Long exposure photography for creative effects...

One of the things I like about photography is that you can visualize the end result, and create your own story. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways by shaping the scene. With the photo above, I liked the foundation, the old weathered dock and the open sky. Waiting until after sunset provided the best opportunity to capture dramatic color, clouds and light.

A few techniques and tools worked together to create a compelling composition. To control the light in the sky, I used a reverse neutral density graduated filter which held back brightness, and balanced the light. A long exposure softly blurs the water to convey peacefulness in the scene. Experiment with white balance to find the most complementary color.  If you have Live View, you can scroll through the various settings to see the effect it has on your image. I find 4000K to 5000K a good place to start during twilight. You'll need a cable release, and tripod, and to take in the scene, a wide angle lens. I find the Nikon 16-35mm lens just perfect for this type of shooting, and it has the ability to accept my favorite filters. Have fun shooting! ~ Deb