setting..
I am not quite sure what is meant to happen so I will continue to experiment but I hope the two images below show where everything is on an iOS phone. For Android users ‘Long Exposure Camera 2’ app is recommended by Adam Juniper.
Long Exposure Settings & Hashtags
Because many of you post on Instagram you might like to try try using #longexposure #exposure #tripod #ndfilter and/or #lighttrails hashtags. Recommended filters are rich colours in Juno and Clarendon on Instagram.
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Finally, the cat you have been waiting for!
This is Chenzou.
This is an older image but it seems in keeping with the theme of darkness and drama and I like it. Chenzou lives at home now, having been a cafe host for almost three years. I am missing the original so cannot provide the settings. The photo was taken using a small Joby Gorillapod.
Such gorgeous photos and what a lovely one of Chenzou, so full of mysterious atmosphere. And I’m so happy he has a home!
Wow, I learned something today!
If I ever get another smartphone, I might just try that with live photos. I always thought they were just like tiny video clips, but I didn’t know you could do that with them. I think I can make long exposure with my camera…and I HAVE a tripod; actually I have three! LOL! I inherited a large bulky one from my Dad, and the other two are smaller to use on, say a table.
I wish I could find one of those remote shutter releases to hold the shutter open manually, to get images of the stars traveling through the night sky.
I love that photo of Chenzou, and am glad he has a forever home now. 🙂
Long exposure photography is great; I am hoping to try more of it this year!
Those are all seriously beautiful photos, especially kitty! Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!