Yesterday morning I met my good friend Dan Shehan for some long exposure lessons. We zipped on over (hahahahah there really is no zipping in SF) to Baker Beach for some practice with the water. In the past, I have really only done two long exposures and those were sort of lucky shots, so I wanted to know exactly how to do them from the zen master himself! lol
While these aren’t the best, I felt they weren’t bad for my “real” first try. I’m excited to see what else I can do. For those interested, I used a 10-stop ND filter.
![For description and pricing, [Click here]](https://i0.wp.com/www.lauramacky.com/Galleries/Land--Sea/i-89DfjGZ/0/L/bakerbeach2-L.jpg "For description and pricing, [Click here]")
![For description and pricing, [Click here]](https://i0.wp.com/www.lauramacky.com/Galleries/Land--Sea/i-5TTp4rn/0/L/bakerbeach1-L.jpg "For description and pricing, [Click here]")
For purchase, please click here: Long Exposure Color (top) or Long Exposure Monochrome (bottom)
Laura Macky Photography 
May 24, 2015 at 9:19 am
very nice colors in the first photo
May 24, 2015 at 9:20 am
Thanks Marc. I do love color. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 9:22 am
Wow, that first one is exquisite!
May 24, 2015 at 10:15 am
Thank you Cindy!
May 24, 2015 at 9:22 am
You done good (lol) Laura. What we should do next is shoot during Golden Hour or at night to get some light trails. LE can be really fun and a very expessionistic way to shoot, for sure. Cheers!
May 24, 2015 at 10:15 am
Thanks master lol. I would LOVE to do that with you. Now that I’m able to get around and drive, a whole new world has opened up! yay!
May 24, 2015 at 9:24 am
Reblogged this on Amazing Fine Art.
May 24, 2015 at 10:16 am
Thank you for the reblog Bo. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 9:30 am
Well done, Laura! So what was the most important thing(s) you learnt??
May 24, 2015 at 10:17 am
Hmm that I need to meter the scene first BEFORE I put on my filter and then change the settings from that point. Thank you!
May 24, 2015 at 10:38 am
🙂
May 24, 2015 at 9:31 am
Beautiful photo Laura. I prefer it in colors.
May 24, 2015 at 10:17 am
Thanks Cardinal. Well, you know me and color….I love it! I prefer that one too. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 9:46 am
Very nice Laura! both of them. (x10 ND didn’t know it exists 🙂 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 10:17 am
Thank you Stefano. Yes and there is a 16 ND filter too. Amazing.
May 24, 2015 at 9:57 am
Zipping..? Jet lag.. I’m slow on the uptake.. I know exactly where you took these…
May 24, 2015 at 10:18 am
I bet you do! See you there sometime. 😉
May 24, 2015 at 9:57 am
Great pics Laura! Yours give me a reason to try a x10 ND filter myself soon!. Cheers!
May 24, 2015 at 10:18 am
Thank you! That’s awesome David! I’d love to see what you get. Ping me back in your post when you do. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 10:21 am
Sure thing!
May 24, 2015 at 10:20 am
Just superb…
May 24, 2015 at 10:22 am
Thank you!
May 24, 2015 at 10:26 am
Two lovely images Laura
May 24, 2015 at 10:29 am
Thanks much Mark. It was fun. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 10:41 am
Reblogged this on photos.
May 24, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Thank you for the reblog! Much appreciated. 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 12:01 am
avec plaisir 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 7:16 am
meri beaucoup pour le reblog 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Oh very nice Laura! 😃
May 24, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Thank you Robyn and hello! 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Helloooo 😃
May 24, 2015 at 2:56 pm
hehehehe
May 24, 2015 at 2:57 pm
😃😃
May 24, 2015 at 12:55 pm
I love this photo!
May 24, 2015 at 2:51 pm
So glad you do. Thank you. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 1:50 pm
That water 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Uh uhhhhh 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 1:57 pm
Beautifully shot, Laura. The wave effect is very dramatic.
May 24, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Glad you like it Jane. Thank you!
May 24, 2015 at 3:13 pm
The first one is magnificent!
May 24, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Thanks Amy! I like both looks but admittedly I’ve always been a “color pop” person. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 3:49 pm
Love the wave, well done Laura.
May 26, 2015 at 8:21 am
Thank you so much! I kept trying to capture that wave too.
May 24, 2015 at 5:47 pm
These are beautiful and I love the flow of the first one.
May 24, 2015 at 6:09 pm
I appreciate that, thank you. 🙂
May 24, 2015 at 10:34 pm
I’ve wanted a ND filter for ages, but never got around to buying one.
