Slow Shutter Photography Technique (after Alexey Titarenko)
- The Magazine For Photographers
- 9 hours ago
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Slow Shutter Speed Technique (After Alexey Titarenko)
This technique is inspired by the work of legendary photographer Alexey Titarenko, known for his haunting long-exposure photos of people (often crowds) that dissolve into ghost-like forms while the architecture around them remains solid. Up top I included some photos from other photographers recreating his technique, if you want to see the real thing however (highly recommended) you can visit Titarenko’s website here.
The idea behind the technique is actually pretty simple → You use a very slow shutter speed so moving people smear together or become transparent silhouettes, while anything stationary remains sharp.
Titarenko used this approach to convey atmosphere, history, and especially collective movement → for example (what I mean by this) he often used this technique at metro stations during rush hour.
What Makes This Different From Normal Long Exposure
Lots of long exposures blur motion, but this style has a very specific look
Stationary elements remain clean
Moving people become layered ghosts
Motion accumulates rather than it creating streaks
Repeated foot traffic builds up a density (again, I highly recommend checking out his actual work)
How to Shoot in This Style
STEP 1: Find the Right Scene
The location matters more than almost anything else.
Look for places where:
People move through the frame continuously
Architecture is strong and stable
There are natural paths or flow lines (the idea is to find a spot where people get naturally ‘funnelled’)
The background tells a story (not technically necessary, but its a ‘nice to have’)
Some good location examples, many of which Titarenko used:
Public squares, subways or metro entrances, staircases, bridges, markets (→ you want movement that repeats)
STEP 2: Lock the Camera Down
Sharp stationary elements are crucial
Use a sturdy tripod
Turn off stabilization
Avoid touching the camera during exposure
Use a remote or self-timer if you have that
STEP 3: Slow the Shutter Dramatically
You can experiment, but a typical range is:
5–30 seconds for moderate ghosting
30 seconds–2 minutes for very dense crowd textures
→ try lots of variations and see what works for you!
STEP 4: Let the Crowd Do the Work
After you set everything up, let the people do the work for you.
Wait for steady movement
Avoid large groups standing still in one spot (again, make sure to pic your location carefully)
Look for repeated paths (stairs, entrances, as mentioned are perfect), because people walking through the same space again and again creates that effect.
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