Creative Shutter Speed - Long Exposure

Thibodeau Rapids, Blackfoot River
Bonner, Montana


Creating a silky look to moving water is a function of shutter speed, which affects motion as well as exposure. The longer the exposure time, the more blur appears. In this image, the river was in the shade which allowed me to use a 5 second exposure. I locked the camera down on a tripod to ensure that the rocks were sharp while the water flowed past them.

Learn about more shutter speed effects you can achieve with your camera in Creative Camera Techniques, an online course beginning March 31, 2021. Click here to register.