My Story Behind This Image
Arches National Park has arguably one of the most dramatic entrances for any park, anywhere in the world. As you immediately begin weaving between monstrous red rock formations that tower above you, it takes your breath away each and every time you drive through it. The scale is just massive and it really helps put your life and our relative size in this world into perspective.
Even though this section of the park doesn’t necessarily get the hype as its more popular arches sections, I’ve always been a big fan of this area. This image is more of a unique view within Arches, even though its one of the coolest views in the park (in my opinion). That’s because this spot is often missed or overlooked when visiting Arches, as the crowds of people tend to either stop before, at the Park Avenue Viewpoint or zoom past it to get to the one of many arches that are scattered throughout the park.
Want to know more about this spot? Keep reading …
This area comes up fairly quickly and is on your right and is called the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint. Most regulars know about it, but, depending on who you are and what you prefer when visiting national parks, there is a slight downside if you visit this area during sunrise or set. You won’t be viewing Delicate Arch. However, the upside is that you won’t be sharing this magnificent view with dozens (if not hundreds) of people. For example, on this sunset night, my buddy and I had it to ourselves.
My Technique / Tips For Photographing Long Exposures
Choose the Right Time
Timing is crucial for capturing stunning sunset shots. Always try and arrive to your location roughly 60 minutes before sunset. This will give you an opportunity to scout the area a little, while also giving you an opportunity to photograph the scene during the golden hour.
Use a Tripod
Always use a sturdy tripod when capturing long exposures. By stabilizing your camera, it allows you to use slower shutter speeds without risking blurriness. Even a slight movement can ruin an otherwise perfect shot.
Set Your Camera Settings
Here are the settings I typically use for long exposure photography:
ISO: Set your ISO as low as possible (around 100 or 200) to minimize noise, which can be particularly noticeable in low light. Each cameras native ISO is different. So, make sure you know what yours is and try and use that setting as often as possible.
Aperture: Try and use smaller apertures (higher f-stop number) like f/16 or f/22. This increases depth of field but also helps create that starburst effect with light sources if within your scene.
Shutter Speed: This will sort of be determined by the above to settings, but try and start with a shutter speed around 2 and 8 seconds. But, then push it to 10 and 30 seconds if possible. Adjust as needed based on the light conditions at sunset. For instance, a mere 1 or 2-second increase in exposure time can lead to dramatically different light streak effects. Figure out what YOU like within your particular scene and work from there.
Focus: Consider using manual focus to ensure your subject is sharp throughout the exposure. This step is often overlooked, yet it can significantly impact the final composition. Plus, some careras might have difficulty focusing in low light. Make sure to use your 'magnify' feature on your camera. Zoom in on one of your main parts of your scene and make sure it's tack sharp.
Timer: Use your camera's 2-second release time function on your camera. That way you don't accidently introduce camera shake when pressing the shutter button.
Experiment with Filters
Neutral Density (ND) and Polarizing filters are game-changers for sunset photography. By reducing the amount of light entering the lens, they allow for longer shutter speeds during bright scenes. I always carry my Breakthrough Photography 3-stop/6-stop polarizing and my 10-stop ND filter. In the image above, I used my 10-stop ND on to help achieve a 30-second exposure for the light streaks in the cars headlights.
Capture the Movement
To create striking light streaks, look for movement within your frame. This could include clouds drifting overhead, flowing water, or even stars if shooting at night. Adding dynamic elements makes your long exposure shots more captivating. In my image above, my focus was trying to create movement from within the headlights of the cars, giving a flowing motion to the foreground with a 'S-curve' leading you back to the middle of the scene.
Final Thoughts
Capturing long exposure photographs at sunset in the field is always an exhilarating experience filled with creative opportunities. Following these tips will hopefully help you capture some fun and breathtaking landscape imagery the next time you're out on a photography adventure. Just remember, practice is essential! So gather your gear and practice before you go on your trip. That way you know exactly what you're doing when the scene explodes with excitement in front of you. Because normally it only last for a moment of time. See you in the field!
If you're interested in the image above, CLICK THE LINK BELOW to purchase a print. Limited Edition, Museum Grade Acrylic Prints are also available. If you don't see this particular scene in that portfolio on my website, email me and I'll open up this series for you.
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