How do you take creative photos with a slow shutter speed?

In most situations where you use a slower shutter speed, you need a tripod. This prevents unwanted motion blur. The only situation where you don't need a tripod, is if you move the camera on purpose. You can read how to take creative pictures with a slow shutter speed here.

• Move the camera
• Draw with light
• Make people disappear
• Make moving portraits

If you move your camera while you take photos, you'll get striped in the photo. You can use a shutter speed of 1 or 2 seconds. The movement you make, determines the shape of the stripes. For example, moving the camera up and down or left and right gives different results. If you do this with a row of trees, you'll create an abstract pattern, while you can still recognize the trees.

On extremely dark locations, you can draw with light. You need a slow shutter speed for this. Put the camera on a tripod, and adjust the shutter speed to 10 seconds, or use the bulb mode. Now, you can get started with a light source. You can use the flashlight of your smartphone for this, or a bike light. In the dark space, the camera will only register the light. Now, you can make movements with 1 or more lights, or write a word with the flashlight.

Are you at a tourist destination or in a busy city? It can be useful to be able to make other people disappear. You don't always want people on your photo. A trick for this is a shutter speed of a few seconds. The buildings stand still, so they stay sharp. At the same time, you make sure people are blurry with a slower shutter speed. That way, the people go away, and they don't distract. You can also do this for driving cars or cyclists. Place the camera on a tripod to prevent motion blur.

You often want your model to be as sharp as possible on a portrait photo. With a moving portrait, you create movement and dynamics in your photo. That's a nice effect for dancers who perform multiple dance moves or routines. That way, they can take on multiple poses in 1 photo. That way, you can also show multiple expressions in 1 photo. Try all the ideas you can come up with, and see what the result is.