How can I create motion blur in daylight with a DSLR?
Asked 3/19/2011
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I want to capture motion blur outdoors during the day, but when I use a slow shutter speed the image becomes overexposed. What camera settings and accessories can help me get longer daytime exposures for blur?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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The short answer is: use a long shutter speed. To control this, put your camera into Shutter Priority mode (indicated by a "S" on the dial" and adjust the speed to a relatively long time - perhaps a half a second, a whole second, or perhaps longer.
The longer answer for when it gets tricky: You might find that during the daytime, things are so bright that when you set a long shutter speed, even at the camera's smaller aperture (biggest f/ number) you end up with blown-out highlights or overexposure. In these cases, make sure that you're using the lowest ISO possible. If that's not good enough, you might need to look at a neutral density filter, which is a filter that limits the amount of light coming into the camera. These are often used for longer daytime exposures such as those seen with silky waterfall photos.
Another tip that applies to long exposures at any time is that you'll want to stabilize the camera using a tripod or other device to prevent camera shake.
Originally by user89. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user89
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Use a slower shutter speed to create the blur, then reduce the light reaching the sensor so the image doesn’t overexpose.
Helpful steps:
- Set a long shutter speed, such as 1/2 second, 1 second, or longer, depending on the effect you want.
- Use the lowest ISO your camera offers.
- Stop the lens down to a small aperture (large f-number).
- If it’s still too bright, add a neutral density (ND) filter. ND filters cut light without changing color, letting you use much longer exposures in daylight.
A common example is an ND8 filter, which reduces light by 3 stops. Stronger ND filters can create very heavy blur, even making moving subjects nearly disappear.
Another option mentioned is stacking a circular and linear polarizer to make a variable light-reduction setup, but dedicated ND filters are the more straightforward choice.
You can use Shutter Priority if you want to choose the shutter speed directly, or Aperture Priority/manual if you prefer to control aperture as well.
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