Iconic Golden Gate Bridge scene shot with a fifteen second exposure.
Previous blogs have discussed the advantages of long exposures for night and low light photography. The photo at right illustrates another example of the importance of time exposure.
This iconic view of the Golden Gate Bridge could have been taken hand held at a high ISO and fast shutter speed. But an exposure capable of being hand held would have literally stopped traffic. The lights of cars on the bridge would have been reduced to tiny pinpoints of light.
The intent was to have the span of the bridge completely illuminated with lights of the moving traffic. An ISO rating of 100 allowed an exposure of fifteen seconds at f4.5, more than enough time to let traffic bathe the roadway in streaks of light. More examples of long exposure photography can be seen here.
Long Exposure Requires Stabilization
HandlePod supports camera on a post for time exposure of the Golden Gate Bridge
Of course a fifteen second exposure would be impossible to hand hold. Camera stabilization is essential and a tripod would be the preferable choice. But if you’re a tourist far from home, carrying a tripod is not a typical scenario.
HandlePod Does the Job
This is where a lightweight tripod alternative like HandlePod comes in. Now you can get that long exposure without the weight and bulk of a tripod as long as there is a solid object to attach to or hold the HandlePod against. Such supports are almost always available in popular tourist locations—posts, railings, columns, walls anything can be used.
So don’t let lack of a tripod make you miss the advantages of long exposure photography.