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Usually, we are viewing photos that capture a short moment in time, but these stunning pictures are completely different. The intent of long exposure photography is to create an image that highlights the effect of passing time. There is no fixed definition of what constitutes "long" because a 30-minute picture of a static object might not be distinguishable from a short exposure. Therefore, the inclusion of motion (mostly through light art) is the main factor that adds intrigue to these interesting photos.

Bored Panda has compiled a list of interesting and innovative examples of long-exposure photography. It will not only please your eye but give you some ideas about what to look for when trying to achieve a similar creative photography effect as well. From traffic lights on an empty street to fireflies in a jar, the photographers behind these amazing photos certainly found an interesting way to picture their objects. Scroll down to enjoy the list and vote for your favorite entries!

#2

Milky Way Long-Exposure Looks Like Fractal Geometry

Milky Way Long-Exposure Looks Like Fractal Geometry

Christian Sasse Report

#3

Long Exposure Photo Of A Plane Taking Off

Long Exposure Photo Of A Plane Taking Off

Hilltopchill Report

#4

Traffic Light Long Exposure

Traffic Light Long Exposure

Lucas Zimmermann Report

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Yaman Yamaner
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish, Lucas Zimmermann, the photographer, was credited. But of course, compiling images from internet is very easy to prepare a post but, crediting the image owners is a huge burden. Isn't it?:(

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#5

Long Exposure Of Fireflies In A Forest, Japan

Long Exposure Of Fireflies In A Forest, Japan

spicedpumpkins Report

#6

The Motions Of Canoers And Kayakers Revealed With Leds In Long Exposure Photography

The Motions Of Canoers And Kayakers Revealed With Leds In Long Exposure Photography

Stephen Orlando Report

#7

Long Exposure Of Ferris Wheel Looks Like It Has Stained Glass

Long Exposure Of Ferris Wheel Looks Like It Has Stained Glass

Ayako Huzikawa Report

#8

Zoomed Out While Taking A Picture Of My Christmas Tree

Zoomed Out While Taking A Picture Of My Christmas Tree

bryce901 Report

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Mimis Nachbarin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the spirit of Christmas coming out of your tree to fill your hearts... ;-)

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#9

Long Exposure Of Fireworks

Long Exposure Of Fireworks

Proteon Report

#11

I Used Some Led Lights To Spin A Forest Of Mushrooms Under The Milky Way

I Used Some Led Lights To Spin A Forest Of Mushrooms Under The Milky Way

mohair69 Report

#12

I Took This Long Exposure Shot Of A Pumpkin As My Lense Unknowingly Fogged Up

I Took This Long Exposure Shot Of A Pumpkin As My Lense Unknowingly Fogged Up

kudjo24 Report

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Asia
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, you've captured the spirit of haloween for sure :D

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#13

Long Exposure Of Helicopter Landing

Long Exposure Of Helicopter Landing

Andreas Feininger Report

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Vlad Horobet
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So the chopper goes down, then backwards, then down again. I'd frame this on my wall.

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#14

A Long Exposure Photo Of A Train Roaring Through The Canadian Rockies

A Long Exposure Photo Of A Train Roaring Through The Canadian Rockies

DonTago Report

#15

Long Exposure Of A Tilt-A-Whirl

Long Exposure Of A Tilt-A-Whirl

Mehulat Report

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Stephanie Christine
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not quite sure what that is, but the Tilt-a-Whirl is behind it stationary on the ground...

Stephanie Christine
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I assume it's actually some cousin of the Gravatron, that creepy open air one maybe.

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Randomcthulu
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We call that a Gravitron where I grew up, Tilt a Whirls have spinning cars, still very cool

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#16

Long Exposure Of “Merry Go Round”

Long Exposure Of “Merry Go Round”

Sergei Kalinin Report

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#17

I Attached A Blinking Light To The Robot And Did A 10 Minutes Exposure Of It Cleaning The Living Room

I Attached A Blinking Light To The Robot And Did A 10 Minutes Exposure Of It Cleaning The Living Room

benkol Report

#18

Long Exposure Of A Departing Tram In Budapest Covered With 30,000 Leds

Long Exposure Of A Departing Tram In Budapest Covered With 30,000 Leds

Zsolt Andrasi Report

#19

I Put Some Fireflies In A Jar And Did A Long Exposure For 3 Minutes. (Don't Worry I Let Them Go)

I Put Some Fireflies In A Jar And Did A Long Exposure For 3 Minutes. (Don't Worry I Let Them Go)

Heidi Stauff Report

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Ash
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Don't worry I let them go" :) Haters and trolls have made us overtly cautious. You never know when a simple, innocuous statement can lead to a full blown war of words!

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#20

Here Is A Long Exposure Zoom Keyboard

Here Is A Long Exposure Zoom Keyboard

Luke_Dukem Report

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Vlad Horobet
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like the intro from some movie, flying inwards through the credits scene. Amazing.

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#21

Long Exposure Photography Of A Snowboarder With Leds On His Board

Long Exposure Photography Of A Snowboarder With Leds On His Board

I_AM_STILL_A_IDIOT Report

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Ida Råtass
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, so obviously a stupid question for those who know... but how do you get a clear shot of the moving snowboarder when everything else moving gets blurry?

