Pixiq

Longer exposures tend to start around the 1-second shutter speed mark and continue upwards to minutes and sometimes even hours! One of the skills in creating dynamic and interesting photographs is incorporating these longer exposures.

Typically it's best to use your light meter to get a good idea where to start. You're still using the idea of an exposure triangle and all of the same principles apply.

Many photographers tend to use shutter priority and let the camera do the work. But the purist would argue that it's best to go manual with long exposures.

I usually sit right smack in the middle. I tend to think that the "shorter" these long exposures are the more trust you can put in your camera's technology. These things are made by super geniuses hired by the best camera companies in the world after all. So if your shutter speed is still in seconds go ahead and try shutter priority mode.

Once you get into the longer exposures that last a minute or longer I think it's better to put your camera in manual. This is because most of the longer exposures happen when light is changing or lacking (dusk, dawn, twilight, and night-time) and these factors can mess with your light meter.

Try getting a light meter reading (the meter on your camera will suffice) and adjust accordingly. This takes practice. It may mean taking a photograph with the settings the camera suggest and then perhaps under or over exposing the next few photographs by adjusting the shutter speed to see the differences.

With time and practice you'll eventually be able to take a meter reading and do the adjustments in your head based on your past experiences and, of course, based on how you want the image to turn out.

Lake Windermere Long Exposed by DRG Photography | Calgary AB (DRG Photography)