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50 Captivating Slow Shutter Speed Photos

This entry is part 2 of 13 in the Low and Available Light Session
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Using a slow shutter speed allows for a completely different style of photography – from light painting to capturing smooth water effects. This article features a quick introduction to this style of photography, followed by 50 really amazing examples of the technique in action. Hopefully you’ll leave feeling inspired!

Shooting With a Slow Shutter Speed

At the most basic level, you simply need to place your camera on a tripod (or flat surface) then make sure the shutter speed is set to a low value. Anything from around 1/10 of a second should allow an interesting effect, and experimentation is key – you’ll probably need to play around to find the most appropriate setting. Most SLR cameras allow you to reach up to around 30 seconds before the bulb setting, which simply keeps the shutter open for as long as you hold the button.

Useful Tutorials

Shooting Waterfalls

Steve Berardi has already written a tutorial here on Phototuts+ on how to shoot waterfalls which helps introduce the idea of shooting slow shutter images.

Light Painting

Light painting is a common theme when dealing with slow shutter speeds, this tutorial introduces you to painting in light and using a slow shutter for dramatic effects.

Inspirational Photos

Michael Bosanko

Michael Bosanko is my favorite light painter. Using a massive array of different torches each image has a different feel. With many well known clients including The Sun, WFF, talk talk and more… you might have seen his work and just not released it.

Website

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Sara Heinrichs

Sara describes herself as a "barefoot girl" who knows her camera like the back of her hand. Normally shooting peoples weddings, these examples are a little different from her normal shots but show some true talent.

Flickr

Website

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Xavier Rey

"My approach with photography has something instinctive, like an impulse which makes me press the shutter release at a precise time in order to capture the place, the ambiance, people.."

Photo ID

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Tyler Westcott (MumbleyJoe)

"Really, I’m just a guy taking pictures." Tyler has a fantastic array of different photos mostly showcasing California and each one is better than the next.

Flickr

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Random Photographers

Here is a collection of long exposure photos from various photographers; simply click the photo to go to the original location and find out more about that photographer.

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Thanks For Reading!

If you have any suggestions for future roundup articles, please post them below or contact me via my website. I hope you feel inspired, and look forward to looking at any examples you have to share in the comments!

  • http://www.svenlito.com Sven Lito

    sick!

    • RAYMI

      I LIKE PHOTOS THEY ARE SO NICE SOMETIMES I TAKE PICTURES OF MY SELF

  • Jared

    All of those are amazing.

  • Jon

    Some are pretty good, some are pretty average. If you look further you will see some better examples of slow shutter speed photography. Light painting is only interesting for so long, and it doesn’t require any real “talent”

    • roy

      Yes Jon, I know. Isn’t it hard to live in a world of underachievers? So many wanna-bees and so few talented folks like you. It’s really sad that you have to put up with it all. You must feel so alone. I can’t imagine your pain.

      • Ben

        Sarcasm. The lowest form of, well, pretty much anything really.

        This is especially true as Jon is correct. These are mostly good, but some are decidedly average. The header claimed 50 amazing examples, but a good proportion don’t fit the ‘amazing’ description at all, and much better examples exist elsewhere.

        • Peeping Tom

          Verbal irony requires talent, and smarts. What you give us–a vague opinion and a vague suggestion–doesn’t. Which is low?

  • Ankit Bathija

    Some of them are mind-blowing!!

  • http://freeman.fs-hk.com/ Freeman

    Amazing!

  • http://www.msinkinson.co.uk Mark Sinkinson

    Wow! Love them all

  • http://www.jlapitan.com jlapitan

    sooooooo ammmmmmmmmmmazing!!!

    im gonna try that effect.. hehehe..

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhuisman/ Nathan Huisman

    Ya some of these are pretty cool. But I have some some much better star trail ones. Maybe you should stop by my Flickr page and check out some of mine. Maybe you like??
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhuisman/sets/72157622528999770/

  • http://loufie.com Louf Hawkner

    love the sound of a good old slow shutter. “crank, zhing!”

  • tshepo

    no doubts this are by far the best photogrhaps i have ever seen, all of you all have good taste for art, and the funny thing about it is that it is just nature, at its best.

