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"Photo Challenge: Long Exposure\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSalto Angel Waterfall, Venezuela, by Patricia C Burelli\n\nGuest curator says: Beautiful. Hard to tell the difference between the clouds and the water falling. Love this.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA Blue World Melts Away by Jeremy Weir\nGuest curator says: Classic subject matter. Beautifully executed.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFishing Boats Meet the Milky Way by Chad Powell\n\nGuest curator says: I really like the boats on the horizon. Alien landing???\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nClifton Springs, Victoria, by Tim Freeman\nGuest curator says: Great colors and perspective.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSome Fun With Steel Wool by Kevin Turner\n\nGuest curator says: Subject matter, technique, creativity, composition. All boxes ticked! Love this.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nApe Caves Lava Tubes, Washington, by Kat Reese\nGuest curator says: Great light painting here \u2026 using the tunnel as a backdrop to the exposure is inspired.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMultinomah Falls by ASK \nGuest curator says: A great rendition of a place I long to visit!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMotorway Time Lapse by James Rose\n\nGuest curator says: Good composition and I like the different color trails for the bi-directional traffic lanes.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn the Woods by Samopotamus Street\nGuest curator says: Clever and creative use of the technique.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGoodnight Kauai by SmittyImagingltd\nGuest curator says: I'm a sucker for landscapes and star trails. Love this combination of the two.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nElectric Melbourne by wolfcat\n\nGuest curator says: A perfect capture of an electrical storm.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGolden Drama by Neo Visions\n\nGuest curator says: Perfectly serene long exposure.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPhoto by Antonio Rull\n\nGuest curator says: It's sometimes difficult to keep the figure sharp when shooting images like this, so full marks for this one!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis week, we asked you to submit your best long exposure photos. Your impressive submissions ranged from beautiful time-lapse shots of busy highways streaked with car headlights to refreshing photos of running water and star trails on moonless nights. Our guest curator, freelance photographer Finn Beales, selected his favorite 13 shots.\n\"I was surprised how creative some of the entries were. Inspiring, particularly the light painting over natural landscapes,\" Beales said. \"These perfectly suited the challenge \u2026 surprising and surreal.\"\nSee also: Spinpod Brings Time-Lapse Photography to Your Smartphone\nCheck out the rest of the submissions here.\nIf your photo wasn't selected this time around, stay tuned. We'll be announcing the next round of our Mashable Photo Challenge on Thursday. We look forward to seeing your work!\nThe Mashable Photo Challenge Guest Series\n\n7 Stunning Photos Inspired by Song Lyrics\nBrighten Your Day With These 21 Natural Light Photos\n15 Spectacular Views From Around the World\n14 Perfectly Peaceful Hometown Escapes\n7 Transformative Photos of Change\n\nBONUS: Photo Tips for the Digital Age\n\n\nPhoto Tips for the Digital Age\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen your subject alone doesn't get the message across, photograph it against a relevant background\n\nWhile a solid, clean backdrop does draw attention to the main subject,  sometimes objects look better when photographed in front of relevant backgrounds.\nImage: Flickr, LornaWatt\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDon't use flash when taking photos through a closed window\nFlash will reflect off a glass window, so it's likely that your photo will look like one giant beam of light. Since that isn't what you want, get close to your window and shoot without flash, or open your window for an even clearer view without reflections.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDigital photographs don't always have to be all digital\n\nGet creative with your diptychs -- if you want to add an old-school touch, you can combine two Polaroid or Fujifilm Instax Mini images.\nImage: Flickr, Grant Hutchinson\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen shooting panoramas, finding the perfect scene is key\n\nThe most ideal conditions for taking panoramic photos are scenes that have a single subject (preferably unmoving) and whose broad surroundings are rich in color and serve to enhance that subject. \nImage: Flickr, Moss, Coconino National Forest\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen photographing a screen, take a few precautionary steps to prevent common issues\n\nFirst, clear the surrounding area of any harsh light to prevent glare. If this is not possible, move around and try photographing from different angles to reduce glare. \nNext, try reducing the brightness of your screen. This will make taking a photo with both a well exposed screen and well exposed background easier. \nFinally, if you have an external flash, point it toward your background rather than directly at your screen.