You know those mornings where you set out expecting one thing and Mother Nature serves up something completely different? That was this morning. I’d planned for a calm, cloudless blue sky, maybe even a touch of drama at sunset — but I ended up shooting long exposures at sunrise, under moody, shifting skies. And honestly? I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Setting Up in the Unknown

Port Willunga greeted me with soft light and stormy skies. Not the golden glow I’d anticipated, but a deliciously unpredictable palette perfect for experimentation. Long exposure photography was the name of the game — no filters, just good timing and a sturdy tripod.

Started with a 8-minute exposure, that early there was no need for filters.
Adjusted down to 1.5 seconds for different compositions.
Used shutter priority mode early on to help lock in focus in the low light.

As always, my four-legged assistant Raffy kept things interesting — from walking into the shot to demanding a game of fetch mid-composition. He’s become a bit of a star on these trips.

Tips from the Field: Long Exposure Without Filters

This outing was a great reminder that you don’t always need fancy kit to create compelling long exposure shots. Here's what I learned (and re-learned):

Filters aren’t essential — early mornings and post-sunset light are low enough for longer shutter speeds naturally.
Tripods are a must — mine’s a carbon fibre model for strength and lightness, ideal for beach work.
If you're unsure about long exposure photography, just try it! Head out pre-dawn or after sunset, use shutter priority, and experiment.

Composing with Care

One of the biggest challenges was avoiding footprints and pawprints in the sand. I took care to adjust angles, coax Raffy out of frame, and focus manually to keep things sharp.

Highlights included:

A soft cascading waterfall over the rocks during a longer exposure.
Silky white water swirling around the old jetty pylons — a classic Port Willunga feature.
A variety of shots: ultra-wide panoramas, tight compositions, and crashing wave details.

Reflections and Final Thoughts

As the light brightened, I added in a 6-stop ND filter for the final shots, then swapped it out again for shorter exposures. I even threw on a soft grad filter to tame the sky in one last scene.

In the end, it wasn’t the light I expected, but it was exactly what I needed — a reminder of how therapeutic and joy-filled this art form can be. I left with a full memory card and a full heart.

Until Next Time

Thank you for coming along on this peaceful morning adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned long exposure shooter or just getting started, I hope this inspires you to head out, camera in hand, and see what the day brings.

Don’t forget — it’s not always about the perfect light. Sometimes it’s just about being there.

If you wish to follow the adventure and see how I overcome the challenges that hinders us all on location. If you do please visit the full video on my YouTube channel here.

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