Architecture & Long Exposure

Intro

©JOEL TJINTJELAAR

Architectural photography can be broken roughly into two genres, commercial and fine art. Commercial photographers seek to cast the most favorable light on a building by creating images that are flattering to the property. Fine art photographers seek to transform the architecture into fluid forms and patterns that are pleasing to the eye.

Formatt-Hitech Signature Edition artist Joel Tjintjelaar is one of the leaders of a movement in photography where artists are using long exposures combined with advanced post-processing techniques to create visually stunning photographic fine art. This genre focuses largely on architectural expression and its place in our world. The long exposures are used to create surrealism.

Fine art architectural photographers shoot at all times of the day, including the midday times that landscape photographers tend to avoid. Because of the great variance between the luminosity between sunrise/sunset and midday, architectural photographers will typically carry a range of ND densities to allow them to adjust the exposure time with the prevailing conditions. Here are some popular densities and their usage.

Filter Technique

LONG EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHERS CAPTURING A FOGGY SUNRISE IN BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK ©ROD CLARK

3-4 stop ND are best at sunrise and sunset when even a mild ND will create sufficient long exposure.

6 stop ND filters create a moderate lengthening of exposure time to create a misty effect in moving water. Usually around 1 second.

10 stop ND filters create long exposures in lower light conditions and can be stacked with the 3 or 6 stop filters to create true long exposure filters.

13 stop ND filters are used to create ethereal effects in water and clouds, with exposure times around 2 minutes in duration, especially in areas where clouds are moving quickly such as coastal cities. The 13 stop filter is popular for shooting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

16 stop ND filters are used to create the long exposure effects - such as streaky clouds and flat water - that have been popularized by photographers such as Joel Tjintjelaar. 16 stop filters allow the photographer to make 5-8 minute exposures, even during mid-day lighting conditions.

Kits

Long Exposure Kit #1, Joel Tjintjelaar Signature Edition

Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar

This kit was designed specifically for the long exposure architectural genre by the leading architectural photographer in the world. The kit contains three ND filters (3, 6, 10 stops), no grads. The NDs were chosen to allow both moderate ND effects with the 3 and 6 stops, but also longer exposures with stacking the 10-3 or the 10-6. No grads are included because the sky is typically darkened in the black and white conversion. You can always supplement this kit later on with dedicated 13 or 16 stop Firecrest filters, giving you the ability to shoot long exposures with a single filter.

Master Filter Kit, Ken Kaminesky Signature Edition

Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky

The Master Filter Kit is a large filter kit containing 6 filters that were expertly chosen by Ken Kaminesky to provide the perfect filter kit for multiple genres including architecture, landscape, travel, and fine art. The kit contains the same three ND filters as the Joel Kit #1 (3, 6, 10) and adds the 2 and 3 stop soft edge ND grads, plus a circular polarizer. This kit contains the widest selection of filters applicable to architecture photography that we offer.

Shop Signature Edition Kits

Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky
Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky

Firecrest Master Filter Kit by Ken Kaminesky

£395.83
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar

Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #1 by Joel Tjintjelaar

£358.33
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia
Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia

Firecrest Pro Essentials Kit by Patrick Di Fruscia

£304.17
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar
Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar

Firecrest Long Exposure Kit #2 by Joel Tjintjelaar

£375.00