A Guide to Long Exposure Photography

When it comes to landscape photography, few techniques are more popular and invite more creativity than long exposures. If you are new to the technique and would like you to get started, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to be on your way. 

Coming to you from Mike Smith, this awesome video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of long exposure photography. I think the most common mistake I see photographers new to the technique make is leaning too heavily on it for the visual interest in a photo. Long exposures can do wonders for an image by bringing order to turbulent water or clouds and revealing hidden order in chaos, but what it cannot do is make up for an unbalanced composition or a frame that lacks good subject matter. Think of it as a tool to supplement an image, not to carry it entirely, and be sure to think carefully about how it will change the overall balance of the frame. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Smith. 

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out "Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing with Elia Locardi." 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

Log in or register to post comments