\nImage: Flickr, Evan\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFind a good point of interest to be the center in a symmetrical photo\nIt can be hard to perfect symmetry in a photo -- often times you'll find that there is an uneven weight distribution in your shot. When this happens, look for a point of interest and make it the center of your photo -- then balancing both sides will become a lot easier.\n\nImage: @annieeepark on Instagram\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA great photo has an interesting foreground as well as a beautiful background. \nWhen guest curator Andreas Wonisch shoots skyscape photos, he makes sure to include part of the landscape as well. \"It works wonders to show something interesting in the foreground to lead into the rest of the image.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWait for the perfect moment to capture a photo\nWhen guest curator Victor Bezrukov photographs shadows, he makes sure to wait for the perfect moment to click his shutter. \"The bicycle was already tied when I found it, but the challenge was to wait to catch the strong light of the passing cars,\" he said.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLook for vibrant colors when photographing food\nWhen guest curator Marla Meridith photographs food for her food and lifestyle blog, she looks for the best ingredients and the most colorful settings. \"Find the freshest, most vibrant ingredients,\" she says. \"And don't be afraid to carefully color enhance!\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse presets in editing software to learn about all of the elements of editing\nGuest curator Vivienne Gucwa uses Lightroom, the Nik Software Suite and VSCO to edit her non-mobile photographs. \"Try to notice all of the editing functions that change for each preset,\" she says. \"Then play around with each function to understand the effect it can have on your photography.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOverediting will make your photograph misrepresent the scene\nWhen editing his photos, guest curator Paul R. Giunta only tweaks the exposure, white balance, and contrast. \"I never touch the sharpen slider or saturation,\" he says. \"I want the photographs to represent exactly what it looked like during the show.\"\n\nImage: Paul R. Giunta\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you're using a DSLR, shoot your photographs in RAW format.\nGuest curator Kim Landgraf uses Adobe Lightroom and Silver Efex Pro 2 to edit his photos after shooting in RAW. \"The RAW format gives you much more freedom for editing afterwards,\" he says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse perspectives to your advantage\nGuest curator David Gamboa takes amazing #jumpstagrams in unique settings. \"Shooting from very low, at eye-level and high up can alter a photo in crazy ways,\" he says. \"Try some of them out and see what I mean.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMake subtle adjustments that are right for your photos\nGuest curator Adam Senatori, who specializes in aerial photography, makes subtle adjustments to his photos before publishing them. \"Adjusting color temperature and contrast are critical to any photo,\" he says. \"But I use most adjustments sparingly, never overdo anything! Subtle is best.\" He also believes photos taken on an iPhone require different edits than photos taken on a DSLR. \"For the iPhone I typically bump up the temp,\" he says. \"I feel that native iPhone shots are on the cool side.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor great silhouette photos, expose for the sky and use the Sun.\nWhen photographing silhouettes, it can be easy to accidentally overexpose your scene. Guest curator Nicole S. Young uses specific techniques to make sure this doesn't happen. \"If your metering mode is set to something such as 'spot metering,' then you'll end up exposing for the subject and overexposing your sky,\" she said. \"So you will need to do one of two things: underexpose your photograph (this will make your subject black and your sky properly exposed), or pre-focus the camera and point it at the sky so it meters for the light in the sky, and not the light from your subject.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHighlight the background to bring out the subject in a splash shot\nGuest curator Alex Koloskov specializes in splash photography. \"To get a decent splash shot with only one light source, use clear water (or any other clear liquid) and highlight the background, not the splash itself,\" he says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse different techniques to create a sense of depth in a two-dimensional style photo\nGuest curator Rose Sauquillo takes a lot of shots of walls head-on, but still manages to give them a sense of depth. \"Depth can be achieved by adding a vignette, making a colorful subject the focal point, how you compose the shot, or through lighting,\" she says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse wearable cameras to take action shots\nOur guest curator Zak Shelhamer says timing and composition are key elements in good photography.  