01 March 2024

Canon Long Exposure | Night Photography Setup & Tips

Learning Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Skills Development

Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips
Fireworks Long Exposure Photography : Canon EOS 6D Bulb Mode

Long Exposure Photography |
 Fireworks Photography Setup / Tips
Longer shutter speeds / long exposures are most often applied when shooting i.e. after sunset, night photography and / or fireworks. The photographer will use longer shutter speeds to capture a low / fading / after-sunset or a night / or fireworks composition - all of which could provide for some really dramatic exposure effects. I personally use long exposure photography mostly for night photography (after sunset / before sunrise - as I like to call it, the Blue Hours) and firework displays.

Long exposures (during daylight) are also achievable with the use of filters (see section on ND filters).

Not just for DSLR Cameras
Long exposure photography is not limited to DSLR cameras only, but will indeed be possible with some compact / bridge cameras (ie. the Canon PowerShot G and SX Series) and should be tried. Even with shutter speed limitations of 15 seconds on many of the Canon SX-series compact cameras.


Some compact cameras have very short shutter open / close times while others can do exposures up to 15 to 30 seconds - more than enough to experiment with (eve for fireworks Photograph). 

Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips
Canon EOS 6D / 16-35mm Lens : Milnerton Beach, Cape Town

Av Mode Preference (for controlling aperture)
Creating long exposures for my 'Table Mountain After Sunset / Sea Point Seascapes " shots I generally use Av Mode (Aperture Value) on the mode dial (also called Aperture priority mode). Av Mode provides user control over lens aperture size ie. f/11 or f/16, but the camera will select the most appropriate shutter speed (ie. 1 or 10 seconds). You can also use Manual Mode (you control Aperture / Shutter speed / ISO) or Time Value Mode or Tv Mode on the mode dial (you control shutter speed and the camera decide on the aperture ie. f/11 or f/16).

Low ISO's for minimizing noise and don't forget the tripod
For night photography it is recommended to set your camera to ISO 100 or ISO 200 for minimizing unwanted digital noise. Due to the longer exposure time generated by the camera it will be required to use a sturdy tripod for preventing unnecessary camera movements. A quality tripod is always a good investment - do the necessary research and get the best you can afford. I currently use a Manfrotto 190X MK190X3-3W (804RC2 pan/tilt head) for all my night / landscape photography requirements.


After Sunset / Night Photography Setup & Tips (Using Av Mode)
Milnerton Lighthouse after sunset (light trails) : From Arnhem, Milnerton

Shutter speed
There is also 'Bulb mode' an extended shutter speed mode selection available in Manual or Tv mode (not in Av mode) - meaning there is a manual time-setting which you can control the shutter for opening and closing for up to a few hours if you want (will require external power supply). In Canon (some EOS model inTv or M Mode) just dial past the 30 seconds general 'limit'. Think star trails - exposure time of +- 30 minutes and longer. Or if you want exact shutter time control when shooting fireworks (say 3 to 8 seconds, but you control it). On the enthusiast and professional EOS DSLR's Bulb mode is a separate exposure function on the mode dial and of great assistance for long exposure photography
.

For many Long Exposure (Night Photograph) images Av mode is sufficient for shooting with apertures between f/11 - f/22 (these apertures will provide enough depth of field (DOF) / back to front sharpness across the entire frame - and is based on general landscape photography apertures). 


NoteThe camera will automatically assign a longer shutter time as the light fade and / or as I adjust the aperture to a larger f/(stop) value (ie. from f/11 to f/16 to let even less light onto the camera's image sensor).

