Explain a long exposure to me.
The interviewer is testing your knowledge of the basic principles of photography. This will let the interviewer determine your technical acuity relative to lens optics and your ability to adjust different settings to influence the look and feel of photographs.
A long exposure is achieved by setting a long shutter speed. It is commonly used to create a sense of motion in a photo. Some examples would be shooting a waterfall or street traffic to create a sense of movement. When using a long exposure for a waterfall, the water blurs to look more fluid. When photographing traffic, the headlights and tail lights of vehicles streak. A tripod and a bulb release are important components in successful long exposure shots.
The goal of your answer is to showcase an in-depth knowledge of the technical aspects of photography.
Focus on what a long exposure is in photography. Show the interviewer that you have a good command of the factors involved with a long exposure by explaining why it is used in photos.
