Long Exposures: Why I don't bother...

Windy! Also I didn't realise just how loud that waterfall is in the background while I'm blabbering on. Sorry about that :)

long exposures have their place, there are also happy mediums between a silky long exposure and a choppy capture with a fast shutter.

Agree and disagree. Depends on the water; with a powerful water source such as the waterfall in your video above, I agree, the long exposure looked odd. However on some of the little peaceful streams (especially in the Brecon Beacons), a long exposure works perfectly to enhance the quiet, dreamy effect that you get when you're actually there. All about judging the scene I suppose!

At last someone who prefers non long exposure shots of water.

I don't think there's really a point to argue about here, long and short exposures have their uses to "bring you into" a scene, and neither exclusively makes you feel like you're "looking at a photo". Photography is all "selective lying" anyway :) Frozen water reveals power, that droplets spring higher and further than we expect, the individual sparks of light create interesting patterns. Blurred water conveys peace, but also reveals patterns in the motion of the mass of water, the general trends of the stream. If you want closest to what the eye sees, it's probably around 1/25th second. But the brain also registers both individual moments that can only be captured in the 1/250th second range, and also the general trends that require 1/2 second or less to reveal in a photo. The trick is really to decide which shutter speed conveys the mood of the place you're in, or the story you're trying to tell, and I do think many people end up falling into a habit of assuming they have to do one or the other.

Congrats on the sponsorship, that’s a great partnership. Sometimes I like stopping the motion of the water and capturing the drama, but if the light is soft and it’s already an ethereal scene, I feel like a longer exposure adds to what my mind is already experiencing.

I totally agree, about long exposures of waterfalls. It takes the life out of the scene a bit, something about it softens a scene that should usually be quite powerful. Which can work artistically for some people, but for me, most of my photographs are about me trying to capture a memory. My memory of that waterfall is never going to be a lifeless white blur.

About blurring the water, or lack there of, i couldnt agree more. I love it when you get that ice like view of the moment. Where the stream of water stops and you're left with a crystal clear piece of glass and you can see everything in perfect detail.

Congratulations on the Lumix sponsorship! Can’t think of a better match than to be sponsored by a company behind equipment you’re already using and fond of! Very interesting video topic, too. I think you’ve made a great point regarding a powerful waterfall and how that element is completely lost with a long exposure. Conversely, reflecting on your point, I think it can add something to a calm stream or as a technique to obtain more reflection in a lake. I like the idea of asking myself, before taking the photo, if a given amount of blur from shutter speed will add to or detract from the story. Also great point on how in excess it very quickly identifies a photograph as a product of photography technique and how that may influence the viewer’s experience.

My thoughts exactly! Sometimes we get caught up in how we ‘think’ something is meant to be done we forget how we ‘want’ it to be done. Another great video man!

Yes. Yes. And yes. So relieved to hear a pro photographer finally having the balls to publicly question long exposures of water. Such a cliché and spot on about distraction etc.

Couldn't agree more about long exposures with water. I've seen so many other channels where they get all excited about crashing waves for a seascape image, then use filters, ending up with the sea looking like an ice rink!! Congrats on the sponsorship with Lumix.

Many congrats on your Lumix sponsorship. It was your enthusiasm for the G9 that persuaded me to upgrade from the GX8. Still learning the knobs and dials but will get there!

3:52 AT LAST - Thank you soooo much James, why should everyone have to follow everyone else's photo styles is beyond me and the single pet hate I have is long exposure, your eyes don't see milky waterfalls or milky shorelines, so why would you want to take a photo like that is beyond me. Sometimes you just want to take a photo to remember the scene, in the exact detail that drove you to spend the time to take that photo, the beauty of the scene, without blurring it or spoiling it. 👌

Congrats on the sponsorship and it totally agree about the long exposure point. You just showed us an awesome landscape at the end there with the waterfall and snow covered mountains and then took a portrait crop of it. I was waiting for the full landscape shot.

Thats wonderful news regarding Panasonic..well deserved I recon..Looking forward to so much more from you, keep up your "real" unique style.

Congrats on your new sponsor! I picked up a Lumix G85 in September because of your very serious review :-)

Its so nice to find someone who is a champion for Lumix. I love their cameras. As always another great vlog.

The fact you focus so much on the imagination of the audience has gave me a new life of inspiration. You have completely change/given me a new outlook on long exposure photography. Thank you. Keep up the great content 👍🏽

Congrats on your Lumix sponsorship. This was the first of your videos that I’ve watched. You are entertaining without going on and on about the title of the video. I like it. I’m down for more. Thanks for not asking me to subscribe. I will do that now