Long Exposure Photography With Your Smartphone FlickerSpot | Travel & Cinematic Journey Capturing Travel Stories That Inspire

Long exposure photography can create stunning light trails and dramatic effects, and you can achieve this even with a smartphone!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Ensure Manual Controls

To create long exposure shots, your smartphone must support manual controls for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation. If your device lacks these features, download an app such as Open Camera (Android) or Halide (iOS) that enables manual photography settings.

Step 2: Prepare Your Setup

Test Shots: Since smartphones generally lack aperture control, experiment with shutter speeds between 0.5 seconds to 1 second. Take a few test shots to determine the ideal settings for your environment.
Avoid Overexposure: Check your test shots to ensure there are no overly bright or blown-out areas. Adjust the ISO and shutter speed as needed.

Step 3: Stabilize Your Smartphone

Set your smartphone on a stable surface or use a tripod to keep it stationary.
Choose portrait or landscape mode, depending on the composition you prefer.
Ensure the light source is not directly facing the smartphone but moves across the frame to create smooth light trails.

Step 4: Capture the Shot

Use a timer or a remote shutter to avoid shaking the smartphone while capturing the image.
Take multiple shots to ensure you capture the best light trails.

Step 5: Post-Processing

Use editing apps like Snapseed or Adobe Photoshop to enhance your image.
Adjust brightness and remove any overexposed areas carefully.
Avoid excessive color grading, which may reduce the image quality.
If needed, slightly increase saturation or use the burn tool to emphasize details for a more realistic look.