Master special effects
Use in-camera techniques as well as editing software to create striking imagery
Pictured
Smooth sea
The long exposure reduces the detail in the sea and focuses attention on the stands
© Brad Smith
There are a few techniques that will take your minimal photography to the next level, with the main one being long exposures.
A long exposure allows you to smooth the texture of water and the movement of clouds in the sky, enabling you to simplify the scene as well as creating a dreamlike wonderland of smoothness. Long exposures can also eliminate moving subjects and generally add more light into the scene. A body of water shot on a long exposure is a great way to convey a sense of calm or even loneliness and isolation, especially when presented in black and white. A long exposure combined with a panning technique will simplify your subject into smooth strokes of colour, taking the distraction of shape and strong lines out of the equation.