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Long Exposure Photography

Long exposure photography is a technique that requires the use of a camera shutter. It allows the photographer to capture movement in the scene or create an artistic effect in the photo.

By David BurrowsPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Long Exposure Photography
Photo by Sanjeevan SatheesKumar on Unsplash

Long exposures can be very beneficial for photographers who are looking to take some of those blurry, dreamy photographs. It can also be used for creating motion blur effects with cars and people.

It is the technique of using a slow shutter speed to create an image that is not just a snapshot of a subject but also captures movement and light.

It can be used to create some really stunning images. Some people use long exposure to capture the beauty in nature, while others use it to create abstract images.

A long exposure photograph is made by taking a photo with a long shutter speed for anywhere from several seconds to minutes. The result is often an image that appears blurred or distorted, and does not look "real" in the way that most other photographs do.

It can be used for artistic or compositional purposes, and can also serve as a useful environmental or architectural study.Long exposures were traditionally made using film, but are now most commonly captured in digital form.

To get started, you will need to pick up your camera and start experimenting with different shutter speeds and lens aperture settings.

Tips For Taking Great Long Exposure Shots

Long exposure allow you to take shots with a longer shutter speed than usual. This creates an effect where the camera captures light sources as trails.

1) Set your camera on a tripod or other stable surface

2) Make sure your camera is set to manual mode

3) Turn off the flash.

4) Set your ISO to 100 or 200 (higher numbers will result in more noise in the photo, so it’s best to keep it low)

5) Use a remote shutter release or timer, if available.

6) If you are using a DSLR, you should use either bulb or time mode for this technique.

7) you should set up your aperture as high as possible without compromising on the quality of your photo. Aperture settings typically range from f/1-f/8 but it may vary depending on the type of lens being used and its focal length.

The History Of Long Exposure Photography

In the early 1800s, long exposure photography was invented by Joseph Nicephore Niepce. He was the first person to capture a camera image in 1826.

His invention was called heliography. It is the process of using a camera obscura to create images on light-sensitive materials, like paper or metal plates.

The first known photograph in history that used this process was "View from the Window at Le Gras" taken in 1826.

This photo shows an exterior view from Niepce's home in France. .Early cameras were very simple in design and used glass plates for negatives. In the mid-1800s, François Debierne invented a camera obscura that allowed more control over exposure time. This invention is what set the stage for long exposure photography.

The first known experiment with long exposure photography was conducted by French physicist Etienne-Jules Marey, who in 1882 took a series of photographs showing a person walking across a room.

Etienne-Jules Marey (1830-1904) was an influential French scientist and inventor best known for his invention of the cinematograph.He was born in Strasbourg, Alsace, and graduated from the École Polytechnique.

In 1859 he married Elisa D'Arnoud, daughter of a wealthy industrialist.In 1864, he obtained permission to use the family's extensive library to publish his two-volume "Motion Study".

In this work, Marey developed a method of calculating and photographing the movements of objects in motion using a series of exposures on a rotating drum. He first attempted to apply his theory by photographing people dancing.

Conclusion

Long exposure photography can be used to create an effect of motion blur, blur water, clouds, and more. It can also be used to capture scenes that would otherwise be too fast for the camera to capture.

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About the Creator

David Burrows

I am a freelance photographer and I also write blogs. I love to share my knowledge and passion for photography with others. I have been a photography blogger for the last year. I write about travel, people, nature, and photography advice.

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