Long Exposure Tutorial | Photography Tips
I’ll use an entry-level DSLR and standard kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5 – 5.6) as an example.
- Strap your camera to a tripod.
- Set the focal length to 18mm.(Zoom out as far as possible)
- Switch your camera to manual mode
- Set the aperture as low as it can go, in this case, it will be f/3.5
- Set the ISO to 3200.
- Set the shutter speed to 30 seconds.
- Find the farthest light in the distance – allow your camera to focus on it – set your lens to manual (This will lock the focus – be careful not touch the aperture ring as this will adjust your focus again.)
- Place your camera and tripod on the ground and point it in the direction you want to capture the stars.
- Take your picture
- Wait 30 seconds
- And there you have your picture.
Editing Process
Editing will play a significant role to enhance your image. Using a free app like VSCO, Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile will get the job done.
I’ll use Snapseed for this tutorial. (Keep in mind our settings will differ)
I started by adjusting the color curves and creating the standard S-curve for all of the colors. (Including the RGB circle)
Then I adjusted the basics;
- Brightness +55
- Contrast +25
- Saturation +50
- Ambiance +16
- Highlights +40
- Shadows -10
- I added a vignette with the outer brightness set to -25 and the inner brightness set to +50.
- I adjusted the white balance just slightly setting the temperature(it will give your photo either a cold or warm feel) to +7 and the tint(green or purple) to +16.
There you have it. Good luck and have fun!
Let me know how it goes. Feel free to tag me on Instagram!
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Wow!
<3
Reblogged this on Random and Sundry Things and commented:
Cool photography tutorial!
Thank you for the share Debbi! 😀
I will have to try this. I’ve been tinkering with a few other of your tutorials with great success. Thanks.
Good luck and have fun! I’m so incredibly glad to hear that! 😀
Ok I’m not a photographer but I love the sky and always wondered how it could be photographed so beautifully, appreciate this info, thanks 😊
I’m glad you appreciated it 🙂 I hope I explained it simple enough.
Yes it is great, I will be including this post as a link in my Monday monthly wrap up post. Please let me know if you prefer it is removed. Thanks 😊
Thank you so much for the share! It’s no problem at all! 🙂
Great images. I’ve always had a fascination with night sky (and beyond) pictures. Thanks for the tips too.
Thank you so much! It’s my pleasure! 😀
Thanks so much, we are having great clear sky at the moment. Hopefully there will be no cloud cover tonight and not too cold. I will be out to give this a try.
How did it go? 🙂
Stunning😯
Thank you! <3
Enjoyed the photo! Rest was too technical for me. I am tech-challenged!
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. I tried to explain it as simple as possible. Do you own a DSLR?
I don’t! I only use my mobile phone!!
Oh okay. That’s fine. You can accomplish so much just with your mobile phone 🙂
Sal dit moet probeer! Dankie!
Ek belowe dit al lank vir jou. Ek hoop ek het dit eenvoudig genoeg verduidelik! As jy enige vrae het, laat my asseblief weet 🙂
Sal beslis so maak! Baie dankie!
<3
Amazing
Thank you <3
That’s Amazing
<3
Ok I’m not a photographer but saving this post as I love the night sky so would love to be able to do this, thanks for the tutorial 👌😊
It’s my pleasure! I’m glad you found it useful! 🙂 Have fun!
This is amazing…!! A great tutorial for amateurs and beginners…!! Thank you for such an amazing post…..!!!!
It’s my pleasure! I’m glad you found it useful! 🙂