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#22

Long Exposure + Subway Tunnel =

Long Exposure + Subway Tunnel =

steakmane Report

#23

Long Exposure Of A Lighthouse

Long Exposure Of A Lighthouse

Grown_Man_Poops Report

#24

Long Exposure Photograph Of A Firework

Long Exposure Photograph Of A Firework

teshmeki Report

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#25

Long-exposure Capture Of Moths Swarming A Light At Night

Long-exposure Capture Of Moths Swarming A Light At Night

phototactic Report

#26

Took This Photo Last Night By Zooming My Lens In And Out During A 10 Second Exposure. Had To Look Up And Make Sure The Building Hadn't Exploded After Reviewing The Picture. (no Photoshop)

Took This Photo Last Night By Zooming My Lens In And Out During A 10 Second Exposure. Had To Look Up And Make Sure The Building Hadn't Exploded After Reviewing The Picture. (no Photoshop)

Rellergic Report

#27

Long Exposure Photography Of Lava Lamp Looks Like Some Galaxy Captured In A Jar

Long Exposure Photography Of Lava Lamp Looks Like Some Galaxy Captured In A Jar

AvoidableBoat67 Report

#28

Long Exposure Photo Of Candle Procession At Salisbury Cathedral

Long Exposure Photo Of Candle Procession At Salisbury Cathedral

jarheadsynapze Report

#29

Long Exposure Of Road

Long Exposure Of Road

Christoph Schaarschmidt Report

#31

Long Exposure Of Air Traffic Above San Francisco

Long Exposure Of Air Traffic Above San Francisco

exxonvaldez Report

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didi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The top image of the runways makes me think of spiders when they trail kite lines in the wind. How appropriate!

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#32

I Tied Glowsticks To My Hands And Feet And Took A Long Exposure Shot Of Me Rock Climbing

I Tied Glowsticks To My Hands And Feet And Took A Long Exposure Shot Of Me Rock Climbing

shatteredankle Report

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CelSlade
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just admiring the cast-iron balls (madness?) of someone who rock climbs at night.

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#33

Long Exposure Of A Roomba Vacuum With Color-changing Light On Top

Long Exposure Of A Roomba Vacuum With Color-changing Light On Top

KevlarYarmulke Report

#34

A Long Exposure Of Our Planet As Seen Through The Windows Of The Iss's Cupola Module By Don Pettit, Nasa Astronaut

A Long Exposure Of Our Planet As Seen Through The Windows Of The Iss's Cupola Module By Don Pettit, Nasa Astronaut

I_AM_STILL_A_IDIOT Report

#35

A Truck Passed In Front Of The Camera During A Long Exposure Shot

A Truck Passed In Front Of The Camera During A Long Exposure Shot

bg1987 Report

#36

Long Exposure Of A Plane Taking Off

Long Exposure Of A Plane Taking Off

Proteon Report

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Bradley Auerbach
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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#37

Long Exposure Shot Of A Carousel At Night

Long Exposure Shot Of A Carousel At Night

Yewbert Report

#38

My Long Exposure Photograph Of Tonight's Delta Iv Rocket Launch

My Long Exposure Photograph Of Tonight's Delta Iv Rocket Launch

johnkphotos Report

#40

I Took A Long Exposure Of A Moving Train, And I Am Very Happy With The Result

I Took A Long Exposure Of A Moving Train, And I Am Very Happy With The Result

then0mads0ul Report

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#41

Long Exposure Shot Of Glow Sticks Dropped Into A Waterfall

Long Exposure Shot Of Glow Sticks Dropped Into A Waterfall

akelly96 Report

#42

Long Exposure Of Hundreds Of Skiers Holding Flashlights

Long Exposure Of Hundreds Of Skiers Holding Flashlights

mike_pants Report

#44

While Playing Some Christmas Light Jump Rope, I Decided To Take A Long Exposure Photo

While Playing Some Christmas Light Jump Rope, I Decided To Take A Long Exposure Photo

th3clara Report

#45

Roomba Led Long Exposure

Roomba Led Long Exposure

dittidot Report

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didi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where is all the neat organisation in a square grid of the other roomba on this feed?

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#46

Took A 4 Sec Exposure Of My Front Bike Tire With Some Post It Notes Attached To The Rungs

Took A 4 Sec Exposure Of My Front Bike Tire With Some Post It Notes Attached To The Rungs

apdt75 Report

#47

Long Exposure Of Teacups

Long Exposure Of Teacups

Eric Castro Report

#48

Long Exposure Of Soyuz Launch To The Iss

Long Exposure Of Soyuz Launch To The Iss

Aero-Space Report

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#49

Marathon Of Colour Long Exposure

Marathon Of Colour Long Exposure

thebrainguy Report

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TC
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to find the equilibrium exposure between the runners and the static people. 1 second perhaps ?

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#50

Long Exposure Of A Peacekeeper Missile Testing

Long Exposure Of A Peacekeeper Missile Testing

David James Paquin Report