Breathtaking Examples of Long Exposure Photography
There are different styles of photography that can capture the beauty of life around us. Long exposure photography is one such style that is widely known for producing beautiful and captivating photographs. In this collection, we share with you some truly gorgeous long exposure photos as well as some tutorials on how to take long exposure photos yourself.
A Short Introduction to Long Exposure Photography
Long exposure photography refers to long shutter speeds. Longer shutter speeds mean that more light can get into the lens of a camera. Thus, long exposures are typically used at night, when there isn’t a lot of natural lighting around.
However, photographers soon realized that extremely long exposures produced some unexpected—albeit interesting—results. Thus, the popularity of this technique soon ensued.
In terms of traditional cameras that still use film, shutter speed represents the length of time the camera shutter remains open to expose the film.
In DSLR cameras—the weapon of choice for most modern professional photographers—you will see numbers like: 1/8000, 1/4000, and 1/100. These numbers represent seconds or fractions of a second the shutter stays open.
A fast shutter speed can catch fast movements and freeze them (which is why this is the ideal setting for sports photography) and a slow speed can blur your image.
Consider the following side-by-side comparison of a fast shutter speed versus a slow shutter speed:
If you wanted to capture light trails or flows of a stream, long exposure will give you great results because it keeps your shutter open longer to capture and blur the movements together.
Enough theory, let’s dive into some long exposure photographs example now.
Great Examples of Long Exposure Photography
Dark Days
Forever Dreaming
Pacman
Long Exposure Lighthouse.
Wreck of the Sygna
Tranquility Flows
With many Rivers Ahead
Dead Zone in the Sky
Bay Bridge
u
Ocean Desert
Kola Peninsula Russia
Hyperdrive
Shores of Time – Big Sur, California
The Chicago Fire
Long Exposure Light Art
Blackfriars Bridge
Ghosts Walk Among Us
Vivid Tung Chung
Skinny Tripping
Nòria del Tibidabo
Apocalypse
Apples in a Spotlight
Train Track Light Trails
Road Trip
More Long Exposure
Sheep
Swish
Holy Long Exposure
Long Exposure 2
Tutorials on Creating Long Exposure Photos
Now that you have seen some wonderful examples of long exposure photography, maybe you want to try this technique. Here are some tutorials that will help you get started:
- Long Exposure Basics
- Different Techniques of Long Exposure
- Long Exposure Night Photography – Step By Step Guide
- Tips For Long Exposure Waterfall Photography
- 8 Tips for Long Exposure Photography
- How to Shoot Light Trails
- How to: take Long Exposure Photos
- Long Exposure Shots
- Long Exposure Tutorial – Video
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About the Author
45 Comments
Benjamin Hahn
March 28th, 2010
Great collection! Some stunning pictures.
piyanistll
March 28th, 2010
very nice working thanks
jmleclercq
March 28th, 2010
Great collection!
Kai Köpke
March 28th, 2010
Really great Photos, thats art!
I like the http://short-ribs.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Days-84093440
adone
March 28th, 2010
Amazing photos.
Matthew Heidenreich
March 28th, 2010
great collection, thanks
Billy
March 28th, 2010
These look really good, I love the one with the apples.
Eric Shafer
March 28th, 2010
Great photographs, such effort involved in the long exposure process to get it just right.
Smashing Share
March 29th, 2010
I don’t know much about photography but I am loving these photos. They are really amazing.
Sometimes I see some photographers in night, they are with all their Camera stuff, hooked in one corner of the park and waiting for excellent shot to capture. And I just watch them and think of trying it some day! :)
Nelspruit
March 29th, 2010
Awesome photos, my favourites have to be Forever dreaming, Skinny tripping and Shores of time!
HacknMod
March 29th, 2010
You forgot the best ones!
http://hacknmod.com/hack/mindblowing-led-light-and-laser-photography/
Poje Mario
March 29th, 2010
Great all, breathtaking only some ;)
baca
March 29th, 2010
Awesome pictures :D
hubeRsen
March 29th, 2010
that are f***in great photos!
Beno
March 29th, 2010
Waou! Thank you for that great collection.
Linh Pham
March 29th, 2010
beautiful pictures!
TimHolmes
March 29th, 2010
Some really nice example of long exposures.. cheers
Bertrand
March 29th, 2010
Another great thing to try when I’ll get a new DSLR!
By the way, your link on the homepage on the image is broken :
http://sixrevisions.com/photography/examples-long-exposure-photography/
nicola
March 29th, 2010
Great collection of photos, I’m glad to see one of mine included as well
thanks
ciao
Nicola
Lee Fuller
March 29th, 2010
Seen a few of these before, but a nice collection all the same.
Some of these shots are beautifully taken.
JC
March 29th, 2010
very informative. thanks
doris
March 29th, 2010
would love to see how they made the ‘Skinny Tripping’ one!
Musc
March 29th, 2010
this serie and info is: simply Wonderful Art
:)
Vinfotech
March 30th, 2010
Great Collection! In love with all of them
Mahmudur Rahman
March 31st, 2010
Awesome collection. Its really hard to choose selective ones for my PC. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. :)
Berger Bros
March 31st, 2010
Amazing Photographs. I love the creativity of using long exposure light art.
Grim bernhoft
March 31st, 2010
Beautiful photos, projecting such calm and tranquil feeling
Michael Benin
March 31st, 2010
I love people who experiment with ISO, Aperture, and shutterspeed. Great shots!
mike
April 1st, 2010
hey that red with white lightning make a pleasant pics.
VivienCormier
April 1st, 2010
Very beautifull photography !
fitnessguy
April 2nd, 2010
It’s like porn but for the photography world – really amazing. I’ve just come back from New York and taken the obligatory shots of the skyline but their nothing to these things – loving the work.
Azizuan
April 4th, 2010
Great compilation. Thanks for inspiring. Keep it going.
Jared
April 6th, 2010
Awesome collection up until some of the light painting. Some people treat light painting like it’s own completely separate art form and there are very high quality images out there.
joddy street
April 8th, 2010
I want to learn these long exposed photography tricks, if you could just refer me to any great link to read about it. Thanx.
The PACMAN & With many Rivers Ahead pics are awesome
kre8iveminds
April 8th, 2010
Awesome Pictures!
Dany
April 28th, 2010
Thanks for this great article! It’s is inspiring AND very useful like all your posts @sixrevisions.
nurse mabila
April 30th, 2010
i love those pictures
cheetahex2
May 1st, 2010
Beautiful, some really breathtaking!
ARTisani
May 3rd, 2010
Very beautiful and useful.
Nelson
May 12th, 2010
Wow, these are some great shots. Skinny Tripping is my favorite.
Kyle Bailey
October 10th, 2010
Great examples of long exposures! I just found your blog and have bookmarked it for more investigation. Here is an example of one of my long exposures. I have not done many but am interested in doing many more. Thanks for the inspiration.
John Smith
April 11th, 2011
Great pictures !!!
LollipopMoon
June 24th, 2011
Great Pics
pokkisam
June 25th, 2011
Really a nice long exposure shots.
Louis Blythe
November 17th, 2011
Amazing Images! Blown Away! Make me wont to head out and shoot some long exposures!
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