Creative Long Exposure Photography Ideas

by Photography Reference
Creative long exposure photography light painting

We have some creative long exposure photography ideas  to help you create beautiful photography.

Long exposure photography is a technique where the shutter of a camera is left open for an extended period of time. This could typically be from several seconds to minutes or longer. The technique captures an image over time. Creative long exposure photography is more of an artistic representation of standard long exposure photography where the aim is to create unique images in a more artistic sense.
 
The resulting images are unique and visually captivating. Read on below for some ideas on what to attempt to capture creative long exposure photographs.
Creative long exposure led light trails

Colors and shapes

Paint light using different color light sources with differing shapes.

Creative long exposure city-street at night

City streets at night

Photograph long exposures of busy city street scenes at night.

Creative long exposure star trails

Star trails

You will likely need to get away from the glow of city lights, but another long exposure photography idea is to capture night sky star trails.

Creative long exposure waterfall

Waterfalls

Capture a long exposure of a waterfall. The effect will be to create silky smooth water movement over the falls.

Creative long exposure star trails

Ocean waves

Use a slow shutter speed that captures the silky movement of waves as they crash onto shore.

Creative long exposure highway light trails

Busy highway light trails

Use long exposure photography to capture the light trails created by cars on a busy highway.

Creative long exposure fireworks display

Fireworks display

Long exposures of fireworks as they explode on the night sky always look great.

Creative long exposure abstract

Abstract long exposures

Use a moving light source to create an abstract long exposure photo.

Creative long exposure weather time lapse

Weather time lapse

Use time-lapse photography of the changing weather conditions over the course of a full day or part of a day.

Creative long exposure ferris wheel

Ferris wheel

Capture movement at night of a Ferris wheel or other carnival ride

Creative long exposure rush hour

Vehicle movement

Photograph a vehicle as it speeds by on the road as a long exposure, panning the camera as it moves by.

Plant time lapse

Photograph the stages of a plant as it grows or a flower as it blooms.

Creative long exposure people movement

People movement on the street

Shoot the light trails created by people as they walk along a busy city street at night, or during the day using an ND filter.

Creative long exposure train station

Train station

Capture long exposures of a busy train station at night with the movement of trains producing smooth light trail effects.

Bridge with cars at night

Photograph long exposures at night of the movement of cars across a bridge.

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