Fine Art Long Exposure, Central London (1:1 with Lou Smith)

Turn blur, water and traffic into intentional, resonant images—learn the art of long exposure, control the light, and develop your own creative style.

If you’ve ever seen a long-exposure photograph and felt pulled in—where water turns silky, traffic turns into luminous poetry, and ordinary streets become dreamlike—this is your chance to make that kind of image with intention. In Lou Smith’s private 1:1 session, you’ll learn the technique from the ground up or refine what you’ve already tried, then use that control to feed your creativity: choosing a mood, designing motion in the frame, and building a small fine-art series that feels cohesive rather than accidental.

About Lou’s Approach

Lou Smith is a fine art photographer focused on turning everyday scenes into atmospheric, emotionally connected images. Her approach blends technical control with a strong sense of “ways of seeing,” so your long exposure work doesn’t just look different—it feels deliberate, expressive, and built as a cohesive body of art.

See calendar/prices

What You Will Learn

• Why daytime is different
  • You’ll learn how to manage strong daylight using ND filters and exposure trade-offs, so your shutter times go long enough for creative effects.
• Calculate long exposures reliably
  • Manual method: how to work out shutter time using ND “stops” and your base exposure
  • App method: how to enter your settings and filter strength correctly to get a starting shutter time quickly
• Real locations to apply the calculations
  • Water/texture: silky or painterly water while keeping tones natural
  • Traffic: controlled motion blur and refined streaks without overexposing highlights
  • Urban reflections & contrast: how to keep signage/bright surfaces from blowing out while still achieving the long exposure look
  • Changing brightness as you move: recalculation when the scene shifts (sun vs cloud, bright streets vs shaded corners)
• Guided shooting with personalised feedback
  • Lou will help you apply the calculated shutter times to your exact frame and show how/when to adjust in the field for consistent, fine-art results.

How to Calculate Long Exposure

In a 1:1 session, Lou will guide you through settings and calculations for each location as you shoot, so you leave with a repeatable method you can use anywhere.

• Manual calculations (understanding the “why”)
  • How to accurately set shutter times when you add longer exposure goals
  • Using ND filter “stop” values to predict the time you’ll need
  • When to adjust aperture/ISO instead (so your exposure still looks clean and controlled)
  • A quick method for checking settings to avoid blown highlights or overly dark frames
• App-based calculations (fast and accurate)
  • How to use long exposure calculator apps to turn your scene and filter choices into an exposure time
  • How to enter the right details (base exposure, ND strength, ISO/aperture)
  • Interpreting the app’s output correctly—then applying it to your actual frame on location
• How to verify your result
  • How to confirm shutter time decisions by checking highlights and tonal range
  • What to look for when your calculation is “close” but the scene reality (bright signs, reflections, cloud cover) changes the outcome

You’ll learn two practical ways to calculate long exposures—so you can choose shutter time with confidence, whether you prefer doing it by hand or using tools.

This means you’ll be able to calculate long exposures reliably, then confidently dial them in for the exact fine-art mood you’re after.

What You Can Bring to the Photography Course

• Your camera (DSLR or mirrorless) and your favourite lens(es)
• A sturdy tripod
• ND filters – for longer exposures 15 or 10 stop. 2-8 stop is also fine
• Cable release
• Any existing long exposure images you like or feel inspired by (a few examples is perfect)
• A willingness to refine your vision as you shoot, so you leave with images that truly represent you

Central London Locations

We’ll work in central London using a variety of locations so you learn long exposure calculation and fine-art control in real conditions—not just one “easy” scene.

• Water and texture locations
  • Learn how to calculate the shutter time for the smooth, tonal look you want (and still keep highlights refined).
• Moving traffic scenes
  • Use your calculations (manual or app) to predict movement blur and streak character—then adjust for brightness changes from signage, and reflections.
• Urban atmosphere and reflective surfaces
  • Practice applying exposure decisions to scenes with tricky contrast (bright signs vs dark backgrounds) while maintaining a consistent fine-art tone.
• Location-to-location problem solving
  • When the light shifts (cloud cover, passing vehicles, changing street brightness), you’ll be able to recalculate quickly and keep your results consistent.

What You’ll Take Away

• A clear fine-art approach to long exposure: how to choose a theme, control mood, and build a visual series
• Confidence setting up for long exposures with your camera, tripod, and capture workflow
• ND filter mastery (what to use, when, and how it changes shutter time and the look of the scene)
• Sharpness that actually works in long exposures (focus strategy, stability, and avoiding vibration/missed focus)
• Exposure control for highlights and tone so your images look refined, not washed out or muddy
• Practical guidance while you shoot—Lou helps you adjust settings and framing in real time

In Conclusion

In conclusion, this private 1:1 fine art long exposure course with Lou Smith is for you if you already have interest and maybe some results—but want to fix the gaps: stronger mood, better highlight/tone control, sharpness you can rely on, and—most importantly—knowing how to calculate long exposures with confidence in real daytime central London locations.

Suitable for DSLRS and mirrorless cameras. You should be familiar with your camera and have a working knowledge of aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

Course Timings

10:30 am – 3:30 pm

Course Fees

£385 for one person – click to book on calendar

£325 pp for 2 attending – please use the contact form and include your details

£375 pp for 3+ attending (up to 6) – please use the contact form and include your details

Meeting Place

Meet near Waterloo Rail Station SE1 8SW.