How to photograph light trails - EASY TUTORIAL!

In this video, I explain how to photograph light trails. A beginner tutorial!
If you fancy taking pictures like the one in this video's thumbnail, then this video is perfect for you! I guarantee this kind of photography is way easier than you probably imagine. All you need is a half-decent camera and a sturdy tripod. Couple that with a good location, you're almost done!
This type of photography is perfect for wire-wool photography and firework photography too! It's typical of long exposure photography at night.
Watch the video and if you've got any questions please ask in the comments section.
Cheers
Gary
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[@JamesSharp11]

Gary you are soooo cool I've done light trails in my small town United States I'm so proud of them ..... James from Clinton Oklahoma

[@craigyb71]

I've never seen you look or sound more enthusiastic. This style is so underrated, you should do more like this. Fantastic images Gary

[@Richie_]

I've just got into photography and this is something on my list todo..

[@zoehatton5444]

Oh wow, I love the double layer of lights you get from the lorries. B&W is awesome

[@tonvanderkris3816]

Tanks for this video and the explanation. Helped me a lot! I’m gonna try it soon .

[@delipviswanandan5513]

Superb pictures

[@GaryGough]

Cheers 👍👍

[@gracecrawfordphotography6820]

Your passion for photography really shows, it is very infectious! Very enjoyable watch, please do more!! 😄😄

[@NildoScoop]

Great long exposures. The one before the B&W was the best.

[@valerievaleriem1769]

Will be travelling that section of motorway in 10 days time on my way to Northumberland.

[@vzshadow1]

Good fun. Thanks for a fun video!

[@justifiedsoul69]

Thanks for this Gary! I love light trails but haven't really done anything since lockdown, so needed inspiration for a new shoot to get me out again. Now I'm studying the maps of my local area looking for a potential location with a nice bend and some background to shoot!

[@jayeshpatel4158]

Great images. I liked your enthusiasm and passionate explanation a lot. Always learn something new from your videos.

[@GaryGough]

Thank you very much!

[@TheIMobile]

Ive done exactly this type of shot with the road leading to a sugar factory which is local to me but i've also taken some shots with trains for the light trails and what was Battersea power station as the backdrop with some really cool results especially at f22.

[@GaryGough]

Sound excellent. You'll have to post them on my FB group 👍👍

[@TheIMobile]

@@GaryGough I don’t FB anymore Gary I got stuck in that trap of taking pictures for social media rather than taking pictures for myself

[@BestrickwithRishabh]

THIS IS IT

[@Madtech70]

Stunning images nice work Gary

[@markpoole1879]

Welcome to my neck of the woods brilliant images took some myself from that very spot ferrybridge was working then 👍

[@stephenballam5593]

Very timely video Gary. I drove past there a couple of weeks ago and remembered your previous video and was going to go back and re watch as I'm thinking of having a go as I've not done any light trails for a while. Great video and great images.

[@stephenthompson1998]

Never been that interested until now, going to give this a go later in the year. Good vlog and photos very enjoyable.

[@clubroot3383]

Great educational video

[@williammilnthorp276]

Nice video Gary, i have been to this location many times, even captured it when the power station was working, i think the rest of the power station is coming down this August.

[@GaryGough]

I'll keep an eye for that. Cheers 👍👍

[@williammilnthorp276]

@@GaryGough Hi Gary 22nd August they come down facebook.com/KnottingleyAndFerrybridgeFOCUSteam/photos/a.2290891334524423/3031250157155200/

[@davidletz9123]

Gary, great images, as usual. I was not expecting a B&W image to be displayed, and it certainly had a wow factor all its own!

[@GaryGough]

Cheers David 👍👍

[@TudorSmithPhotography]

Another excellent video. Thanks for the tips. Lateness (in the summer months) seems to be the key. I’ve had a crack at this myself but my location was unimaginative. I love the way you made use of that S bend. Thank you 🙏

[@peterellarby19]

Enjoyed that, and very helpful. Thanks.

[@jaychaudhry4039]

Great video

[@GaryGough]

Thanks!

[@darrenpoulter5471]

Wow,Thats so cool,love that effect stunning.What camera did you shoot it on.

[@GaryGough]

Canon 5D3

[@AJ-yw5zy]

Great pictures Gary, just a shame Ferrybridge C is now a pile of dust, the only ones left are West Burton & Ratcliffe on Sour to get night time pictures of smoke stacks & cooling towers, up until 2025 then those too will be dust.

