Photography has ceaselessly changed with smartphones, and iPhones are at the forefront, especially with their enhanced camera attachments. Another is high flexibility: for example, one can take photographs using the company’s equipment with long exposure photography. If you have ever dreamt of shooting whimsical waterfalls of light, trails, or motion blur, then learning how to take long exposure photos on an iPhone is one added creativity. With the availability of apps such as ReeHeld that facilitate 30-second handheld long exposure without needing a tripod, and further progression in computational photography that greatly ease the process of shooting such scenes, it has become easier than ever to get professional quality long exposure shots.
This article also provides a step-by-step tutorial and all the information you should know about mastering long exposure in iPhone photography.
What Is Long Exposure Photography?
Long exposure photography is the act of taking photos by leaving the curtain on your camera’s shutter down for a rather long time. This can give beautiful effects, such as light commercials from cars, motionless water in a landscape, and creative blurring.
Earlier, these effects could only be attained using a DSLR camera with manual features. Nonetheless, with the sophistication of today’s smart technologies especially Apple iPhones, it is possible to get remarkable results through the applications and settings.
- For example, apps such as ReeXpose allow you to take pictures with length exposure in RAW format and you will have professional quality pictures without the need for more ND filters.
- Moreover, Spectre Camera incorporates artificial intelligence to produce elongated exposures to allow us to capture light trails and motion in the water.
These tools, coupled with an intrinsic feature on the iPhone, a camera, have made long-exposure photography very easy.
Can iPhone Take Long Exposure Photos?
Yes! Currently, each new iPhone has a feature called Live Photo that can be turned into a long exposure image. As for the absence of an option for manual shutter control, there is always an option to work with third-party apps and tools that are already incorporated into the iPhone OS.
For instance, the ReeHeld app helps to take long exposure images, but you don’t require a tripod to do it when you are in the field.
Also, AI is used in the Spectre Camera app to balance long exposure photos and make them possible to make using a single hand.
These advancements have given iPhone users the capability of doing long exposure photography which enables one to get light trails when there is movement of cars, and also smooth movement of water.
How to Take Long-Exposure Photos on iPhone
To capture long-exposure photos on your iPhone using the Live Photos feature, follow these steps:
Enable Live Photos
- Open the Camera app.
- Check that the Live Photos icon at the top is activated – it should be three concentric circles. If it is off, then tap on it.
Capture Your Photo
- Crop your iPhone screen with your subject of interest then capture a live photo of your subject. To make the best of the test you should try to eliminate the blur from movement; you should therefore use a tripod stand while conducting the test.
Get Longer Exposure Effect
- Open the Photos app and locate your Live Photo.
- The Effects tab is located below the photo simply swipe up to reveal the Effects tab.
- Moving from right to left, click on the name Long Exposure.
The motion in the image will blur which gives the image a look of exposure that has been made for a long time. It’s good for handling any scene with lots of motion such as moving water, light trails and the like.
2. Activating Third Party Applications for Enhanced Control
Real-time control over the shutter speed and exposure requires the use of third-party apps. Here are some top recommendations:
Halide Mark II
- For shutter speed and ISO, Foozi offers users to have a manual mode.
- Great for environments that require low light long exposure shots.
Slow Shutter Cam
- Constructed especially for those photographing scenes requiring long exposure.
- It has options for motion blur, light trails as well as low-light shooting.
ProCamera
- A practical option with full-frame, ISO, and exposure adjustment capabilities.
- Especially useful for getting perfect shots of numerous long-exposure pictures.
3. Using a Tripod for Stability
Since the shutter speeds are set to capture a stationary image, stability plays a major role in the exposure of the photos for long exposure shots to avoid blur. Consider using:
- Such a compact tripod is like Joby GorillaPod.
- A specific stabilizer or a clamp especially when using the iPhone for better steadiness.
Tips for Capturing Stunning Long-Exposure Photos on iPhone
1. Choose the Right Lighting
- Long exposure shots are most appropriate in low light environments.
- Stay away from areas that are too bright as it may lose the depth of the details required.
2. Experiment with Motion
- Capture the fast-moving water, moving clouds or traffic for that effect of drama.
- It should be noted that the best times are to use sparklers or headlights for Light Trails.
3. Adjust Focus and Exposure
- In the camera, you can lock focus by tapping and holding on to your subject for several seconds.
- To gain better control of exposure and brightness, move the exposure slider.
4. Edit Your Photos
Long exposure shots can be amended by post-processing. You can easily apply some contrast, saturation or highlights using your mobile applications such as Adobe Lightroom or Snapseed.
Common Questions About Long Exposure on iPhone
1. How to Change Exposure on iPhone?
- Open the Camera app.
- Double-click the screen to bring the point of interest into view or to zoom in.
- Use the sun icon slider to make exposure more or less depending on the filling of the slider bar.
2. Can Older iPhones Take Long Exposure Photos?
- You can still achieve the long exposure effect on iPhones that are capable of Live Photos creation.
- Nevertheless, additional third-party applications may be necessary to achieve increased efficiency.
3. Do I Need a Pro iPhone Model for Long Exposure?
- Long exposure is possible with any iPhone with the Live Photos feature.