May 25, 2015 at 7:12 am
Oh you know what? You’d probably do really well with one.
May 25, 2015 at 7:42 am
Yes. Would be fun.
May 25, 2015 at 5:46 pm
My Fuji has an inbuilt ND filter….but one needs a tripod to use the function 😦
May 25, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Wow a built in filter? I have to use a tripod too otherwise a long exposure would be very blurry. But wow built in!
May 25, 2015 at 6:52 pm
http://www.finepix-x100.com/ it’s very much a ‘manual’ camera. if you use the ‘auto’ modes, you end up with crap photos.
May 25, 2015 at 7:05 pm
I’ve been thinking of getting a mirror less camera for far away trips. Too much of a pain to take my regular stuff
May 25, 2015 at 7:33 pm
I hear you. The Canon is so heavy.
May 25, 2015 at 7:33 pm
I hear you. The (my) Canon is so heavy.
May 25, 2015 at 7:40 pm
My Nikon isn’t bad by itself but the lenses and everything. It’s just a pain to travel with.
May 24, 2015 at 10:57 pm
I’m jealous! would have loved to have been there with you two! Love the second image Laura .. Time for me to buy an ND filter. 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 7:13 am
Yes Julie, high time! Get on it will you?? lol If and when you do, ping us back so we can see. 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Don’t laugh Laura .. How do I ping you back? 😊
May 25, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Well I’m laughing ONLY because I had the same question awhile back. hehe When you make the post, then just copy the url for your post and paste it in the comments section of my long exposure blog. I’ll get notified in my notifications and all I have to do is click on the link and it’ll take me to your post. Is that clear as mud? Sometimes it’s hard explaining here.
May 25, 2015 at 7:14 am
And thank you for liking the second image! 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 12:22 pm
😄
May 24, 2015 at 11:39 pm
Reblogged this on jaemeetsworld.
May 26, 2015 at 8:21 am
Thank you for reblogging my post. 🙂
June 2, 2015 at 1:49 pm
You’re welcome 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 4:03 am
Love the first one Laura. Hmm thinks it may be time to get an ND filter.
May 25, 2015 at 7:17 am
Thank you Laurie. I’m glad my images can inspire people to want to get filters. The same happened with me! It really is fun.
May 25, 2015 at 2:01 pm
You’re welcome Laura, I see a lot of beautiful pics taken with them, hmm, Xmas perhaps. 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 2:56 pm
🙂
May 25, 2015 at 4:18 am
Beautiful shots Laura!
May 25, 2015 at 7:18 am
Why thank you Ms. Diplomacy! Much appreciated. 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 6:29 am
Gorgeous shots! Love the monochromatic one.
May 25, 2015 at 7:18 am
Thank you Brigitta. 🙂 I’m glad you like that one. It feels moodier to me.
May 25, 2015 at 6:44 am
Exceptional, I really appreciate the first !! thank you
May 25, 2015 at 7:18 am
Thank you for your kind comment!
May 25, 2015 at 8:39 am
I think they are beautiful and a great example of going and just doing it. I liked it enough to share it on a page I help manage geared towards photographers. 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Thank you so much. It really is just to get out there. Oh you did? Where is it? Can I have a link? I’d like to see it.
May 26, 2015 at 6:35 am
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pro-Studio-Supply/301315441129?fref=ts It is two posts down now. I am going to re-post it on twitter today too. I waited because of the holiday. 🙂
May 25, 2015 at 9:59 am
FAB-u-lous, Laura! IMO, these are stunning, out of this world gorgeous, PERFECTION!!! WOW! Just wow!!! I have a 10 stop filter and I KNOW how challenging it is to use it. You just cannot see. Outstanding job, my friend!!! Keep going in the direction you are. Now I am getting the itch to go back to slow shutter speeds. BUT before I do, I must clean my sensor. GROAN. It’s dirty. LOL (((HUGS))) Amy ❤
May 25, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Thank you so much Amy. 🙂 I focused without the filter first and then put the filter on and switched into manual. A bit of a chore with the mist spraying all over but it was so fun! Ah yes, the dirty sensor syndrome. I have that a lot. We all get expert at cloning out those spots don’t we lol.
