How to Take Long Exposure Photos on a Google Pixel Phone

Have you ever seen those cool photos of the night sky where it looks like the stars are all shooting in a circular pattern across the sky? Long-exposure photos can be breathtaking, and you may be surprised to know all you need is a Google Pixel phone to take one.

What is Long Exposure?

If you’ve come to this guide wondering what “Long Exposure” photos are, we’ll start there. It’s all about playing with time—specifically, how long the camera captures light.

Your phone’s camera has a shutter, like a tiny curtain that opens and closes. Shutter speed dictates how long that curtain stays open, controlling the amount of light that is exposed to the sensor–hence the name “Long Exposure.” A longer opening means more light, and that’s where the magic happens.

With long-exposure photography, instead of capturing a single moment, you’re capturing a slice of time. A classic example is photographing car headlights at night. With long exposure, the moving cars leave trails of light, showing their path through the frame. It’s not just a snapshot; it’s a record of motion.

To do this on your Google Pixel phone, we’ll be using the dedicated “Long Exposure” mode that simplifies the process. But here’s a crucial tip: you’ll need a stable surface, preferably a tripod. Long exposures mean any small movement, like a shake from your hand, will result in a blurry, chaotic image. A tripod keeps your phone perfectly still, allowing you to capture those smooth, mesmerizing light trails.

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How to Adjust Shutter Speed on a Google Pixel Phone

Depending on your specific Pixel phone, there may be more than one way to adjust the shutter speed, which is what we need to do to take a long exposure photo. Most Pixel phones have a dedicated “Long Exposure” mode alongside Portrait mode, Night Sight, etc. However, the “Pro” Pixel phones also have manual camera controls, including Shutter Speed.

1. For the simple method available to all Pixel phones, start by launching the Camera app.
2. Make sure you’re in “Photo” mode at the bottom of the screen.
3. Now swipe over to the left until you find “Long Exposure.”
4. Google gives you five options for shutter speed: .5, 1, 2, and 5. These numbers represent the number of seconds the shutter will be open.
5. With your phone steady, tap the shutter button and wait for the photo to be fully captured.

If you have a “Pro” Pixel phone, you have the option to really fine-tune the shutter speed. With the manual camera controls, you can go all the way up to 16 seconds of exposure time (or as quick as 1/10,000th of a second).

1. Start by launching the Camera app.
2. Make sure you’re in “Photo” mode at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the setting icon in the bottom right corner.
4. Swipe over to “Shutter Speed” and tap it.
5. Above the shutter button, use your finger to adjust the slider until you hit your desired shutter speed.
6. With your phone steady, tap the shutter button and wait for the photo to be fully captured.

There are some other settings you may want to tinker with if you have the Pro manual controls. Smartphone cameras are locked to a specific aperture, but you can adjust the ISO. This determines how sensitive the sensor is to light. At lower ISOs, more light has to fall on the sensor to get the same exposure than at higher ISOs.

Typically, this is something your Pixel will automatically adjust. For long exposures, the ISO will usually be low since the sensor is going to be exposed to light for longer than normal. High ISO would result in a blown-out photo.

Also, it’s a good idea to take advantage of manual focus if you can. This will ensure the focal point of the photo stays the same throughout the capturing process.

That’s all there is to it! The real key is to keep your Pixel as still as possible when taking long exposure photos. You can get some awesome results with the right setup. Just take your time and try out a few different settings to get it right.

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