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
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
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
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
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.
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!
Related Posts
Keep reading with more great tutorials and articles!
Enjoy this Post?
We'd love your vote!
User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Sven Lito October 8th
sick!
( )Jared October 8th
All of those are amazing.
( )Jon October 8th
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 October 29th
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 November 7th
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.
( )Ankit Bathija October 8th
Some of them are mind-blowing!!
( )Freeman October 8th
Amazing!
( )Mark Sinkinson October 8th
Wow! Love them all
( )jlapitan October 8th
sooooooo ammmmmmmmmmmazing!!!
im gonna try that effect.. hehehe..
( )Nathan Huisman October 9th
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/
Louf Hawkner October 9th
love the sound of a good old slow shutter. “crank, zhing!”
( )tshepo October 9th
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. October 9th
Wow these are DOPE!!!
( )Anon October 10th
How do u do some of these??? Amazing stuff
( )peewee1002 October 19th
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 October 10th
sick
( )x2
Jasmin Halkić October 10th
Awesome pics.
( )GhostDog October 10th
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.
( )Waisybabu | artsyHANDS October 11th
Probably not as good, but I consider myself to be an a-ok slow-shutter speed photographer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waisybabu/page2/
( )Josh October 11th
Some of those look amazing! Awesome collection.
( )Rodrigo Esper October 12th
i have some works on the subject, maybe you´ll find it cool (cause i do hehe)
( )http://www.flickr.com/photos/xper/3922665772/in/set-72157622377765306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xper/3882742309/in/set-72157622377765306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xper/3910290772/in/set-72157622365038278/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xper/3707799582/in/set-72157621721248321/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xper/3477114979/in/set-72157617359176588/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xper/3477070749/in/set-72157617359176588/
and this http://www.flickr.com/photos/xper/3935599278/in/photostream/
Aliasart October 12th
really, really great.
( )nai October 12th
@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?
( )Just Jennifer October 19th
those are amazing! i wonder if i could get that done with my camera…
( )peewee1002 October 19th
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 October 26th
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.
( )Me October 25th
Its Funny how People think that they are perfect lol
( )dicky October 26th
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
Cheers.
( )Siddharth Menon photographer November 18th
Almost all of them are amazing
You gona love these too, slow shutter.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddharthmenon/4024488243/
( )http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddharthmenon/4024632835/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddharthmenon/3682517472/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddharthmenon/3262093227/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddharthmenon/3481014660/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddharthmenon/3480075251/