see also:

• the Olympus OM-D system and how to make the most of it
• long exposure modes in Olympus cameras
• http://www.pekkapotka.com/journal/2014/5/22/live-composite-another-hidden-gem
• http://robertevangelista.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/20-long-exposure-using-nd-filter-using.html
• Ananda Sim's guide to Live Composite mode
• Using Live Composite mode for star trails - detailed explanation - very good
• http://www.creativeislandphoto.com/blog/live-composite-beyond-the-stars
• http://robinwong.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/an-epic-weekend-adventure-to-kuantan.html

image courtesy of http://www.slashgear.com/olympus-e-m1-firmware-v2-0-adds-tethered-shooting-more-15346215/

• Olympus were the 1st to introduce this Live Composite mode which is really an automated extension of their multiple exposure mode
• it allows you to take a sequence of exposures to build up an image by only adding in brightest areas from each exposure to create a final RAW image
• it is ideal for:
  • star trails
  • cloud trails at sunset
  • car light trails
  • shooting fireworks
  • lightning
  • shooting flowing water with long exposure appearance but with shorter exposures
  • aurorae
  • doing creative imagery with light painting
• it is available on all Olympus OM-D cameras except for the E-M5
• up to 3hrs shooting is possible but may require 2nd battery or AC power
• currently only allows lighten blend mode
• this equates to shooting a lot of images then “stacking” them in an image editor setting the blend mode to lighten, but in this case it is all done in the camera for you.

• put camera on a tripod and compose scene
• lock your focus
• set monitor brightness to lower (under Exp/ISO menu screen) to save battery
• set exposure mode to manual
• set aperture, ISO (usually to 200)
• set shutter speed to Live Comp
• press Menu button, and in Composite Settings, set:
  • the shutter speed for each exposure
    • need to ensure a single exposure does not over-expose the image - the camera will show the exposure meter value
    • range of composite setting goes from 1/2 sec to 60sec - so you may need to use an ND filter
  • aperture
  • number of composites to shoot
• press shutter release to take 1st base exposure
• press shutter release again to start the sequence of subsequent exposures
• press shutter release again to stop the sequence