Light trails appear when you keep the shutter open for several seconds while cars drive through the frame, so their headlights and taillights draw glowing lines. You need a tripod, a long exposure of roughly 5 to 30 seconds, and a spot with steady traffic.
Gear and Location
Look for a place where you can see traffic from above or from a safe, legal spot off the road, such as a footbridge, a hillside or a public viewpoint. Curved roads, junctions and roundabouts give more interesting lines than a straight road.
- A sturdy tripod, weighed down if there is wind.
- A remote release or the camera’s two-second timer to avoid shake.
- A wide lens in the range of 16mm to 35mm for most scenes.
- A spare battery, since long exposures use more power.
Always stay away from the roadway and follow local rules about where you may set up.
Camera Settings
Use manual mode and treat the numbers below as a baseline to adjust once you see the first frame.
| Setting | General guidance |
|---|---|
| Mode | Manual, or bulb for very long exposures |
| Aperture | f/8 to f/11 for sharp detail and tidy light streaks |
| ISO | Lowest native value, such as 100 |
| Shutter speed | Roughly 5 to 30 seconds |
| Focus | Manual, set on a distant light and left alone |
| White balance | Fixed, such as daylight or a set Kelvin value |
Step by Step
- Arrive before dusk so you can compose while there is still some light in the sky.
- Mount the camera, frame the road, and turn off image stabilisation if your lens or body recommends it for tripod use.
- Focus manually on a distant light using live view magnification, then leave the focus ring alone.
- Set your aperture and ISO, then take a test frame at about 10 seconds.
- Check the image on the screen. If highlights are blown out, close the aperture or shorten the time. If trails are short, lengthen the exposure.
- Time the shutter so it opens as cars enter the scene, and keep it open until they have crossed.
Improving the Result
Blue hour, the short window after sunset, gives a deep sky that balances well against bright lights. A second exposure or a blend later can help if the sky is much brighter than the road. Clean your lens, because bright lights make dust and smudges more visible.
Shoot raw so you can adjust white balance and recover detail in post. Mixed lighting from sodium lamps, LEDs and headlights can look odd, so decide on a colour look and stay consistent.
FAQ
Do I need a neutral density filter?
Not at night. The scene is dark enough for long exposures without one. A filter becomes useful if you want long trails around dusk, when the sky is still bright.
Why are my trails broken up?
Gaps usually mean the traffic was sparse or the exposure was too short. Try a longer shutter time, or combine several frames in editing to fill the gaps.
The Short Version
Use a tripod, manual focus, a low ISO and an aperture near f/8, then expose for several seconds as traffic passes. Check a test frame, adjust time or aperture, and keep safety and local rules in mind when choosing your spot.
