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.
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.
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.."
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.
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!
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By Peter Sawyer
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sick!
All of those are amazing.
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”
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.
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.
Verbal irony requires talent, and smarts. What you give us–a vague opinion and a vague suggestion–doesn’t. Which is low?
Some of them are mind-blowing!!
Amazing!
Wow! Love them all
sooooooo ammmmmmmmmmmazing!!!
im gonna try that effect.. hehehe..
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/
love the sound of a good old slow shutter. “crank, zhing!”
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.
Wow these are DOPE!!!
How do u do some of these??? Amazing stuff
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.
sick
x2
Awesome pics.
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.
Probably not as good, but I consider myself to be an a-ok slow-shutter speed photographer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waisybabu/page2/
Some of those look amazing! Awesome collection.
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/
really, really great.
@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?
those are amazing! i wonder if i could get that done with my camera…
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.
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.
Its Funny how People think that they are perfect lol
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.
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/
wow…awesome…i really like it
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
Holy cap dude those are some of the most AMAZING photos i have ever seen! You are a truely gifted artist. Terific job!
wow, these are amazzing!
I really love it…how amazing of this photo technique ….Thanks for sharing.
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
Wow amazing post! Thanks for sharing!
These are amazing! Thanks for posting them!
…. fantastic photo’s using a slow shutter speed for captivating visual effects !!