🌊 Mastering Long Exposure Seascapes – How to Capture the Drama of the Sea (VIDEO + Pro Tips)
📍 Shot during our photo expedition in Lofoten, November 2025
Welcome back to the blog! Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of my favorite techniques in landscape photography: long exposure seascapes. This article accompanies my latest video from our Lofoten photo expedition, where I dive deep into capturing moody, ethereal coastal scenes with ND filters, strong compositions, and the right gear.
🎥 Watch the full video here:
Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your seascape skills, this tutorial is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately.
📸 What You'll Learn in the Video
The essential gear for long exposure seascapes
How to choose and use ND and polarizing filters
Perfect camera settings for silky water and depth
The key to powerful compositions with foreground and leading lines
A pro BONUS TIP about working with tides for dramatic results
🧰 Recommended Gear for Long Exposure Seascapes
Sturdy tripod – stability is everything during long exposures
Ultra-wide lens – e.g., Sony 16–35mm f/2.8 or 16mm f/1.8
ND filter – 6-stop or 10-stop depending on water effect desired
Polarizing filter – reduces reflections from rocks and water
Remote shutter release – especially important for exposures over 30s
You’ll also see close-ups of gear in action in the video.
Composition Tips for Powerful Seascapes
Long exposures are not just about silky water—they're about emotion. That starts with composition.
Use leading lines: waves, rocks, diagonals that guide the eye
Always build around the three layers: foreground, midground, background
Get low and close for impact—foreground rocks can add incredible depth
Work with the tide and flow: different times = different stories
In the video, I annotate real shots from Lofoten with overlays showing where foregrounds, lines, and diagonals help build drama.
🔧 Camera Settings
Manual mode is key here. The video breaks this down in detail, but here’s a quick reference:
ISO: Keep it low (ISO 100) for best image quality
Aperture: f/11 is a good starting point for depth
Shutter speed: From 1 second to several minutes depending on light and desired effect
Use exposure bracketing or panoramas? Don’t worry—I cover that too in the video and link to detailed tutorials.
Don’t Forget the Tides!
Your composition can be completely transformed by the tide level. High tide might create smoother reflections, while low tide can expose foreground textures.
🎯 My Bonus Tip: Always check tide charts before heading out. I recommend a few useful apps in the video description, for both Android and iOS.
📷 Shot on Location – Lofoten, Norway
This tutorial was filmed during our Winter Lofoten Photo Expedition, where seascape photography is at its best. The Arctic light, moody weather, and raw landscapes create ideal conditions for capturing stunning coastal scenes. The Northern Lights can be photographed not only in Lofoten, but also in places like Iceland. You can join us there too – check out our photo expeditions to this amazing location in autumn 2025 and spring 2026.
If you’d like to experience this for yourself, join one of our upcoming photo expeditions:
👉 View All Photo Expeditions
🔗 Useful Links
🌟 Final Thoughts
Seascape photography is about timing, patience, and creative control. With the right tools and mindset, you can turn any coastline into a canvas of movement and mood. Watch the full video, try the techniques, and let me know in the comments what your favorite seascape spot is!
If you want to join one of my hands-on photography expeditions and experience this kind of shooting in real time, check the full schedule here:
👉 www.smidphotography.com/expeditions
❓ FAQ – Long Exposure Seascapes
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There’s no single perfect value—it depends on light conditions and the creative goal. For silky smooth water, start around 5–30 seconds. For slightly blurred motion with visible textures, 1–5 seconds works well.
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Yes. In daylight, even at ISO 100 and f/11, shutter speeds won’t be slow enough. A 6-stop or 10-stop ND filter allows for exposure times of several seconds or more.
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You can—but wide-angle lenses (like 14–24mm or 16–35mm full-frame equivalent) offer more dynamic compositions and better foreground-background layering, especially for panoramic shots.
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Some of the best locations include the Lofoten Islands in Norway and Iceland's rugged coastlines. We explore both during our photography expeditions—see upcoming tours here.
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At minimum: a tripod, wide-angle lens, ND filter (6 or 10-stop), polarizer, and remote shutter release. Optional but helpful: lens cloths, waterproof boots, and tide apps.