How to take long exposure Photos on Samsung?

Taking long exposure photos on a Samsung Galaxy phone, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (as seen in the provided reference where a user aims to capture city skylines and highway light trails), is entirely possible and allows for stunning creative effects like silky smooth water, streaking car lights, and star trails.

The primary method for achieving true long exposure photography on most Samsung Galaxy devices involves utilizing the Pro Mode within the camera app.

How to Take Long Exposure Photos on Samsung Galaxy

Capturing long exposure shots on your Samsung device involves manually adjusting specific camera settings to control how long the sensor is exposed to light.

1. Essential Gear for Long Exposure

Before diving into settings, ensure you have the necessary equipment for stable, blur-free shots:

Tripod: Absolutely crucial. Any camera movement during a long exposure will result in a blurry image. For shots like city skylines with moving traffic, as desired by the user in the reference, a sturdy tripod is indispensable.
Remote Shutter Release or Timer: Pressing the shutter button manually can introduce slight camera shake. Using a remote or the built-in timer (e.g., 2 or 10 seconds) prevents this.
Dark Conditions: Long exposure works best in low-light environments (night, dusk, dawn, or indoors).
ND Filter (Optional but Recommended): A Neutral Density (ND) filter reduces the amount of light entering the lens without affecting color. This allows for longer shutter speeds even in brighter conditions, expanding your long exposure opportunities.

2. Using Pro Mode for Long Exposure

Pro Mode gives you manual control over key camera settings.

Step 1: Open Camera App & Select Pro Mode
- Launch the Camera app on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
- Swipe through the modes at the bottom (e.g., Photo, Video) until you find "More".
- Tap "More" and then select "Pro".

Step 2: Adjust Key Settings
In Pro Mode, you'll see various sliders and options. Focus on these for long exposure:

Setting	Icon	Purpose for Long Exposure	Recommended Starting Point
Shutter Speed	`S`	Controls the duration the sensor is exposed to light. Longer speeds create light trails and smooth motion.	1 second to 30 seconds (or more)
ISO	`ISO`	Determines the sensor's sensitivity to light. Higher ISO introduces noise.	As low as possible (e.g., 50, 80, 100)
Focus	`MF`	Sets the focal point. Auto-focus can hunt in low light.	Manual Focus (`MF`), set to infinity for landscapes
White Balance	`WB`	Adjusts color temperature.	Auto (`AWB`) or specific for ambient light

Shutter Speed (S): This is the most crucial setting.
- Tap the S icon and drag the slider to increase the shutter speed. You'll see values like 1/1000 (fast) to 1/2 (half a second), 1 second, 5 seconds, up to 10 seconds, 30 seconds, or even more depending on your model.
- For light trails from cars on a highway (as desired in the reference), start with 5-10 seconds and adjust. For smoothing water, you might need 15-30 seconds or longer.
ISO:
- Tap the ISO icon. For long exposure, you generally want to keep your ISO as low as possible (e.g., 50, 80, 100) to minimize digital noise, which becomes more apparent in longer exposures.
Focus (MF):
- Tap the MF icon (Manual Focus). In low light, auto-focus can struggle. Drag the slider to set your focus manually. For distant subjects like city skylines, set the focus to near infinity (usually represented by a mountain icon or the far end of the slider).
White Balance (WB):
- Adjust WB to achieve accurate colors. AWB (Auto White Balance) works well, or you can manually select presets like "Daylight," "Cloudy," or "Incandescent" based on your lighting conditions.

Step 3: Compose and Capture
- Mount your Samsung phone securely on a tripod.
- Frame your shot.
- Initiate the photo using the shutter button, a remote, or the self-timer to avoid camera shake.

3. Tips for Best Results

Shoot in RAW (DNG): In Pro Mode, you can often choose to save photos as RAW (DNG) files. These files contain more image data, allowing for greater flexibility during post-processing to recover details and adjust exposure without losing quality.
Experiment: Long exposure photography is about trial and error. Take multiple shots with varying shutter speeds and ISO settings to find what works best for your scene.
Consider Light Sources: Be mindful of bright light sources, as they can cause overexposure or lens flares during long exposures.

By mastering Pro Mode, your Samsung Galaxy phone transforms into a powerful tool for capturing mesmerizing long exposure photographs, just like the aspiring long exposure photographer with their Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.