NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY - 10 Tips For Long Exposure Photography Light Trails

Long exposure night photography producing light trails is the focus for this tutorial. Ray Scott offers up 10 great tips that will show you how to take stunning light trails photos. The tips are many including what kind of aperture and shutter speed to use. What ISO settings are best. How to stabilize your camera with a tripod. Shooting more than just light trails by being aware of the background meaning taking the typical highway overpass picture is okay but why not head into the city and use the buildings and other structures to add interesting backdrops to create beautiful images. One could also create truly abstract photography art as well. This is definitely something that can be accomplished in the city as a form of street photography. Your pics will be different from your average photo making for unique images. Learn night photography camera settings and various night photography techniques with this inspiration video. It's a top 10 tips tutorial for light trails photography which will enhance and expand your night photography and long exposure photography experience.

Whether you say it as photographing light trails, light trails photography or anything else, this fun form of photography can be for everyone.

When in studio or in the field Ray uses Canon gear. This is a choice he made years ago knowing that he was buying into a system that he could grow into. His go to camera is the Canon EOS 6D with the second camera being a Canon 5D. Lenses used are all L series f/4 except for the 50mm macro with extender. 16-35mm f/4L, 24-105mm f/4L, and 70-200mm f/4L round out the kit which is carried about with either a Lowepro Urban Reporter 250 messenger bag for city shooting or a Lowepro Sling Bag for landscape field work. While Ray does more camera handholding than before due to the image stabilization capabilities of his various lenses, he still is a believer in using his Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod. It's light and it is sturdy.

Ray is a firm believer in exposing himself to as much photography and its history as possible. By looking at other people's photos, he has gained a big appreciation of what this medium has to offer. Ray doesn't think that "copying" someone else's style is a good thing but rather feels that exposing oneself to others work can work as a teaching and inspirational tool. With this in mind, Ray has amassed a list of favorite photographers that he uses for inspiration. Some of these artistic photographers are Galen Rowell, Ansel Adams, Frans Lanting, Annie Leibovitz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Freeman Patterson, William Neill and Richard Avedon.

One of the playlists on this channel is called "neighbourhood photographer" which covers tutorials shot in urban and suburban areas. It's always a challenge to see different things of interest when you've been to an area many times yet this is the best way to create good images. You need to return to familiar locations many times. To do so, Ray often drives by car to an area but when he really wants to cover ground yet see things more clearly, he uses his bicycle…bike…and explores the given place.

Whether shooting landscape, macro, portrait or abstract images, Ray always tries to be aware of his surroundings to capture the best pictures possible. Part of this workflow means he is very aware of composition and uses various tips, such as the rule of thirds, as a good starting point in composing. He also likes to break rules from time to time to add new effects to his photos. Being aware of angles, shadows, shapes, lines, textures, patterns and colours goes a long way to making good pictures. He is also a big believer in "getting out there" and shooting as much as possible as it is the only way to improve and flex one's imagination. His message is it doesn't matter if you do your photography in the city, suburbs country, mountains or by the sea, just make sure you do it and follow your artistic passion.

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[sogosmile]

Your lessons are great, and right to the point. I have been studying photography for years, now focusing on night photography and most instructors just talk about themselves, thanks for being so direct and helpful !

[coach]

Thanks for this! I was doing a time lapse on my iPhone one day and saw an opportunity to do light trails with my DSLR. I had NEVER done it before though I had read about it a little bit. Fortunately I had a second tripod so I gave it a shot. The results were pretty good for someone who never did it before! So I liked your photos and the tips of shooting on the street. I've been trying to find spots "high above" but they are a challenge in major cities (at least mine). I think a lot of overpasses have fences and barriers for safety reasons (or preventative stuff). But I liked your street photos. I'll have to give it a shot once the weather out here clears up!

[ELBlDu]

Enjoyed this one too Ray, another great assignment! You are keeping me busy, lol. thanks, liz

[alendorg]

As usual THANKS A LOT! Your tips are wonderful! Though I made many night shots, after seeing your video I realized how primitive they are. With your tutorial I will certainly enrich my technique. I will include the tip with the cloth, and all compositional aspects of shooting at night. Thank you, Ray!

[carriecarlisle]

Thanks so much. Light trails my next assignment at college so you have given me lots of ideas. Thanks again!

[SantaridesaKTM]

Great from a UK Viewer. The Background is so important in an image, why i didn't think of this earlier is beyond me, I was so focused on settings I completely forgot about background goings on. So thanks for that!

[fandangofandango]

Thank You Very Helpful and Constructive.

[bcegerton]

Great advice, never tried this but always wanted to and you give straight talking device. Thanks

[Rafaga]

Thanks for the tutorial. Very inspiring, useful and easy to understand.

[julessanchez]

Ray, some very interesting photos. Have you ever photographed a Ferris wheel at a local fair. In the 70’s when I was young, I climbed up on a parked flatbed truck at a fair, placed my camera on a tripod and took several shots. That was the film day, but I got some interesting light patterns. There are some good spot along I-20 just out of Atlanta, but most of the roads over the interstates have fences that stop people from throwing things at the cars. You’re right, you definitely need to be careful in some areas, you could loss your equipment or your life, that is a very good tip.

[vernonalvares]

Great tutorial.. valuable info on shutter, aperture, iso.. cheers, vernon_alvares Mumbai

[cornflakegirlLJ]

Fantastic as always - lots of great tips. I had a go at doing light trails before but had too large an aperture which let in too much light. Will have another try and see if I can get it right next time. Thanks.

[t.sewell]

Nice shots! My favorite though....the back ally shot. Which is funny, because I came to watch light exposed trailing.

[Sonrique]

Thanks for explaining such great views.

[matthewhaines]

Many thanks. Very relaxing and enjoyable tutorial.

[ReviewPetti]

Very nice explanation. Didn't feel like I'd spent 10 mins watching this video. I'm going to try it today itself!

[mardy]

Great you've got another follower 👍

[THWORD]

Great tips! Answered a lot of questions I've had about long exposure photography. I will be trying these soon. Thank you for the great videos! Keep it going😀.

[brandonvollmer]

Brilliant insight with using bulb mode for light trails! I've always tried timing intersections or when vehicles are about to come, which takes awhile. Have you encountered any issues with putting up the blacked out cardboard with dimming the photo, or it works fine mostly?

[bermiaevora]

Wow love watching your videos and love that you have one for everything I enjoy shooting, I truly appreciate the tips