Shutter Speed limitation in Av / Tv / Manual Mode
Most DSLR's, certainly Canon APS-C and Full Frame bodies are limited to 30 seconds exposure time (in all shooting modes), In most cases this is long enough, but for manual shutter speed / exposure control it is recommended to use Bulb Mode with a cable or remote release. Long Exposure / 30 seconds auto-shutter release in Av Mode. Canon EOS 6D Demo>>


Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips - Image Copyright Vernon Chalmers
20 Seconds Exposure Photography - Sea Point Cape Town

Bulb Mode

Most modern DSLR's will have a separate Bulb Mode (on the Mode Dial). By using Bulb Mode the photographer can specify a predetermined exposure time / shutter speed by manually controlling the shutter speed or by using a cable or remote release.


I use the the Canon RS-80N3 Cable Remote Cable Release Switch for allowing manual opening and closing control of the shutter release time. Bulb Mode is an important functionality for using for Fireworks Photography for capturing various exposure times during the duration of a fireworks display. Canon EOS 6D Bulb Mode>>

Capturing / Shooting Fireworks

Long Exposure / Fireworks Photography Setup & Tips
Fireworks Long Exposure Photography  Bulb Mode : Over Table Bay

For the photo on the right  - Fireworks with a Zoom Lens - I used a Canon EOS 700D and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens with the following settings: Bulb Mode ISO 100, Aperture f/8. Manual focus with Remote Shutter Release (Bulb) and Manfrotto Compact Tripod (+- 1 kilometer from the fireworks show).


More Fireworks
  • Fireworks V&A Waterfront Cape Town 2014 >>
  • Fireworks V&A Waterfront Cape Town 2015 >>
  • Fireworks V&A Waterfront Cape Town 2016 >>

Fireworks with a Compact Camera (using the Fireworks Scene Mode)
Many compacts, such as the Canon Powershot series cameras (ie. SX40 HS / SX50 HS / SX60 HS) will offer a Fireworks Scene Mode - an automatic mode for controlling the required fireworks / scene exposure. 

Remote Control
The Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote Control (optional) accessory is a very cost-effective solution that I use for most of my long exposure photography (paired with Canon EOS 700D / EOS 70D / EOS 6D and various lenses). There are various other compatible wired / wireless remote controls on the market. Lately I prefer the Canon RS-80N3 Cable Remote Cable Release (for timing accuracy).

Remote Canon EOS / PowerShot Shooting via Android / iOS App
Another option to shoot with a remote Android / iOS App (should the camera have WiFi / NFC functionality). This will work well for Night Photography for i.e. a landscape scene, but is not very effective to simulate Bulb Mode for .i.e. Fireworks Photography.

How do I set my Canon camera for Long Exposure Photography?

My Camera / Lens settings for Night Photography using Av Mode (Architecture / Landscapes / Seascapes)

Camera

  • Canon body: EOS 6D (Any DSLR / Mirrorless should be fine)
  • Aperture Priority / Av Mode
  • Aperture: f/11 - f/16 (controlled by the photographer)
  • ISO 100 - 200  (Not auto-ISO)
  • Shutter Speed: Up to 30 seconds (camera controlled)
  • Switch Long Exposure Noise Reduction off 
  • Set remote timer on / use remote control (optional)
  • Set camera to Live View (to view everything on the LCD screen)
  • Canon RS-80N3 Cable Remote Switch
  • Manfrotto Tripod 190X MK190X3-3W

Lens

  • Preferred lenses: Canon EF 24-70mm lens / Canon EF 16-35mm lens
  • Zoom in / out until satisfied with whats in the frame
  • Turn Image Stabilization off (if an IS lens)- Turn Auto-Focus (AF) off
  • Hyperfocal Distance calculation / estimation 'rule of thumb'


My Camera / Lens settings for Night Photography / Fireworks using Bulb Mode

Camera

  • Canon body: EOS 6D (Any DSLR / Mirrorless should be fine)
  • Bulb Mode (as a Manual Mode setting)
  • Aperture: f/8 - f/16 (controlled by the photographer)
  • ISO 100 - 200  (Not auto-ISO)
  • Shutter Speed: 1 sec - a few minutes (controlled by the photographer)
  • Switch Long Exposure Noise Reduction off 
  • Set remote timer on / use remote control (optional)
  • Set camera to Live View (to view everything on the LCD screen)
  • Canon RS-80N3 Cable Remote Switch
  • Manfrotto Tripod 190X MK190X3-3W