May 25, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Heheheheheh LOVE that healing tool. LOL As for exposing my lens without a filter, I just won’t do that. So yes, I struggle to SEE through that darn filter that is so dark, making only marginal imagery possible. The last time I did slow shutter at Niagara Falls ….. GROAN …. HUGE undertaking …. I ended up taking out hundreds of spots with the healing tool. I am learning how to do so in LR by inverting the image to show just the dots and to erase all of them at once …. Or at least I think I can …. tee hee …. I better stop while I am ahead or else I may show my ineptitude. LOL *giggling* (((HUGS))) Amy ❤
May 25, 2015 at 1:10 pm
I use a combo of cloning and healing depending on what it is. I’ve never had THAT many spots though…geesh! But I guess the spray of the falls would definitely put a lot of spots on the filter. I can see why you wouldn’t want to take it off!
May 25, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Even with the filter on, my sensor got dirty. Hubby’s camera did too, even though he did not change lenses. Oh, yes that spray/mist is SO fine at the Falls, it gets everything. 🙂
Anywho …. your two images are really outstanding, Laura. I really really enjoyed looking at them. ❤
May 25, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Nicely done…something I have wanted to do, but have never quite gotten around to it (yet)…
May 25, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Thanks Robert. I have to say it was really fun. I have another outing scheduled on the 6th in a different location. I’m looking forward to taking more.
May 26, 2015 at 2:24 am
You will have it mastered in no time I’m sure.
May 26, 2015 at 7:31 am
It’s not really that difficult. It’s more difficult to find the right composition me thinks.
May 25, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Love your first image with the curl of the wave preserved and leads me to ask what length exposure you used while still keeping the form of the wave? It is VERY cool!
May 25, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Thank you Al. I’m so glad you like it. The first one was only 2.5s. The monochrome one was 5s.
May 25, 2015 at 5:19 pm
beautiful Laura!
May 25, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Thank you! I’m glad I can finally get out and do these things.
May 25, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Well done….my first few were blurry, yours look great
May 26, 2015 at 7:29 am
Thanks much Julz. I need to do a sunset one now. So fun!
May 26, 2015 at 2:34 pm
I have not done a sunset yet
May 26, 2015 at 2:39 pm
It’s been so foggy here lately. Hopefully some sun will return soon.
May 26, 2015 at 2:54 pm
Us too
May 26, 2015 at 2:30 am
Hi Laura I know you’re not accepting Bloggers Awards, but I want to let you know that I nominated you for two Awards The Creative Blogger and The Liebster Awards. You deserve it with your beautiful photos and I wanted to share your Blog! Enjoy…
http://yesterdayafter.com/2015/05/26/more-blogger-awards/
May 26, 2015 at 7:32 am
Awww thank you!! I ALWAYS appreciate someone nominating me. What a nice way to start off the day. I will post this in my awards section with a link to your blog. Thank you!! 😀
May 26, 2015 at 10:12 am
Yay… thank you so much this is a grat way to start the day for me too! Thank you I really appreciate you linking my Blog in you page!
May 26, 2015 at 11:12 am
You’re welcome! *Happy dance*
May 26, 2015 at 10:20 pm
Wonderful.
May 27, 2015 at 7:28 am
Thanks Tommy.
May 27, 2015 at 8:08 am
Very nice shots! The first one is breathtaking!
May 27, 2015 at 8:15 am
Thank you so much Tiny! That one seems to be the popular one. I love color too so I agree!
May 27, 2015 at 9:16 am
Simply gorgeous. The first one has a mysterious surreal quality about it. Lovely!
May 27, 2015 at 9:22 am
Thank you Andrew! I think the consensus is the first one! I can see that surreal quality.
May 27, 2015 at 9:47 am
Long exposure and water are some of my favourite things. Images like these are like taking a scented luxurious bath in my lymbic(so?) system. Thank you 😀
May 27, 2015 at 9:59 am
Thank you for your comments :))
May 28, 2015 at 12:46 am
Wow, good photography!!!
May 28, 2015 at 7:04 am
Thank you Jorge!
June 1, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Umm, not the best?? That first shot of the cresting wave is freaking unbelievable!! (is it okay to say “freaking”? 😉)
June 1, 2015 at 2:59 pm
lol….you are so funny, thank you for putting a smile on my face! 😀 And yes freaking is totally ok! In fact I use it frequently. 🙂
June 1, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Yes!!! 😀
June 14, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Any tips for controlling/establishing proper white balance during the shot while shooting with a heavy ND filter? Or suggestions in post? I’ve recently started shooting with a 10 stop filter as well, have found maintaining a good color balance can be difficult.
June 14, 2015 at 4:18 pm
I’m not too experienced in this area but I do know that a really good ND filter is half the battle. Cheaper ones have can have a color cast like the tiffins which have sort of a magenta Cast. I have a B&W and its a really great one. I just use auto white balance but perhaps someone with more experience than I would have more info on that. I did spot meter though if that helps.