Long Exposure Photography Adventure at Aberthaw | South Wales Seascapes

The Draw of the Coast

There’s something special about returning to the coast after time spent in the woods. The open horizon, the constant motion of the sea, and the sound of waves breaking over rock — it all feels cleansing, almost meditative.

On this outing, I made my way back to Aberthaw, a familiar stretch of the South Wales coastline. The plan was simple: to reconnect with the sea and indulge in one of the genres that sparked my passion for landscape photography in the first place — long exposure seascapes.

It was a calm day with bright, even light — the kind of conditions that can make photography challenging. Shadows were soft, the light flat, and detail could easily be lost in the glare. Fortunately, a blanket of drifting clouds helped break up the brightness, and I knew they’d be perfect for creating movement and drama through long exposure photography. With the right filters, even a tranquil scene like this could be transformed into something moody and expressive.

Exploring Shutter Speeds with ND Filters

For this trip, I packed two trusted filters — the Lee Super Stopper (15 stops) and the Lee Little Stopper (6 stops). Using both gave me the chance to experiment with very different shutter speeds and visual effects from the same compositions.

With the Little Stopper, I worked around 1–2 second exposures, capturing the natural flow and rhythm of the sea. These shorter exposures keep a sense of life in the water — you can still feel its energy and motion.

Then, switching to the Super Stopper, I extended the shutter times into minutes rather than seconds. The effect was transformative. The moving clouds became long, streaked ribbons across the sky, while the sea turned glass-smooth — a visual contrast that only long exposure photography can achieve.

Having both filters in the bag meant I could decide in the moment whether to preserve the texture and energy of the water, or to completely smooth it into silence. It’s a creative choice that changes the mood of the image entirely.

Working the Aberthaw Coastline

Aberthaw’s coastline has a character all of its own — a mix of rugged natural forms and remnants of industry. Old sea defences, boulders, and weathered structures create strong leading lines that lend themselves perfectly to minimalist seascape compositions.

I spent time refining a handful of scenes, concentrating on clean horizons, simple geometry, and cloud movement to add flow through the frame. The gentle breeze helped keep the clouds drifting just enough to give motion, and as the tide shifted, I found new shapes and textures emerging along the shore.

The key was to work slowly — to watch, wait, and respond to subtle changes in the light and water. Sometimes, a two-minute exposure would reveal patterns in the clouds that weren’t visible to the eye in real time. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of long exposure work — you’re capturing something that unfolds too slowly for us to see naturally.

Back to Black and White

When I’m shooting long exposures at the coast, I often find myself drawn to black and white. Without colour, the attention shifts to tone, texture, and form — the elements that define minimalist seascape photography.

Back in Lightroom and Photoshop, I experimented with tonal curves and subtle contrast adjustments, enhancing the smooth gradients in the water and the streaking of the clouds. The results were exactly what I’d hoped for — classic fine-art seascapes: streaky skies, softened water, and bold foreground structure, all tied together in balanced monochrome.

Each image carried a distinct personality. The shorter exposures had texture and energy, while the multi-minute ones conveyed peace and stillness — two very different interpretations of the same scene.

Reflections on the Day

This visit to Aberthaw reminded me why I love this style of photography so much. Long exposure work slows everything down — it forces patience and mindfulness. You’re not reacting to the scene in front of you, but anticipating how it will evolve over time.

The coast has a rhythm that woodland photography doesn’t. The sea breathes in and out, the clouds drift constantly, and nothing ever stays still. Spending the day out there, working quietly through compositions, reminded me that photography isn’t just about capturing moments — it’s about feeling connected to the process.

And on a calm day like this, with the shutter open for minutes at a time and nothing but the sound of the waves for company, it felt like the perfect way to reconnect with what I love most about the craft.

Watch the Vlog

You can see how this day unfolded in my latest video:
🎥 [Long Exposure Photography Adventure at Aberthaw | Seascape Vlog]
In the vlog, I take you behind the scenes on location, show how I work with both the 6-stop and 15-stop ND filters, and share some of the resulting images straight from the shoot.