Long Exposures with Water

This month our theme is another type of long exposure – long exposure with water. Taking long exposure photos of water can create a surreal, other-worldly look to a photo and often produces stunning results.

The location

The best place for long exposures is where water is moving, as opposed to a lake or a pond (though those locations can also be interesting, for example if there is also cloud movement in the sky). The best places are waterfalls, fountains and coastlines where there are good-sized waves. It is worth remembering that water can be dangerous for both you and your camera, so take extra care if you are on a coastline, and be aware of matters like tide times.

The website www.tide-forecast.com gives tide time information, and it can be a valuable resource for coastal photography.

The technique

1 –Compose your shot. Use the natural lines in the photo, such as a river, or perhaps rocks along the coastline. Often you can use one larger rock as the focal point in your frame for this type of shot.

2 –You will then need to set up your tripod and make sure it is secure. The chances are you will be on uneven rocky ground, so use tripods with variable extension legs to stabilize the tripod and keep it steady.

3 –As you will want to be exposing for at least 10 seconds, you will need to choose a time of day when it is getting dark, and/or you will also need to use a neutral density filter to lower the level of light coming into the camera. This timing allows you to expose the shot for a longer period of time. If you want to completely flatten the sea, you will be exposing the shot for 30 or more seconds.

4 –Follow the steps suggested in our photo essay from June 2014 to keep the image sharp. Make sure to lock the mirror up, use an external shutter release and make sure that the tripod used is sturdy enough.

5 –The more interesting photos will come from exploring your local coastline. Getting out and spending most of the day walking along the beach or a mountain valley is how you will find the best locations and places other people have not shot. This form of photography is also best for using wide-angled lenses.