Slow Shutter

Photographer

Community

$I took this shot in the middle of the night with a flash light and my camera\'s pop up flash (before I had a flash housing). The image was not touched up or photo shopped in any way. The fire looking stuff on the right side of the image is actually the street lamps in the parking lot, the camera was moving so much (slow shutter) and it created this effect. I thought it was pretty cool since the wave was in focus. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

I took this shot in the middle of the night with a flash light and my camera's pop up flash (before I had a flash housing). The image was not touched up or photo shopped in any way. The fire looking stuff on the right side of the image is actually the street lamps in the parking lot, the camera was moving so much (slow shutter) and it created this effect. I thought it was pretty cool since the wave was in focus. Image: Croman

$Heart Wave. Slow shutter and flash during a sunrise session. My wife pointed out it was a \"heart-shaped wave.\" The flash was able to expose the wave properly, even capturing some of the spit coming off the wave in the foreground. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Heart Wave. Slow shutter and flash during a sunrise session. My wife pointed out it was a "heart-shaped wave." The flash was able to expose the wave properly, even capturing some of the spit coming off the wave in the foreground. Image: Croman

$Big day at Waimea just a week ago (after Christmas 2013) the shore break was too gnarly to surf but the point was breaking nicely. When the sun was about to set it created a nice back light and nicely lit up the waves for a few minutes. Slow shutter also exaggerated the mist from the waves too. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Big day at Waimea just a week ago (after Christmas 2013) the shore break was too gnarly to surf but the point was breaking nicely. When the sun was about to set it created a nice back light and nicely lit up the waves for a few minutes. Slow shutter also exaggerated the mist from the waves too. Image: Croman

$This shot was taken in the morning (you can see see the orange in the skyline), it\'s a challenge to hold the camera still enough to get these types of shots. I\'m pretty stoked with the colors and movement of this image. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

This shot was taken in the morning (you can see see the orange in the skyline), it's a challenge to hold the camera still enough to get these types of shots. I'm pretty stoked with the colors and movement of this image. Image: Croman

$A very recent shot I took on the west side of Oahu. I slowed the shutter down a bit and was able to capture some gnarly air vortex bands in the wave. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

A very recent shot I took on the west side of Oahu. I slowed the shutter down a bit and was able to capture some gnarly air vortex bands in the wave. Image: Croman

$After the sunset at Keiki Beach. Waves were too big to go in, no one was out, but I slowed the shutter down to get some good movement on the images. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

After the sunset at Keiki Beach. Waves were too big to go in, no one was out, but I slowed the shutter down to get some good movement on the images. Image: Croman

$Green Monster. This wave looks smaller than it really was. The sun just came up so I was lucky to capture this before it was too bright out. I used a flashed and slow shutter to get the image. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Green Monster. This wave looks smaller than it really was. The sun just came up so I was lucky to capture this before it was too bright out. I used a flashed and slow shutter to get the image. Image: Croman

$Heavy day up in the North Shore. This was taken at Off the Walls using a slow shutter. Very heavy surf. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Heavy day up in the North Shore. This was taken at Off the Walls using a slow shutter. Very heavy surf. Image: Croman

$This was a beautiful sunrise, but the moment after this shot, I had a jellyfish get caught in my rashguard and it was stinging the hell out of me for a few minutes. People on the beach thought it was hilarious that I was screaming and trying to get it out. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

This was a beautiful sunrise, but the moment after this shot, I had a jellyfish get caught in my rashguard and it was stinging the hell out of me for a few minutes. People on the beach thought it was hilarious that I was screaming and trying to get it out. Image: Croman

$Big day at Sandy Beach. I sat on shore and just photographed as many clean barrel shots I could. This was one of my favorite ones from that day. No flash. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Big day at Sandy Beach. I sat on shore and just photographed as many clean barrel shots I could. This was one of my favorite ones from that day. No flash. Image: Croman