[@garythrelfall8268]

Hi Gary, thank you for showing this tutorial I’ve long wondered how to create fantastic quality images like these containing light trails. You make things look so easy! Keep em coming - stunning images as always.

[@dicklloyd9584]

Brilliant video. I went to that bridge tonight and got some fantastic shots. Many thanks, Gary.

[@robgardner6399]

Cracking video Gary, once again you break the technical aspects of photography down to a level that can be understood by the masses. Great dedication by the way too, that was a late night, we appreciate it.

[@SteveZodiac777]

Good stuff - thanks for sharing!

[@mikeswoods]

Great video and images, makes a nice change from the usual landscape photography 📷👍

[@GaryGough]

Thanks 👍 Cheers Mike

[@keith2599]

Excellent Gary and really enjoyed your work, subbed to you....AMAZING...

[@GaryGough]

Awesome, thank you! 👍👍

[@al3xtt]

Super nice. I guess that long exposures make everything looking 100 times better. You would never think that the highway can be so nice. As for being safe at night - a fellow photographer was attacked in Glasgow a few weeks ago and all his gear was stolen. It's a real shame. So you need to be careful.

[@GaryGough]

Very true!

[@0151gazza]

Gary nothing odd about standing on a motorway bridge with a camera, just ignore the horns, I was at it last weekend, on the A55 between Pensarn and Abergele in North Wales overlooking Gwyrch Castle where they film Ant & Dec and that show they do. Anyway I got nothing like you, I had to get off after a couple of hours it was freezing and nothing to show for it.

[@GaryGough]

Oh nooo! It's still fun trying though... at least that what I always tell myself 😁

[@Kevin_YouTube]

Hi Gary - How do you "activate the bulb timer"? Great video that I've watch quite a few times but I don't know how you extends the shutter speed beyond 30 seconds

[@GaryGough]

Hi Kevin, Either select "B" for bulb or simply slow your shutter down one click below 30 seconds

[@petergoldwing3698]

Excellent presentation. In a few days well have a rocket launch here in central FL at midnight. Ill take some long exposure pic Im a small guy but I carry a big gun to even the odds

[@GaryGough]

lol Looking forward to seeing the results, the pictures obviously and not the dead bodies 😁😁

[@darrenclare4460]

Hi Gary, great vlog as I'm quite new to photography and wanted to do light trails after watching one of your vlogs you mentioned focus a third of the way in,does this mean that if I have the grid lines on the live view screen that I just focus on the bottom line ,ie dividing my lcd screen into three sections ..hope this makes sense and thankyou 🙏

[@GaryGough]

A third (roughly) of the distance away from your camera.

[@SteveM109r]

Great video. Very helpful. Just subscribed.

[@GaryGough]

Awesome, thank you! 👍👍

[@thedisabledtraveller001]

hi Gary,just found your channel [and subbed], i am just starting with photography and loved this video and how easy it looked doing the light trails,i live just around the corner from this location and will be going there to give it a try ,thank you just going to binge watch a shed load of your videos

[@GaryGough]

Cheers. I’m sure you’ll capture some crackers 👍👍

[@MaliDaviesPhotography]

Takes me back to my first experiments with night time long exposures. But you did it very well 😂 unlike me, maybe the M6 and Lancaster services needs shooting. Loved the black and white version. Belting pal! Hope to see you soon! 👍

[@GaryGough]

Already looking forward to it xx

[@gnuhapi]

Beautiful shots. Have you ever done this with a major airport in the background?

[@GaryGough]

I haven't no but that's a great idea. Cheers 👍👍

[@andykennerley8159]

They are just stunning 👏 📸 👍 photos

[@maxrshelltrack7443]

I would've moved over to clear the building or zoomed in so its not in the frame.

[@2626stephen]

Wow just amazing

[@danmcculloch3928]

I would like to know if I could use a 18 to 55 or a 75 to 300 for theses kinda pictures

[@GaryGough]

Any lens Dan 👍👍

[@steveworthington930]

Good tip,s Gary, looking forward to useing live compasite on OMD Mk1, for lightening forecast for next 3 day,s, takes a base Exp then add,s only new movement/light frame by frame for hr,s if necessary, without over exposure.Diff to capture thunderstorm,s a breeze with this, metal tripod a bit dodgy thou?

[@GaryGough]

Good luck Steve 👍👍

[@steveworthington930]

@@GaryGough Thank you Gary, will post if half decent.

