Long Exposure Creativity at Botany Bay
Long Exposure Creativity at Botany Bay
Charleston, SC
Cost:
Online Class AND Field Practice: $205/person
Early bird price: $195.00 until May 20, 2026
Online Class ONLY: $40
When:
Online Class for ALL: Tuesday June 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. eastern. Approximately one hour followed by Q&A. It will be Recorded and available for viewing up to a month later.
Field Session: Saturday June 6, 2026. 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Botany Bay, SC
Where: Class is online for everyone. The field practice will be held at Botany Bay Plantation and Heritage Reserve
Long exposure photography allows for unique and creative expression. It enables photographers to capture scenes in a way that the human eye cannot perceive, such as blurring motion, creating light trails, or capturing the passage of time. Learning this technique can be challenging, but it also encourages experimentation and exploration. Photographers can try different exposure times, settings, and subjects, leading to a deeper understanding of their equipment and creative vision.
You will be presented with a Keynote/Power Point style presentation that covers all the information necessary to start creating your own dynamic imagery. We’ll explore equipment options in our online class so that you can gain the knowledge you need to make the best choices in purchasing filters in the future. You will also be shown some of the problems that you will likely face in the field, the best way to prevent them, and editing methods to solve issues that cannot be solved in the field. Feel free to take this knowledge and experiment at your own location and time. Or join us in the field on Saturday the 6th for hands on assistance and instruction.
For the field session, we will head to the historic Botany Bay Heritage Plantation and Boneyard Beach. We’ll take advantage of the afternoon light and the low tide to allow for plenty of time to practice your newly acquired skills. Botany Bay beach is no longer accessible at high tide and I have chosen this date to give all of you the best opportunities for success. Take these new skills with you and practice them on your next adventure.
All participants, online and field portions, will receive a copy of my Long Exposure Photography PDF eBook for further review.
What You’ll Learn
How to achieve a long exposure without filters
When you’ll need a Neutral Density filter to get a long exposure.
The Pro’s and Con’s of different types of Neutral Density Filters.
The newest technologies in ND filters
Types of filters to avoid because they’re not worth the money.
How to plan your shot before you start reaching for filters.
How to calculate proper exposure times for any filter you use
The proper sequence, step by step, to capture long exposures in the field.
You’ll see a short demonstration of combining images in post processing to avoid some of the pitfalls of long exposures.
You’ll be exposed to some of the creative things you can do with your long exposure images in Adobe Photoshop.
What To Bring to the Field Session?
Your DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
A tripod
A remote release (optional) or know where your cameras’ self timer is and how to use it.
Your Mobile Phone
Sunglasses or a hat,
Bug spray and Sunscreen
Comfortable walking shoes that can get wet like Tevas or Sandals of some kind.
A rain jacket,
Water and/or snacks.
FAQ’s
What filter should I buy before attending?
NONE! I do not want you investing in gear that you may decide, after the workshop, that you will not need or use. Part of this workshop is teaching you what to buy and what not to buy so you don’t waste money in the long run.
I’m a total beginner, is this workshop right for me?
I’m sorry but not likely. A good understanding of Manual Exposure is beneficial, if not necessary, for this workshop. This technique is considered an intermediate to advanced photography technique.
Will we cover post processing?
Yes. We will cover some basic processing in Lightroom and delve into the benefits of Photoshop Layers to combine short and long exposures for creative freedom and problem solving.
Is there a Bathroom at Botany Bay
No, there are no public facilities at Botany Bay. There is a gas station that we will all stop at prior to getting to the plantation that will be the last opportunity for a restroom, snacks, water…