  • JohnM.

    Wow these are DOPE!!!

  • Anon

    How do u do some of these??? Amazing stuff

    • http://www.peewee1002.co.uk peewee1002
      Author

      The painting ones are just simply done with torches and painted into the air.
      Michael Bosanko also uses a flashgun which he can then add ambient light in the background by firing off a couple bursts of light.

      The water images are around 10 second exposures and most probally have ND filters on them so the image doesn’t get over exposured.

  • alien

    sick
    x2

  • http://www.livingforart.com Jasmin Halkić

    Awesome pics.

  • GhostDog

    I’d recommend to take a look at the pictures from german lightpainters “lightmarks” http://www.lightmark.de/

    no photoshop manipulation guaranteed. Shot with analog camera.

  • http://artsyhands.com Waisybabu | artsyHANDS

    Probably not as good, but I consider myself to be an a-ok slow-shutter speed photographer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waisybabu/page2/

  • http://joshboulton.co.uk Josh

    Some of those look amazing! Awesome collection.

  • http://www.flickr.com/xper Rodrigo Esper
  • Aliasart

    really, really great.

  • nai

    @jon

    I would argue that it still takes some talent, but the process is somewhat hacknyed for two reasons: a) Picasso and Gjon Mili did it first; b) it’s much easier to do this with digital exposures allowing you try repeatedly until you get it right, and c) just because it’s an extended exposure with light trails doesn’t make it a good composition or subject.

    So perhaps while not technically as difficult to achieve with digital means, I would ask who is pushing the conventions, or trying to say something meaningful?

  • http://thesocalledme.net Just Jennifer

    those are amazing! i wonder if i could get that done with my camera…

    • http://www.peewee1002.co.uk peewee1002
      Author

      If you have an SLR you are able to.

      Compact cameras often don’t allow it….. though they might have a “firework” preset mode which allows for a slightly slower shutter but no more than 1/2 second.

      • dicky

        in my opinion some compact camera can / allow it. try some like canon powershot series or any compact camera with manual settings ability.. basicly compact camera with manual setting ability can do it, just the matter how u set it up.

      • Utkarsh

        Yup – I got a Sony cybershot DSC-W1, and it’s one of those few point and shoot cameras which gives you a complete manual mode, whatever limited it is, and is decent enough to shoot long exposures upto 30 secs :)

  • Me

    Its Funny how People think that they are perfect lol

  • dicky

    o well i think those are pretty good picture, some of em are very mind stunning, some are average but I like the idea despite of the technique, camera, or the photographic skill. some of those picture are unthinkable (am i right to say this ? ). The point is i like the way they explore photography in a different way.

    sorry for my bad english :D

    Cheers.

  • http://borgetsolutions.com Siddharth Menon photographer
  • JerryKelevr

    wow…awesome…i really like it

  • http://www.thebaldchemist.com Ray Leigh

    You should not press the shutter button but use a remote otherwise you’ll get camera shake.

    They are pretty pics though. Here are some really fabulous pics taken with long aperture opening at f5.6 100 iso and 10 seconds exposure.

    You’ll need to understand composition though.
    http://www.thebaldchemist.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=86&lang=en

  • Takeshi

    Holy cap dude those are some of the most AMAZING photos i have ever seen! You are a truely gifted artist. Terific job!

  • georgette

    wow, these are amazzing!

  • Jang

    I really love it…how amazing of this photo technique ….Thanks for sharing.

  • http://www.rutscameras.com RutsCameras

    Amazing Shots! I love these! Great work! I wish I had half the skills and creativity to take these!

    -Jeff
    http://www.rutscameras.com – FREE Auction Marketplace dedicated to photography equipment

  • http://designwoop.com Stu Greenham

    Wow amazing post! Thanks for sharing!

  • Meg

    These are amazing! Thanks for posting them!

  • http://hermitbiker.stumbleupon.com/ Hermitbiker

    …. fantastic photo’s using a slow shutter speed for captivating visual effects !!