You can use wearable cameras such as the GoPro, the JVC ADIXXION, or the Sony Action Cam to take perfectly timed shots of yourself in action. \"Your photos should be able to show viewers what you're seeing and what it feels like to be where you are,\" Shelhamer says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA big key to success is shooting a lot and posting a little\nOur guest curator Timmy McGurr takes hundreds of photos at a time, but is very selective when choosing his final few to publish. \"Just because you shoot a bunch of images from a bunch of different angles doesn't mean you need to post it all,\" he says. \"Learning how to edit and how to decipher what to publish and what not publish is just as important.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdd effects to your photos to make them more whimsical\nDave Fung and Yena Kim, co-founders of Menswear Dog, use programs and apps like Photoshop, Camera+, Instagram and Hipstamatic regularly. \"Effects can make a quirky photo even more whimsical by giving it a vintage feel,\" they say. \"Any number of filters and effects in Camera+ and Photoshop can achieve this.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYou can take long exposure shots on your smartphone\nGuest curator Finn Beales does freelance photography often using just his iPhone. He uses Average Camera Pro and Slow Shutter Cam to take long exposure shots, and then VSCO Cam and AfterLight to add finishing touches to his photos. \"Because of the long exposure time, you shouldn't hold your phone in your hands,\" he says. \"Either use a tripod or lean it against something to get sharp results.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDon't overlook anything\nGuest curater Dylan Isbell makes sure to steer away from the obvious and capture the things that might be a bit hidden. \"Look up, down\u2026 all around,\" he says. \"Also look beyond the reflection of yourself to see what play in front and behind you.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nConsistency is key\nOur guest curator Matt Lutton values consistency when he photographs. He uses the same programs each time he edits his photos in order to maintain similar colors and movement. \"I try to be as consistent with editing and toning as possible,\" he says. \"These two photos were taken months and hundreds of miles apart, but when next to each other they evoke the same feelings and emotions.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLight makes the photograph\nOur Mashable Photo Challenge guest curator Kevin Truong believes light is everything in photography. \"Whether it's soft or harsh, from a window or a flash, when used effectively it can beautifully set the mood for the photograph,\" he says.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse AfterLight and Over to add beautiful filters and fun text to your photos.\nOur guest curator Liz Eswein uses two apps to apply filters and text to some of her Instagram photos. Liz says, \"One of my favorite editing apps is AfterLight -- it provides such a great array of filters! Also, Over is one of my favorites -- great fonts and steedicons to use on your photos.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPolish your photos in Snapseed instead of Instagram. \nGuest curator Brian Difeo uses Snapseed to adjust contrast, sharpness and saturation on his photos before posting them to Instagram. Brian says, \"I take photos in the iPhone native app, and I take a LOT of photos so I have many options. In the native app I'll tap the screen to adjust the focus and exposure, and take some photos in HDR too. This way I have variety of photos to choose from before I edit and share on Instagram.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse Camera+ and Filterstorm to edit your photos\n\nOur Mashable Photo Challenge guest curator Murad Ossmann uses these smartphone photo editing apps to touch up his photos before posting them to Instagram.\nPhoto courtesy of Murad Ossmann \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBase your photos around a unique theme\n\nMurad Ossmann has an Instagram following of almost 270,000, and his feed is full of stunning pictures based on the theme \"Follow Me.\" These photos put a new spin on the traditional travel photo: instead of only photographing landmarks, he features his girlfriend leading him around the world by the hand. \nPhoto courtesy of Murad Ossmann \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nExperiment with natural light\n\nOne of our guest curators, Santiago PerezGrovas uses natural light to shoot his photos. What began as a limitation (he didn't know how to uses professional flashes) became his signature style. \n\"In a world of perfection, the production of the photos we see everyday is overwhelming, to the point that everything has to be flawless,\" says Santiago. \"I limit myself to use a simple camera, a model and the available light at the moment.\" \nImage courtesy of Santiago PerezGrovas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShare your photos on Instagram\n\n\nSantiago has more than 80,000 followers on Instagram. He posts regular updates around a central theme (shots of models and his friends). His signature style is instantly recognizable. \nImage courtesy of Santiago PerezGrovas\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUse Adobe Photoshop Elements to enhance your photos\n\nThe winner of the Photo Challenge Series Dan Evans, Jr., says to use Elements for basic adjustments like cropping, color, contrast and brightness. It is also sophisticated enough to creatively alter a photo without being too complicated.\nImage courtesy of Jeremy Cabalona\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHomepage image: Antonio Rull"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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