How to Choose the Right Shutter Speed and ND Filter for Long Exposure Photography

Long exposures are by far one of the most popular creative uses of photography out there, and there are a ton of different ways to approach them. If you are new to them, this excellent video will teach you both how to choose the right ND filter for a long exposure and how to choose the correct shutter speed for the effect you want. 

Coming to you from Attilio Ruffo, this great video tutorial discusses both how to choose the right ND filter and shutter speed for long exposure photography. Your ND filter strength and shutter speed can make a big difference in the final output. For example, if you are working with moving water, a medium-length shutter speed can be great for smoothing out the texture but still revealing the motion. On the other hand, an ultra-long shutter speed can remove all semblance of motion and make the water appear more like fog than liquid. One thing to pay attention to is any foliage or the like that is also in the scene. If there is any wind, this can become an issue, as the foliage may become blurred, and you may have to resort to stacking exposures or reducing your shutter speed. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Ruffo.

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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.

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