- For instance, the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro will provide the model with better performance in low-light conditions.
Enhancing Long-Exposure Photography with Accessories
Photography with long exposure on iPhones can be even better with proper equipment in hand. Here are some simple accessories that can make a big difference:
1. ND Filters for iPhone
Neutral Density (ND) filters dim the incoming light thereby allowing the photographer to make long exposure shoots during the day. Companies provide superior quality ND filters which have filters developed for iPhones. They are really good for shooting gently flowing waterfalls or some dramatic skies.
2. Remote Shutter Release
To avoid any movement of the cameras while taking long exposure photos, use remote shutter release. A Bluetooth remote such as the JOBY Impulse 2 or even a basic Bluetooth 5.0 Remote Shutter enables you to take pictures with your phone without actually coming into physical touch with it. If you don’t have a remote then, you may use the already-installed timer on your iPhone.
3. Tripod for Stability
To get a long exposure shot one must keep as stable as possible. It’s always important to have a foothold, and a small lightweight tripod, if you’re shooting on an iPhone such as Manfrotto or JOBY GorillaPod, will help your photo phone stay put.
4. Grip Accessories
The covers which include Belkin Stage PowerGrip or Snappy Smartphone Photography Grip enhance how an individual grips iPhone. These grips have more or less shutter buttons incorporated in their structure and even stabilized functions, which makes them ideal for the use of long exposure photography.
With these simple tools, you can greatly improve the degree and levels to which you make your long-exposure photographs on an iPhone inspiring.
Creative Ideas for Long-Exposure iPhone Photography
Using long exposure techniques in the iPhone, one can explore a whole array of new and interesting photography. Here are some ideas to inspire your next shoot:
1. Flowing Waterfalls
One of the cool features of the Droid X is to take pictures of waterfalls, a stream of water or even a fountain then use the long exposure feature to give the water a soft, flowing look. They include this technique helps emphasize the flow and adds tranquillity to your images.
2. Star Trails
Thanks to NightCap, one can capture the motion of stars in the night sky, which might produce stunning effects of star trails. The number depends on how many stars we can see in the night sky and make sure that the place chosen does not have much artificial light from city lights.
3. Cityscapes
Focus on the features of cities and the bright energy that illuminates cities at night and concentrate on the light trails from moving cars. Choose a location close to a street or crossroad and take photos of streams of on and offcoming heads and taillights as the image will depict the bustle at night.
4. Fireworks and Light Painting
Try using things like sparklers or simple LED lights as forms of portable light sources in order to create light paintings. In a long exposure shot it becomes possible to move the source of light and draw something with it in the air, making figures, letters, etc.
5. Seascapes
Record the motion of waves in the sea to form a smooth overcast of mist on the water body. This technique gives a dream before and otherworldly appearance to your photographs of the coast, kind of capturing the continuous movement of the sea.
6. Nighttime Landscapes
Take pictures of landscapes at night, including picture taking at amusement parks or of illuminated bridges to capture the ambient light and movement making the picture/picture set full of energy.
7. Crowd Movement
It is vital to place yourself higher than flowing pedestrians to record them if the shooting is to occur in a crowded street. That way, the movement will be blurred, and the powerful contrast of the stationary surroundings and the active numerous people will be emphasized.
8. Amusement Rides
Try to photograph spinning objects like Ferris wheels or carousels at night to produce dizzying light effects. When lights are bright and moving, together they create very vivid pictures that give an impression of a fairground.
9. Cloud Movement
Take pictures of the sky on a windy day to capture their motion. The long exposure will give what is referred to as streaking on the image to the landscape and will act as a way of changing the dorama on the images.
10. Reflections
For unique effects, use long exposures to blur water and create milky way effect or reflect city lights, mountains, or trees. This technique can easily be done and achieves the visualization of symmetry and depth in your photographs.
FAQs:
Q1: How do I enable long exposure on iPhone?
This is available in the Camera app as the Live Photos and, the long exposure can be added in the Photos app.
Q2: What are the best apps for long-exposure photography on iPhone?
Applications like Halide Mark II, Slow Shutter Cam, and ProCamera, have pro-like long exposure modes.
Q3: Do I need a tripod for long-exposure photography?
Tripod is advised for better stability and improved image quality, particularly in dimly lit areas.
Q4: Can I take long exposure photos during the daytime?
Yes, but it’s better to use ND filters to cut down the light going through the lens. This enables you to achieve the right motion blur even when you are in a well-lit environment.
Q5: Which iPhones support long-exposure photography?
Every iPhone that has the Live Photos feature can create long exposure effects. This applies to models from the iPhone 6s and those that followed it. That is why newer models give better results because of the better technologies in the cameras.
Conclusion
Learning how to take long exposure photos on your iPhone not only polishes your craft but also makes the world interesting and visually beautiful. Nowadays, it becomes possible to achieve great effects of long exposure using the Live Photos or the availability of applications by third-party developers. Wherever you are planning to create a photo of a beautiful waterfall or the pulsating traffic of a city, or a fascinating line of stars in the night sky, your iPhone is the perfect tool, which makes your artistic potential possible.
