Maximum detail and sharpness in an image are often goals for landscape photographers, but introducing the blurry, smoothing effect of a long exposure can take an otherwise tame landscape and turn it into something more epic.
In this video from First Man Photography, Adam Karnacz, a United Kingdom-based professional wedding and landscape photographer and filmmaker, takes viewers through a basic tutorial on how to use long exposures to create images that are more dramatic than just a snapshot of a scene. He gives good advice on how what kind of subjects are conducive to long-exposure photography, as well as how to compose them. It's important to note that when using a high-density filter, such as a 16-stop ND, you may not actually be able to see the scene composed in your viewfinder. You may need to compose the scene without the filter, lock your camera tight on the tripod, and then gently screw on the ND filter without moving the lens.
Kamacz also gives us a few tips, such as shutting off image stabilization, covering the eyepiece when shooting long exposures during daylight, because it can allow small amounts of light to creep into the sensor, and using an exposure calculator app such as PhotoPills to determine the proper exposure while using a neutral density filter.
Have you used long exposures to create a more dramatic scene? Drop your tips below and let us know what you do to make better long-exposure images.
