Pictures are the way we have captured moments of our lives for posterity for hundreds of years. Usually, when we think of photography, we think of a snap of a single second (give or take, depending on the exposure of the film), just a flash of memory for safekeeping. Long exposure photography offers something unique and beautiful that traps a series of moments, a longer stretch of time than simply an individual one. Technically, long exposure photos are created when the image sensor of the camera is exposed for more time through increased shutter speed. This kind of photography was designed for taking pictures after at night, when less light is available to expose the film. With the increased light of long exposure photography, light is given to the lens for a longer period of time, making photos taken in dim light or darkness easier to see.
Beyond its general use, long exposure photography has been found to lend an interesting special effect to resulting photos, turning them into works of spectacular, dynamic art. Long exposure photography is also commonly known as time-exposure photography, a good descriptor of the technical way this art is produced. Using the long exposure method, subjects with dynamic motion or rich, multiple levels can be captured in all of their glory. The time-exposure camera can capture trails of light shining through forests, the flow of water over falls, and dreamy aspects of landscape and natural photographs. Long exposure photography precisely encapsulates the parts of the image that are still, while presenting magnificent effects that spread, shroud, or blur the elements that move. While this is best performed in dim or low light, it can be done in brighter light with the use of ‘neutral density filters’ or cameras that are especially designed to do so.
The original purpose of long exposure photography, taking pictures at night, works by a similar method of exposing the film for longer than in a normal photograph. In this case, the shutter speed is even faster than with more highly lit subjects. Sharp details can be seen clearly in the scene, but elements like lights in motion from cars on a freeway appear to become vibrant, illuminated veins in the night. This kind of photography can also give a full daytime effect to photos taken in darkness. The higher shutter speed allows an increased amount of light to be taken in, making the resulting photo brighter. If the camera is kept absolutely still for the entire time the film is exposed, a photograph taken even at the darkest hour can be very bright and clear. Effects are also often performed purposefully, using long exposure photography by keeping the area or subject dark and manipulating one or more light sources to produce desired special effects.
