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Shooting Water In Motion
Moving water is a compelling subject for photographs. You can capture the beauty of flowing or falling water in a number of different ways. For instance, you may choose to express its fluid motion, or you might decide to compose a shot where water droplets appear frozen in mid-air. Although photographing a continuously moving subject may seem intimidating at first, capturing water in motion really only requires knowledge of a few simple techniques. How to get started Getting started is simple. All you need is a digital camera that features a wide range of shutter speeds and a tripod. A neutral density filter is useful but not necessary. Creamy, fluid cascades: Taking long exposures of water Before you start shooting, assess your surroundings. Take note of the lighting. Are you facing the sun? Are you shooting from a shaded area? Next, decide what you want to photograph. You can shoot the entire cascade, or you can choose to focus in on just one area. You may even want to include the waterfall's surroundings. Once you've made these decisions, it's time to take a few "test shots" to determine the best angle. Set up your shot by mounting your digital camera on the tripod. Either a tele lens or wide lens will work. Be sure that your camera and the tripod are stable. Vibrations or movement while the shutter is open can ruin the shot. With your tripod in place, it's time to follow these 5 steps: 1. Set your camera to either manual or shutter-priority AE (S or Tv) 2. Set the ISO to 100 or less 3. Select a small lens aperture, between f/11 to f/22 is best 4. Select a slow shutter speed – note that it takes an exposure of at least five seconds to achieve a good level of blurring. The longer the exposure, the creamier the water will appear in the photo. 5. Set the self-timer Review the finished product and make any necessary adjustments to your camera settings and/or tripod location. How to freeze moving water The key to freezing a water droplet mid-fall is a fast shutter speed (at least 1/500 seconds), bright lighting and a quick reaction time. In addition to droplets, you can use this technique to capture images such as a wave breaking on a rock or the spray created by a waterfall. The faster the shutter speed, the more sharp and defined each water droplet will be. As mentioned above, bright conditions are ideal, and you'll want to shoot at either f/5.6 or f/4. If the lighting is dim, shoot at least 1/500, possibly even faster. You'll also want to increase your camera's ISO or use a flash. You'll get the best results if you're no more than 2 metres away from the subject because most flashes can't illuminate beyond that distance. Quick tips for taking superb photos of moving water: 1. Protect your digital camera from splashing water and sprays. Not only can water damage your camera, water droplets on your lens may show up in your photos. Wipe your camera frequently with a soft, lint-free cloth. Store your camera in a dry bag, and for extra protection, pick up a sachet of silica gel at your local camera shop. It will soak up any residual moisture. 2. When taking shallow depth-of-field photographs, the goal is to blur only the water. Sharp surroundings make a beautiful contrast to the flowing water. To accomplish this look, use a small lens aperture – f/11 or smaller if you have a digital SLR and f/8 if you're using a compact digicam. 3. Your camera's exposure meter can be tricked by white, bubbly water. To fix this problem, select a spot or partial metering setting. Then, measure the exposure on a mid-tone area located within the subject. Something like a tree or rock will work well. This article is brought to you by Canon New Zealand - helpful photography tips for your digital camera. About Canon Canon New Zealand is a leading provider of advanced, simple-to-use imaging solutions for businesses and consumers. Canon has ranked among the top-three US patent recipients for the past 15 years, and had global revenues of around $US39 billion in 2007. Canon New Zealand also operates Canon Finance New Zealand, which offers one-stop shopping for customers wanting leasing or finance services. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com |
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