$I had no idea I got this shot until after I saw my photos later that night. The sun was setting at this popular North Shore break, the kid going through the back of the wave made for a trippy shot. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

I had no idea I got this shot until after I saw my photos later that night. The sun was setting at this popular North Shore break, the kid going through the back of the wave made for a trippy shot. Image: Croman

$Bodysurfer at Sandy beach just after sunset. I liked this shot because he was looking right at the camera. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Bodysurfer at Sandy beach just after sunset. I liked this shot because he was looking right at the camera. Image: Croman

$Clean day with the sun setting in the background. The waves were not incredibly big, but this wave seemed to create a lot of movement when I slowed it down. I\'m happy with the results. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Clean day with the sun setting in the background. The waves were not incredibly big, but this wave seemed to create a lot of movement when I slowed it down. I'm happy with the results. Image: Croman

$Sunset session, the sky and colors were beautiful but unfortunately if you slow the shutter down you blow out the sky and lose the colors. The trade off is having the wave\'s movement which I\'m happy with in this shot. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Sunset session, the sky and colors were beautiful but unfortunately if you slow the shutter down you blow out the sky and lose the colors. The trade off is having the wave's movement which I'm happy with in this shot. Image: Croman

$Pipe Masters Day 1. Not sure who this guy getting barreled was. I took a series of shots of him getting barreled, and the shutter was slowed down quite a bit. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Pipe Masters Day 1. Not sure who this guy getting barreled was. I took a series of shots of him getting barreled, and the shutter was slowed down quite a bit. Image: Croman

$Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Image: Croman

$Sunrise with the camera being pulled through the wave (you can see the movement of my camera being pulled back during the shot) I thought it was an interesting shot. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Sunrise with the camera being pulled through the wave (you can see the movement of my camera being pulled back during the shot) I thought it was an interesting shot. Image: Croman

$This was taken during the Pipe Masters Day 1. This guy wasn\'t in the competition but he caught this really nice wave at Off The Wall. I slowed the shutter down quite a bit for this shot. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

This was taken during the Pipe Masters Day 1. This guy wasn't in the competition but he caught this really nice wave at Off The Wall. I slowed the shutter down quite a bit for this shot. Image: Croman

$Pipe Masters Day #1, not sure who this guy was but he caught a nice wave, I slowed the shutter down to create more movement in his ride. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Pipe Masters Day #1, not sure who this guy was but he caught a nice wave, I slowed the shutter down to create more movement in his ride. Image: Croman

$I call this \"Lone Surfer.\" I recently took this on the west side on a BIG day. There were double over head bombs coming through. This was immediately after the sun had set and the waves were still rolling in. He caught a wave in shortly after this shot. I thought the effect of the waves passing over him while he sat out waiting for a set looked interesting. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

I call this "Lone Surfer." I recently took this on the west side on a BIG day. There were double over head bombs coming through. This was immediately after the sun had set and the waves were still rolling in. He caught a wave in shortly after this shot. I thought the effect of the waves passing over him while he sat out waiting for a set looked interesting. Image: Croman

$Pipe masters Day 1 - Not sure who this surfer is, but I slowed his sequence down quite a bit to get the effect. Image: <a href=\"http://gokenji.com/port/\" target=\"_blank\">Croman</a>$

Pipe masters Day 1 - Not sure who this surfer is, but I slowed his sequence down quite a bit to get the effect. Image: Croman

There are so many great surf photographers in Hawaii that the competition is very high. I try to separate myself from the rest by using the slow shutter speed technique that you see here. I want people to see a beautiful wave in motion or a surfer on a wave and interpret their movement with your mind rather than your eyes. Further, I want people to associate these photos with my style. As tough as nailing a good slow shutter speed image is, in my opinion, I would rather risk not getting a shot than miss out on a good one done correctly.

See more of Kenji’s work on his website, Facebook and Instagram.

Contribute

Join our community of contributors.

Apply

Newsletter

Contribute