Ryszard Lomnicki on creating dynamic shots with slow shutter speeds

Using long-exposure techniques for landscape photography can produce stunning effects, such as blurring moving clouds or water. I like working with longer shutter speeds because they transform ordinary scenes, adding a calm and ethereal aesthetic to images. Choosing the place and time of the day, as well as reading the expected weather forecast, is important. The best conditions for landscapes are during sunrise, golden hour and sunset.

The basic tool for long-exposure photography is a filter. ND (neutral density) and GND (graduated ND) filters give you the ability to control the incoming light. The ND filter reduces the light entering the lens across the frame, extending exposure times depending on the density of the filter. GND filters reduce the light incrementally to balance the exposure in high-contrast scenes, and as well as different densities they also have transistions of varying hardness. Filters with a hard transition are used when taking seascapes, where the horizon is clear. Soft-transition filters can be used in mountain photography, for example, where the horizon is less defined.