Capturing windy landscapes with long exposures

Long exposure photography is a powerful technique for creating stunning images of flowing water, smooth clouds and star trails. However, one common challenge that photographers face is dealing with wind, which can blur the details of trees, foliage, and other elements in the scene. I was recently asked just this by a reader on an article I wrote a while back on capturing waterfalls. I thought it was a great question, so here is a follow-up on just this problem.

Here are some strategies to help you capture sharp landscapes even in windy conditions:

A few things to consider

These can help but don’t always solve the problem:

• Choose the right time of day. Early morning or late evening can sometimes offer calmer wind conditions, especially near bodies of water.
• Find sheltered locations. Look for locations that are naturally sheltered from the wind, such as valleys and canyons, or areas with dense vegetation. Or, utilize man-made structures like bridges and buildings, or rock formations to shield your scene from the wind.
• Use a sturdy tripod. A sturdy tripod is essential for long-exposure photography, especially in windy conditions. Ensure that your tripod is securely positioned and that your camera is firmly attached.  
• Re-compose so that nearby trees are such are not as prominent in your composition.

Use post-processing techniques

This is probably the easiest approach, and I have used it time and time again.

• Blending exposures. By combining multiple exposures taken at different shutter speeds, you can selectively blur the moving elements, such as water, while keeping the static elements, like trees, sharp.  
• Masking and blending. Use masking techniques in photo editing software to isolate specific areas of the image and apply different levels of blurring or sharpening.  

While capturing long exposures can be fun, it can also cause a few headaches. But hopefully, this post will help solve a few.

• Posted on October 28, 2024