The shot below is one of my personal favourites from 2021. I arrived just as the Blue Hour was setting in and the conditions for a long exposure shot were ideal - the weather was calm and there was a light cloud coverage which added some beautiful pink hues to the sky.

Generally, when I arrive at a location, I like to take some time to explore and find the best places to set up a shot. On this occasion, I knew I wanted the lighthouse to be the focal point of my shot. I walked along the causeway and found a slab which was taller than the others which looked idea as a spot to set up. Here, I climbed up and placed my camera, mounted on a tripod looking towards the lighthouse. Being slightly above the rest of the causeway meant I could fit more in the frame, and also created a fantastic vantage point to guide the viewer toward the main subject of the scene.
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Below you'll see the settings and processes I used to get the final shot, which I hope will inspire you with your own photography too:
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Further reading:

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‍- Learn more about ND and GND filters with our guide to camera lens filters.

- Find more long exposure tips.

- Learn more about how to apply gradients to your images in Lightroom and Photoshop.

- See more stunning examples of leading lines in image compositions.

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Stay tuned for more 'How I got that shot' features, where we break down techniques on how you too, can get stunning results!