Combine shorter exposures

Use multiple exposure mode to build up motion blur – although you’ll need to watch out for repetition

Taking a sequence of shots of a subject or scene, then combining them in a final multiple exposure composite image, can create a sense of motion that’s similar to a single longer exposure.

Many cameras have a built-in multiple-exposure mode that can work out all the exposure adjustments required to stop the final image being too bright, as well as blending all of the frames together. You can also achieve the same effect in editing software such as Affinity Photo.

So what’s the advantage of shooting several shorter exposures rather than one long one? It can save time, for a start. If you don’t have an ND filter to hand when you’re shooting in bright light, it can still give you that long-exposure look. It also retains more definition in the built-up ‘blurred’ areas than is achieved using a long exposure, which can work well with waves, waterfalls and trees blowing in the wind, for example.

The drawback to this technique is that slowmoving features may appear more than once in the final image, although you may be able to mask out unwanted elements.

Repeat viewing Although the sharp clouds now appear to have motion blur, the edges show the different positions from each individual frame.

Build up Each individual shot needs to be underexposed so that the final image isn’t too bright. The exposure here was 1/320 sec at f/14.