  • http://homeopathyworldcommunity.com Debby

    I agree with everyone ~ “really love it!” all these moments of time captured in living brilliant colors or flowing mists. Thank you

    Debby
    http://twitter.com/DebbyBruck

  • http://qusaytoday.com/365 Qusay

    WOW, would be an understatement!

  • http://synapticlight.com/ Phillip Gibb

    inspiring indeed

  • http://www.davidnh.com David Hardwick Photography

    I love some of this slow shutter photography. The results shown are so good. I will have to go and try some for myself.

    • http://www.yahoo.com/ Audel

      Frankly I think that’s aosbluetly good stuff.

  • http://gyppi.pp.ua sergey911

    Sorry for the question, but I am very interested in how CMS operates a blog?

  • http://www.dipanjan-mitra.com Dipanjan Mitra

    Some are really outstanding photos.

  • http://myfathersworld22.blogspot.com/ Adam

    Very helpful, you will lose sleep taking light paintings its amazing what you can do in 30 sec.
    Maybe some time you could do a article on the tools used in the making of light painting.

  • http://hubpages.com/hub/creativelighingforstilllifephotos Ivor Tetteh-Lartey Photography

    The black and white images of sea views are superb examples of long exposures. They have a quiet eerie mood.

  • http://kcatprizerebel.blogspot.com/ james

    Wow, these are amazing! I wish I could take such amazing photos. I’m truly jealous! But grateful I get to enjoy them!

  • http://www.realvisionphotos.com RealVisionPhotos

    I like it very well thank you.

    greetings Ben

  • http://uphoricword.blog.com/ Madman

    Some of the city ones are magnificent! Stunning! Gorgeous!! I dig them, I would hang a print in my pad!

  • http://www.prankardphotography.com Wayne

    Great images – I’m inspired to try a few myself.

  • blahblah

    Question : what setttings do i have to use to get images like that, cause usually when i use a very slow shutter speed during the day i jus get a white picture, and its too bright.

    Im just starting to get use to it, so ur help wud be appreciated :D

  • http://www.annedarlingphotography.com Anne Darling

    There are some fun images here but as others have said, they don’t really say much. One viewing is enough, the second time around they don’t excite very much because basically they are all a bit gimicky.

  • cakeinmyeyes

    @blahblah, you’ll be needing some neutral density filters!

  • http://www.think360studio.com/ Think360 Studio – Web Design Company

    wow, awesome, there are all amazing photos

  • http://myhouse jenna

    I think that most all of those pictures are awesome and I saved almost everyone of them to my information and then I sent them to like of my friends and they think they are so cool~! I would like to be a painter/drawer someday,…… well I already am kind of but my paintings are not know because I’m only 12. wish me luck!

  • http://myhouse jenna

    I think that most all of those pictures are awesome and I saved almost everyone of them to my information and then I sent them to like of my friends and they think they are so cool~! I would like to be a painter/drawer someday,…… well I already am kind of but my paintings are not know because I’m only 12. wish me luck!

    love always,
    Jenna!

  • Shyam
  • pavan

    good pictures,i really appreciate u

  • http://www.flicker.com/photos/priyankbaid Priyank

    amazing pictures…!!

  • http://www.arifinakbar.com abaw

    GR8!!!

  • http://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/x411/ashley_nicole_photography/?action=view&current=DSC_0056.jpg ashley

    these pictures are awesome!! check out some of my slow shutter speed photos!

  • kamarul azam

    I like this…..your picture i like….amazing

  • http://www.lublin-fotografia-slubna.pl Fotografia Ślubna Lublin

    amazing photos! it’s like an art. I’ve tried this technic few times – all you need is creativity + lots of practice and patience :))

  • gareth

    Xavier Rey you are incredible

  • http://www.artfulwhiz.com ImageWhisperer

    That’s what is all about. Photography gives as that freedom to experiment.
    Not being afraid to make mistakes is what separates man from the boy.
    Slow shatter speed gives so many possibilities for the braves to explore.

  • http://s820.photobucket.com/albums/zz130/redsox985/Long%20Exp/ Nate

    Here’s a link to a couple of mine. I have one I especially love here.

    http://s820.photobucket.com/albums/zz130/redsox985/Long%20Exp/