Street photography tip: Add light trails to your photos

Saturday 30 March 2024, 13:31 by Michiel Heijmans | 2,483 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

With a slightly longer shutter speed in the dark, you can turn that passing bus into light trails. The longer shutter speed records the light from the headlights, but will make the dark bus fade away. Your subject, such as the stationary man at the pedestrian crossing, becomes a silhouette.

London - f/16, 15s, 160 ISO @ 40mm
Light trails are caused by moving lights. This could be a car, or a bicycle. I once photographed a tour boat in Amsterdam, which also creates a special effect. Adding the human element is a challenge, but not impossible. You will have to practise, just like with everything.

I can also imagine that you might cheat a little. Some cameras have an option for double or multiple exposure, which allows you to layer two photos over each other in the camera.

Photograph your light trail first, then your subject. Otherwise, you always have Photoshop. The end goal in this case is that beautiful photo!

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