Getting Sarted - Exposure

[Ambitious]

Hello Everyone,

I recently started thinking about shooting more with a Tripod and how expose would help capture some great flowing and movement shots. I'm still pretty new to this so watched a few tutorials and read my manual so I know what I'm doing when changing the camera's features.

I've just been signed off sick for 2 weeks so figured, what better thing to do than brush up on my hobby and visit a few places to help me get better both medically and through taking photos.

This brings me to my question, could you help me out and provide some ideas / inspiration as to what is good to photograph with a long exposure? I've considered rivers car lights, but is there anything you've had experience with which could really give me something new?

I don't sell my photos so any subject will do for experience.

Many Thanks,
James

[OsmosisStudios]

Anything with subtle movement works: wheatfields (or something similar), moving water, trees, etc. Lights and cars and such are fun too, but they're a very different kind of thing.

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Anything with subtle movement works: wheatfields (or something similar), moving water, trees, etc. Lights and cars and such are fun too, but they're a very different kind of thing.

LoL.. Cars are VERY different from trees.. They're made from metal for starters!

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

LoL.. Cars are VERY different from trees.. They're made from metal for starters!

Not always

wooden car - Google Search

[Zeke Menuar]

Waterfalls are great subjects. There are many in my neck of the woods big and small.
Rivers with rapids are very good subjects.

I don't have a firm grasp of my D3100 yet. I tend to set it on shutter priority, get the shutter speed as long as it will go until the camera says there is too much light. Set the "picture control" settings to Standard and the saturation to +2 and start shooting.

This picture was taken with the aforementioned settings with a circular polarizer. The sun was very bright that day. I used my $20 garage sale tripod. The lens was the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens.

It's the only image on the page.
How many here have A D3100

[Ambitious]

Thanks for all of the responses, I've really struggled to find anything near to me to photograph with the above mentioned settings. Next week I think I'll go for a drive further afield and see what I can find.

Zeke - I love the waterfall picture it looks real nice, I think you also answered my next question. I found when I took some pictures of a tree in my garden blowing hat the picture was just plain white, I now understand from what you've said that this is because there was too much light?

Have you go any tips on what to do if there is too much and the best shutter speed that comes out with a photo is 1" which isn't enough to capture movement? Or is this more a case of "give up and move to another angle or location".

Thanks,
James

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by Izzy

Not always

wooden car - Google Search

LoL.. Yeah..
metal tree - Google Search

Oh well.. So trees and cars are the same thing.. Os was wrong!

[RichardTaylor]

You may find this DPS tutorial on exposure helpful.

Exposure (1) A balancing act

Also you may find some of the answers re long exposures in this DPS thread of assistance.

450D dilemma!

[mosgood]

Fountains are also great subjects. Also night shots of city lights work well for long exposures.

Good luck with your quest!