Find what you are looking for

or search by

Topics

Article
Article

Article

e-Book
e-Book

e-Book

Video
Video

Video

Campaigns
Campaigns

Campaigns

Architecture
Compact Cameras

Compact Cameras

Architecture
DSLRs

DSLRs

Architecture
Videography

Videography

Architecture
Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Architecture
Mirrorless Cameras

Mirrorless Cameras

Architecture
Architecture Photography

Architecture Photography

Architecture
Canon Technologies

Canon Technologies

Architecture
Low Light Photography

Low Light Photography

Architecture
Photographer Interviews

Photographer Interviews

Architecture
Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography

Architecture
Macro Photography

Macro Photography

Architecture
Sports Photography

Sports Photography

Architecture
Travel Photography

Travel Photography

Architecture
Underwater Photography

Underwater Photography

Architecture
Photography Concepts & Application

Photography Concepts & Application

Architecture
Street Photography

Street Photography

Architecture
Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Architecture
Lenses & Accessories

Lenses & Accessories

Architecture
Nature & Wildlife Photography

Nature & Wildlife Photography

Architecture
Portrait Photography

Portrait Photography

Architecture
Night Photography

Night Photography

Architecture
Pet Photography

Pet Photography

Architecture
Printing Solutions

Printing Solutions

Architecture
Product Reviews

Product Reviews

Architecture
Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography

Tips & Tutorials >> All Tips & Tutorials

The Long and Short of Exposure

2016-02-18
12
20.76 k
In this article:

Every photograph is a moment of light in time captured, forever preserved. While taking a photo is often as simple as picking up your camera and pressing the shutter, capturing a beautiful shot involves understanding how exposure works. So get ready to learn about the top 5 occasions to use long or short exposure for your photos, and how to achieve the intended effects!

Still by Mariana Bisti/ EOS 5D/ EF28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

But first, let’s get the basics right. Getting that perfectly exposed photo is a science that often involves lots of complicated jargon – so to begin with, what exactly is exposure?
An ideal photograph skillfully manipulates exposure such that there are no accidentally overexposed areas (where the image is blown out and details are lost), nor underexposed ones (where the darkest bits fade into a pool of black).
Excited to start experimenting with different types of exposure tricks? Let’s see what the Canon EF135mm f/2L USM can do!

Long Exposure Shot #1: Motion

Kinetic by John/ EOS 5D Mark II/ EF135mm f/2L USM/ f/2.5, 1/10sec/ ISO 200

Most of the time, motion is frozen using fast shutter speeds and sufficient light – this technique is common to sports, and nature photography. But what about dramatising motion? This is where long exposure comes in: the photo above uses a combination of wide aperture and slow shutter speed, allowing more light in and capturing motion when it is most dramatic. The ethereal motion blur emphasises the dancer’s movement.

Long Exposure Shot #2: Waterscapes

Swirling Sea by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ EOS 5D Mark III/ EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM/ f/22, 8secs/ ISO 100

Another great opportunity to use long exposure is when photographing waterscapes. In order to depict the dynamic, swirling waves, the photographer decided to keep the shutter open for eight seconds leading to a beautiful long-exposure shot.

Long Exposure Shot #3: Light Trails

Evening Road by Carle Drogue/ EOS 5D/ EF135mm f/2L USM/ f/16, 8mins/ ISO 100

And now of course, everyone’s favourite long exposure technique – light trails! With a camera set to long exposure, tiny aperture, and mounted on a tripod, you will be able to achieve this breathtaking effect. As with the previous two techniques, your secret weapon, the trusty tripod, will ensure that motion blur happens only where you want it to.

Short Exposure Shot #1: Animals

 
 

Måke (Seagull) by Bjarne Stokke/ EOS 500D/ EF135mm f/2L USM/ f/2.8, 1/1000sec/ ISO 100

Animals are constantly afoot, so short exposure is necessary to capture them without unnecessary blur. Here, the photographer uses a fast shutter speed to freeze the seagull in the frame. At the same time, the wide aperture results in a shallow depth-of-field, which softens the background into a creamy bokeh-like effect.

Short Exposure Shot #2: Motion

EDance by John/ EOS 5D Mark II/ EF135mm f/2L USM/ f/2.8, 1/500sec/ ISO 2500

Short exposure can also be used to show tension in motion. In order to freeze the dancers’ movement mid-flight on a dimly-lit stage, the photographer chose to crank up the ISO as high as possible, so as to be able to accommodate a quick shutter speed.

Share your photos on My Canon Story & stand a chance to be featured on our social media platforms