Long Exposures

[Thrash]

Hello,

I dont know if this is the case but it seems like when I had my D3200 it was resolving too much detail. I never thought it would be possible but check out the image below:

Thats a 30 second exposure, f6.3, ISO 100. The water doesnt look smooth at all though, it does in some places (far left) but thats about it. So what im wondering is, was the camera resolving too much detail which is why it wasnt looking smooth? Is that a thing? I genuinely dont know if it is or not but at 30 seconds of a fairly still lake I wouldve hoped to have got some really nice smooth water but obviously that isnt the case.

Does anyone know why this is?

 

[Phil V]

Sorry to be responsible for your facepalm moment -

The water on the left is lit by the sky - giving a 30 second exposure and smooth water. The water on the right has been lit by the car on the bridge lasting for about a second (the light hots different parts as the car moves).

Effectively the same as when we photograph movement in ambient light and freeze a moment of it with flash.

 

[Thrash]

Sorry to be responsible for your facepalm moment -

The water on the left is lit by the sky - giving a 30 second exposure and smooth water. The water on the right has been lit by the car on the bridge lasting for about a second (the light hots different parts as the car moves).

Effectively the same as when we photograph movement in ambient light and freeze a moment of it with flash.

Ah right, I understand Im some photos there are no car headlights and admittedly the shutter speed is only about 15 seconds but the same thing is happening; the water looks smoother but not completely smooth?
Theyre old photos so it doesnt exactly matter but I saw them on my Flickr and got thinking

 

[Lyonspride]

30s just wasn't long enough, but without a remote shutter/timer, it's not a bad attempt.

Personally i'd have been trying for closer to 1.5-2 mins exposure, fully manual at.... erm.... maybe f/11 (not sure).

 

[Johnytuono]

Yep, as Phil said, the car has acted like a flash going off and froze the water motion. Also as Lyonspride said....I would go for a longer exposure by stopping down more to increase exposure time. Nice muted sky colour in the shot though.
JohnyT

 

[nus123]

i dont think the shutter is open for long enough. Maybe invest in an aftermarket remote from ebay and see if you can get them longer! you'll really see the results.