[@christopherdoherty4124]

i remember the video you was on about smoke coming out of the power station ?

[@GaryGough]

I've photographed it before with smoke/steam coming up. That was a few years ago :)

[@jemmypr.7400]

Fans from Indonesia ❤.... U really a pro... Explained complicated thing to the simple one. Genius 🎉

[@naked-eye-robbieknoxphotog3208]

Great pictures Gary and I know the location really well.

[@GaryGough]

Cheers 👍👍

[@jeremyking4730]

Thank you for making this useful video 📸 it helps a lot! Keep on shining God Bless you all 😇🤝💞

[@polisheverything1970]

Bloody hell this is about 4 mile from me and drive past there every day near enough. Thanks for the tutorial Gary.

[@dmwsvideo1]

Great vlog Gary 👍

[@GaryGough]

Cheers 👍👍

[@Danny_Roman.]

Gary this tutorial was amazing m8. Do you offer 1 2 1 's ? Would love to meet up and have a good chat.

[@GaryGough]

I do John yes. Either look here ( www.shootsmart.co.uk/1-2-1-landscape-photography-training/ ) Or you could consider becoming a member? More info here garygough.co.uk/members-only

[@Danny_Roman.]

@@GaryGough I will be in touch.

[@sarahbatsford4791]

Thank you Gary for this. Fab shots with starburst made me smile😊

[@magnusterminus4728]

You inspire me! Thanks👍👍

[@GaryGough]

Cheers Magnus 👍

[@GarethDanks]

Never tried this..! Oh except the cliche shot in Venice. Very cool. Be a great place to stand with a coffee and a few mates. Glad you got home safe ya “big lump” haha

[@GaryGough]

Lol I’m in Wales next week. Workshops 😁

[@TravelwithMontaque]

I have a Sony A6000 with a G-series F4 18-105 lense and I'm having trouble getting the settings right.

[@goranritterfeldt2608]

So much I like your enthusiasm. I will do it soon too I hope from a bridge in Riga. Take care. Göran from Latvia

[@johnpisani1769]

Thank you Gary. Looking forward to see more tutorials from you. John From Malta

[@dane652]

Cracking photos Gary, guess what I'll be doing for the next few nights? (Weather dependent) 😄

[@ovacik1]

Amazing photos, I bought a Nixon P1000 in 2018, still getting use to it. But def having a go at attempting light trails. Best wishes.

[@frankkjllefjord446]

Great video Gary. I'm not sure what lens are best to use for this and need your help to choose. I have a Tokina 11-18 mm f2.8 and a Tamron 22 -55 mm f3.5, which one would be best suited for light trails?

[@pvtpro1236]

The only “zoomed in” lens I have is a 135mm prime lens (on a aps-c sensor), other than a 50mm prime lens and a lens that can zoom up to 50mm… my question is: how will the 135mm fare with such a shot? And should I use that rather than the 50mm’s?

[@johncantrell614]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing!🙂

[@GaryGough]

Cheers John 👍

[@drewzze]

Well done...if those smoke stacks were on that would be amazing!

[@LaurensHoengenaert]

Thanks Gary for the nice video! I'm using a rather old Nikon D5100 DSLR camera and went out after dark to make some long exposure shots of cars passing by. As I don't have a live histogram to evaluate the right exposure, I used the built-in light meter. However, whenever a car with its headlights is approaching the camera the meter jumps (logically). Which value would you take to ensure a good exposure? Without any approaching car or with the approaching car? In the end I tried with long(er) exposures and the pictures turned out alright. But I have a feeling this was more trail and error than a calculated setting. Cheers!

[@QUARTERBAT]

I went to shoot this , vexact location good video .

[@GaryGough]

I'm sure you got a few nice shots too. Cheers 👍👍

[@philipedwardcaddick4294]

Hi Gary brilliant video with a lot of tips. My question is once you have gone beyond your camera,s longest shutter speed ( i.e. 30 seconds ) and into bulb how do you work out your correct shutter speed?

[@the_useless_photographer]

Try and be a bit more unique with your choice of music, an awful lot of KZbin photographer's are all using the same epidemic sounds music. That's my only criticism, images are spot on.

[@atsylor5549]

Where are you located that it’s that bright outside at 10:45 pm

[@MartinJSmithPhotographyUK]

Hi Gary, a nice set of pictures the one I liked the most was the black and white at the end.

