Table of Contents
Introduction
Discover how to create beautiful motion blur effects with your iPhone using the built-in Live setting to produce, for example, silky smooth flowing water in streams and rivers. Capturing such photographs often requires expensive camera gear and at the very least a tripod. However, with just your iPhone, you can achieve similar results. Utilizing a simple feature transforms ordinary snapshots into compelling fine art images. Let’s dive straight in!
Step-by-Step Instructions
I will use a photograph that I took on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok as an example of the technique. This location has an old broken concrete pier extending out into the river which is an ideal subject.
Overview
- Make sure Live Photo setting is on.
- Compose and take the photograph.
- Select Live > Long Exposure.
Detailed Guide
Open the Camera app on the iPhone and locate the Live Photo icon. This might be visible in the top right of the screen. It looks like a set of concentric rings. If there is a diagonal line through the icon, then the setting is off. Tap it once, and now the feature will be active. If there is no diagonal line, then Live Photo is already on. If the Live Photo icon is not visible, then tap the six dots in the top right to access the camera controls.
Locate the Live Photo icon in the camera controls panel. It looks like a set of concentric rings. If there is a diagonal line through the icon, then the setting is off. Tap it once, and now the feature will be active. If there is no diagonal line, then Live Photo is already on.
Frame your shot and take a picture in the normal way. When you tap the shutter button, the word “Live” on a yellow background should appear at the top of the frame for a few moments. Keep the camera still after pressing the shutter until the Live indicator disappears. Navigate to the Photos app view of the picture you’ve just taken and tap on the “Live” dropdown menu in the top left.
Tap “Long exposure” in the drop-down list that appears.
After a few moments, the long exposure photograph will be displayed. This is not a permanent change and you can revert to the original photograph by tapping “Long exposure” and selecting “Live off”.
Wrapping Up
Although you can create some pleasing effects with this technique, you are limited to just a few seconds of exposure and cannot extend this. This should be perfect for getting silky smooth streams and waterfalls. However, for more dramatic effects, you will need camera equipment which can extend the time to 30 seconds or more. The procedure to do this is explained in my Long Exposure Photography: A Step-by-Step Guide post.
Motion Blur FAQ
No, just hold the phone still until the “Live” indicator goes out.
The location is given in the map in my Ultimate Walking Guide to Khlong San, Bangkok’s Riverside Gem post.
No. I used an iPhone 13 for the photographs in this guide. I believe Live Photos has been available since 2017.
Locate the Live Photo icon in the camera app and tap it so it has a diagonal line through it. This indicates it is off.
Almost certainly yes. Look for a feature like “Motion Photo”, “Moving Picture”, “Smart Take”, or “Dynamic Shots”.
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