Derek Michalski: Long Exposures

Date Published 
Wed 28 Sep 2022

On Tuesday 27th we were addressed by Derek Michalski. Derek is originally Polish but has lived in London for a couple of decades now. He used to run a long exposure photography website (www.lemag.pro) but that has been discontinued.

Derek showed us some interesting images, talking about the techniques involved. He chooses the length of exposure to achieve different qualities in flattening water or streaking clouds, trying to mirror features of the image subject in the water or cloud. 

Derek uses graduated filters, neutral density filters, and the 2 stops exposure lost through a polarising filter, in various combinations to fit the ambient light and desired effect. He also uses screw-on infrared filters and split toning in post-processing.

Derek referenced the unpredictable results from long exposures: the ‘created’ sky can become an imaginary image in itself, as can longer exposures of choppy or running tidal water.

Lastly Derek spoke about the emotion that can be evoked by photographs with a moving story of his own past and wartime pillboxes.

All in all, a well attended thought provoking evening.

idse