Lens

  • Preferred lenses: Canon EF 24-70mm lens / EF 16-35mm f/4 L IS USM lens
  • Zoom in / out until satisfied with perspective / framing
  • Turn Image Stabilization off (if an IS lens)- Turn Auto-Focus (AF) off 
  • Hyperfocal Distance calculation / estimation 'rule of fhumb'

Manual Focus in Live View Mode

Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips
Canon EOS 6D Manual Focus ISO 100 / f/16 20 seconds Milnerton Lagoon

Check that your subject foreground and background is in focus (for deep Depth of Field / small aperture sharpness) by adjusting the zoom on barrel of lens / or zoom ring in front (this will be camera and lens-dependent). Use Hyperfocal Distance measuring (or the Hyperfocal Distance 'rule of thumb' estimation.

I generally magnify the scene in the LCD screen and fine-tune the midpoint to background until satisfied with focus.

Camera Shake / Steadiness
The camera will take between 2 to 15 seconds or longer to complete the exposure and therefore the complete camera system should not be moved / touched. Even a slight breeze will influence the final image ito possible blurriness or unsharp image quality.

Using long shutter release times towards a second or longer will, without doubt, increase camera shake. A sturdy tripod will assist in keeping the camera absolute as still as possible. I use the Canon Remote Shutter Release to fire the shutter - assists with not touching the camera. My tripod of choice: Manfrotto Tripod 190X MK190X3-3W

Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips
Canon EOS 700D  Manual Focus ISO 100 f/16 30 seconds : Milnerton Beach

When the sun is setting fast...

I generally wait until after the sun is behind the horizon and start a few tests by just pressing the shutter half-way to see what shutter speed the camera will provide. So I wait for 4 to 5 seconds before I press the remote release for the camera to start the exposure. Camera will process the photo and you will be able to see result in Live View / on the LCD.

As it get darker the camera will meter less available light and automatically increase the shutter speed to 5 then 6 and more seconds sometimes beyond 30 seconds - all of these exposure times will lead to camera shake if not on tripod. The Tripod counters this and provides for blur-free and noise-free images.

I generally take about 20 shots between 5 and 30 to 40 seconds.


Using ND Filters for Longer Exposures (for longer exposures during the day)
Sea Point Cape Town  ND64 Filter .5 seconds : Sea Point Cape Town

Using ND Filters for Longer Daytime Exposures
Its also possible to use Neutral Density (ND) filters for reducing light entering the lens / camera (during daylight shooting). There are different screw-in or slot-in type filters each with different optical densities / f-stop reductions ie ND2 = 1 stop of light, ND16 = 4 stops of light and ND64 = 6 stops of light. 

I personally use a Hoya 77mm Pro ND64 Filter for capturing longer day time exposures with a Canon EOS 6D / EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Ultra-Wide lens. The image on right was captured with the Hoya filter (for creating silky-looking water during daylight - quite a while before sunset).

Av Mode (Canon EOS 6D):
  • ISO 100 - 200
  • Aperture f/16
  • Shutter Speed +- .5 second 
  • Focal length +- 25mm 
  • Manfrotto Tripod

Shooting the moon: Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips
 Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Original Post  Arnhem, Milnerton

Photographing the moon with a compact camera tips
Shooting the moon tends to be be very popular for DSLR and compact camera photographers when they're starting out and / or testing the sharpness of their lenses.

