Tips for long exposure?

[LaurenElle]

So I'm doing a project over long exposure and there isn't anywhere interesting to do it where I live. Can someone give me some tips for taking long exposure photos?

 

[JoshC.]

You'll need a sturdy tripod, and something that moves. Water works well as I said in your last thread. Then just experiment. If you don't have a remote trigger, try using the self timer so pressing the shutter release button doesn't shake the camera and cause softness.

 

[Big Mike]

We use the shutter speed to control how movement it captured...long exposures tend to show movement because moving subjects can become blurry as they move in relation to the camera. Of course, to really emphasize that in a photo, it helps to have something that isn't moving (in relation to the camera) so as to contrast the parts that are moving. For example, if you put the camera onto a tripod and shoot a waterfall, the rocks & things that aren't moving should be sharp but the moving water will be blurred (if you use a long enough shutter speed). Blurred water tends to take on a soft/dreamy effect, but can also tent to get blown out if there are bubbles/ripples etc.
Waterfalls ~ Mike Hodson Photography

Other things you might try would be cars on a freeway at night.

 

[Josh66]

Ponds/lakes/oceans can be cool sometimes with long exposure. Depends on how much the water is actually moving though. A small pond probably isn't going to have much movement unless it's really windy.

You could always build a car rig or something too...

Or maybe star trails?

Pinhole (pinhole will pretty much necessitate long exposure)...?