DIGITAL SLR
ESSENTIALS
In this edition of Digital SLR Essentials we explain all
you need to know about long exposures and filters
CANONSCHOOL
82 http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
A 10-stop ND filter and
an aperture of f/16
enabled an exposure of
30 secs for this shotong exposure
photography is an
effective way of
injecting a moody,
impressionistic quality
into your summer
pictures and really
elevate an average ‘blue
sky’ scene; all it takes is
a gentle breeze and a
slow shutter speed.
That’s the theory... But in
bright conditions the slowest
shutter speed you’ll be able to
achieve won’t be slow enough
to blur the movement of
clouds, water, or wind-blown
objects to any great extent.
Fitting a strong Neutral
Density (ND) filter to the lens
however, will allow you to
extend the exposure time for
multiple seconds, or minutes.
Not to be confused with an
‘ND Grad’, a standard ND filter
is a piece of dark grey glass orresin that’s placed in front of
the lens to cut the amount of
light that’s let into the camera.
Manual and Shutter Priority
mode give you control over
the shutter speed. I tend to use
Aperture Priority and dial in a
relatively small aperture as I
know this will give the slowest
shutter speed. If you need to
go slower than 30 seconds
you’ll need to use Bulb mode.
Some Canons have this option
on the mode dial (look for the
letter B), but if not then you’ll
need to select Manual and
scroll past the shutter speeds
until you reach it.
Make sure you use a tripod.
The contrast between
stationary sharp objects and
the motion-blurred parts of a
scene accentuates the
movement, and the last thing
you want is for the image to be
unintentionally soft.Landscapes provide plenty of
opportunities to try this, with the blur
created by flowing water, clouds,
trees and plants helping to create
individual interpretations of views.
The lengthy exposures created
by strong ND filters can make the
wildest windswept scene looksmooth. It’s for this reason that
they’re especially effective when
used at the coast, adding an almost
eerie quality to pictures taken in the
middle of a summer’s day. To make
the most of the effect, look for dark
rocks, piers and jetties to provide a
contrast with the seas and skies.Get set up for
slow-mo shots
Fast-track your long exposure skills
L
What types of scenes suit a slow shutter speed?
Marcus Hawkins
Photo exPert
Marcus has been passionate about
photography for more than 25
years. A former editor of our sister
publication Digital Camera, he has
written about photography and
cameras for a wide range of clients,
including Canon and Jessops, and
uses a Canon EOS 5D Mk III.