The adjacent moon capture was created with a non-DSLR Canon PowerShot SX40 HS super-zoom compact (Milnerton, Cape Town) with the following settings (with no post-processing):

Av Mode:

  • ISO 200 
  • Aperture f/8 
  • Shutter Speed +- 1 second 
  • Focal length +- 2200mm 
  • Manfrotto Tripod 

My Go-To Settings for Night Photography

  • Canon EOS DSLR body (APS-C or Full Frame) 
  • Canon EF Ultra-Wide / Wide / Telephoto Lens (between 16-300mm) 
  • RAW / In-camera noise reduction turned off 
  • LCD / Live View for focusing (not OVF) 
  • Manual Focus / Image Stabilization off 
  • ISO 100-200 
  • Aperture f/8 - f/16 
  • Shutter Speed +1-30 Seconds (or Bulb mode) 
  • Remote release or 2-Second Self-Timer 
  • Manfrotto 190 Tripod

Long Exposure | Night Photography

"Long exposure in night photography is a technique used to capture images in low-light conditions by keeping the camera's shutter open for an extended period. This method allows more light to hit the camera's sensor, resulting in brighter and more detailed photos in dark environments.

When using long exposure for night photography, here are some key points to consider:

1. Stability: Use a tripod to keep the camera steady during the long exposure. This helps prevent blur caused by hand movement.

2. Shutter Speed: Longer exposure times, typically ranging from a few seconds to several minutes, are used to gather enough light in low-light situations. Experiment with different shutter speeds to achieve the desired effect.

3. Aperture:  A wide aperture (lower f-stop number) allows more light to enter the lens, aiding in capturing brighter images.

4. ISO:  While a higher ISO setting makes the camera more light-sensitive, it can introduce more digital noise. Try to find a balance between ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to get the best results.

5. Remote Shutter Release or Timer: To avoid camera shake when triggering the shutter, use a remote shutter release or the camera's built-in timer to start the exposure.

6. Composition:  Pay attention to composition and framing. Since the exposure time is longer, ensure that the elements in the frame will work well together for the duration of the exposure.

7. Experimentation: Long exposure photography is an art that often involves experimentation and practice. Don't hesitate to try different settings and compositions to achieve the desired result.

Subjects that work well for long exposure night photography include cityscapes with moving cars, star trails, light trails, or serene landscapes under moonlight.

Remember, the settings you use will depend on the specific conditions you're shooting in, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Practice and experimentation will help you hone your skills and achieve the desired effects in your night photography." (Source: ChatGPT 2023)

Below are various captures from Fireworks / Ferris Wheel / various long exposure captures all required shutter speeds of 8 - 30 seconds.

(Click to Enlarge / Slideshow)
Canon EOS 6D / EF 16-35mm Lens f/16 / ISO 200 / 53 seconds
Canon EOS 6D / EF 16-35mm Lens f/16 / ISO 200 / 53 seconds

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Milnerton Lagoon Woodbridge Island Cape Town
Canon EOS 6D / EF 16-35mm Lens f/16 / ISO 100 / 30 seconds 

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Milnerton Lagoon Woodbridge Island Cape Town
Canon EOS 6D / EF 16-35mm Lens f/16 / ISO 100 / 20 seconds 

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Milnerton Lagoon Woodbridge Island Cape Town
Canon EOS 6D / EF 16-35mm Lens f/16 / ISO 100 / 20 seconds 

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Milnerton Lagoon Woodbridge Island Cape Town
Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS STM Lens f/16 / ISO 100 8 seconds

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Milnerton Lagoon Woodbridge Island Cape Town
Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS STM Lens f/16 / ISO 100 10 seconds

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Fireworks From Woodbridge Island Cape Town
Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS STM Lens f/11 ISO 100 8 seconds

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips V&A Waterfront Cape Town
Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Lens f/4.5 ISO 800 (handheld)

Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips V&A Waterfront Cape Town
Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Lens f/18 ISO 100 30 seconds

Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Cape Town
Canon EF-S 10-18mm IS STM Lens f/18 ISO 100 20 seconds

Canon Long Exposure / Night Photography Setup & Tips Cape Town
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS f/8 ISO 100 15 seconds

Photography Training: Introduction to the Exposure Triangle - ISO / Aperture / Shutter Speed View

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