How to easily make a long exposure for more than 30 seconds
1. Materials
① Camera with B mode (Bulb)
② Tripod
The more sturdy the better, Remove the camera's belt and strap, Prevent shaking due to wind
③ ND filters (eg, ND 64 and ND 500)
ND 64 will make to down for 6 stop exposure, ND 500 will make to down for 9 stop exposure
In my case, ND 64 filter is used in blue hour before sunrise. ND 500 filter is used after golden hour.
④ Remote Shutter Controller
Wired Shutter Release or Camera Shutter App (Bluetooth Shutter)
⑤ Exposure Time Calculation App (recommended app is below / similar apps can also be used)
Wireless Remote Shutter Release
ND filters (eg, ND 64 and ND 500)
ND filter acts like sunglasses would to your eyes,
it blocks light coming into the lens like sunglasses blocks light coming into your eyes.
ND stands for Neutral Density which means it blocks the light in a neutral way
without changing the color of the light.
Exposure Time Calculation App
Given an exposure (Aperture, Shutter speed, ISO), allows calculating equivalent exposures -
set 2 new parameters (a combination of Aperture, Shutter and ISO)
and the 3rd parameter is automatically calculated.
It is also possible to add up to 3 ND filters of up to 30 stops each to the calculations,
handy for those long exposure photographs to blur water and clouds.
The app also includes a timer for exposures of 4 seconds or longer.
Main features:
• calculates Shutter, Aperture or ISO
• aperture range from f1.0 to f360
• shutter range from 480s to 1/16,000s
• ISO range from ISO 0.4 to ISO 3.2M
• ND filter up to 30 stops, in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments
• up to 3 stacked ND filters
• ND filter modes: stop, density, ND number
• timer for exposures of 4s or longer with alarm
• night mode with 4 overlay colors
• calculates Shutter, Aperture or ISO
• aperture range from f1.0 to f360
• shutter range from 480s to 1/16,000s
• ISO range from ISO 0.4 to ISO 3.2M
• ND filter up to 30 stops, in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments
• up to 3 stacked ND filters
• ND filter modes: stop, density, ND number
• timer for exposures of 4s or longer with alarm
• night mode with 4 overlay colors
2. How to shoot
In the case of long exposure,
The most important is to find the correct exposure value.
Before installing the ND filter,
Obtain the correct exposure value through the exposure time calculation App in advance.
① Set the camera (without ND filter) on a tripod
② Set the composition for the subject.
③ Exposure measurement (without ND filter) from the camera
For long exposures, Usually set with ISO 100 ~ 200. Do not use high ISO values due to noise.
For example,
Settings : Mode A , Aperture f11 , ISO 100
The shutter speed is 1.5 sec from the camera automatically.
④ Input the measured exposure value on the top side menu of the App.
⑤ Input the ND filter to be installed on the bottom side menu of the App
For example 1,
Set with ND 64 filter,
New shutter speed will be 96 sec
For example 2,
Set with ND 100 filter,
New shutter speed will be 151 sec
⑥ Install the ND filter on front of the camera lens.
Always turn off the anti-shake function when you take a long exposure photos.
⑦ Set M mode and Shutter B mode / Keep the aperture value and ISO value.
⑧ Press 2 buttons at the same time. The App's timer button and the shutter release button (put to Hold)
⑨ Wait the timer ends and that just release the shutter button that was being held.
Example photos of a long exposure for more than 30 seconds
My Home Town - 116 sec f11.0 ISO 100 16mm
Hudson River - 219 sec f8.0 ISO 100 16mm
Arno River, Florence - 126 sec f13 ISO 100 24mm