[@vzshadow1]

My problem is that I'm in a small rural town and the traffic is insufficient for good light trail shots. I suppose that's a pretty good problem if you have to have a problem.

[@christopherglew7494]

If any fans of Gary are contemplating shooting this scene, you’d better get your skates on as they are blowing up the power station on 22nd August.

[@pauls3696]

Looks fantastic 😁 I'm going to try this just getting into long exposure not tried this yet but will do this week thanks for tips

[@pierrebernier4949]

Nice, even if not very recent ... you are still using the XPro head in this video ;-) Thanks for this tutorial !

[@vdo32]

Thanks..Your excitement is infectious.:)

[@codyfleming]

thanks Gary

[@nicknichols4249]

The monotone image was a peasant surprise!

[@SenorGancho]

Thanks Gary. I really enjoyed joining you on the shoot. Great tips and explanations. Minor point but perhaps emphasizing 'why' you selected 2" self-timer to avoid/reduce camera shake. Maybe you mentioned it and I missed it. I really appreciated seeing a couple of your favourite photos, love the tower lights!. My favourite F32, ISO 100 at 240 seconds for the combo of the tower lights/starbursts and night sky I did chuckle though as you spent all your time talking about the horrible building to the right so you went to 'portrait, but then during the shoot your were back in landscape talking about that 'bad' building :-) Night time is great it seems but as mentioned, in the winter months an early morning shoot would also work, especially for those of us living in the northern latitudes. Love the enthusiasm.

[@GaryGough]

I always take lots of photos, good or bad :)

[@mogbaba]

You might be good with images, but you are terrible with sound management!

[@cameraman2157]

really enjoyed your I'm heading out tonight to a local swamp which they are doing torch light boat rides through the swamp but should i use noise reduction? don't think you had mentioned that

[@susanfirth2279]

Light trails are fun to do. You made it easy to understand. My fave image was the 2nd from last (just before the mono version).

[@pjsam002]

Enjoyed this tutotrial. Nice ideas for the creative content

[@fmgypsy333]

So cool heading out to my local turnpike overpass now

[@maxramsey7860]

Great tutorial. Wish our overpasses where I live are open like yours is. We live in a place where overpasses are protected and you can't take these kinds of photos sad 😞

[@jangoofy]

What made you go back to landscape at about 08:00 from portrait to get rid of the building on the right ?

[@GaryGough]

I was shooting Landscape and portrait. The building was a little too bright though.

[@jangoofy]

@@GaryGough Sorry, I formulated that terribly after a long day of not taking pictures. What I meant was: up until 08:00 you made the got the composition down and ended up shooting portrait to get what you want and the building on the right out of the frame. Was wondering if there was a reason for going back to landscape and include the building, or it just was a change of heart :-)

[@motorsforthemasses]

Un fortunately my 80D will only do a 30 second exposure

[@GaryGough]

Most cameras will only do a 30 exposure. Research your BULB mode. 👍

[@rochelleahsamet8524]

Lovely photos! were you on Grovehall ln. I live half an hour from there? Thanx

[@BigPhilipUK]

It would look great with Noctilucent clouds in the sky if you were lucky enough to be pointing north or north east at this time of year.

[@steffore1]

Great shots as usual Gary and the B&W looks fabulous as well 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@GaryGough]

Thanks 👍

[@grahambriggsadventuredays]

Hi great videos I have a Nikon d3200 would I still be able to do this thanks

[@GaryGough]

Yes, absolutely. Photography is a science. The same principles apply no matter what camera

[@grahambriggsadventuredays]

@@GaryGough that's great thanks for your help I will give it a try

[@abwoturab29]

There is an nuclear facility in the background so taking a photo in this areas can be a crime be careful

[@ghulammurtaza451]

simply perfect. Enjoyed it and will try it soon

[@bozzi1971]

Brilliant video gary,shall get out and explore areas locally

[@davidmalone4017]

Terrific video-you are a wonderful teacher!!!

[@parkay3560]

nailed it!!! Thanks as ever for anther cracking video

[@stevenmcallister2362]

Absolutely fantastic love them 👍

[@grahamegannon9708]

This is something I have always wanted to try, one problem, I need to find a safe overpass to try it out near where I live!

[@rosssayer6524]

Just brilliant images,the S bend and Power station really make it. I've only ever tried this once but not a huge success, will be out looking for a suitable location now. Thanks for the tips Gary.

[@599miata]

Super video Gary. I will try that for sure.