Post by Rinconrolla on Jul 3, 2011 11:33:45 GMT -5
Water is one of the most variable substances one might encounter in the world. Crashing waves, serene lakes, flowing waterfalls, dangling droplets… Whatever form it's in, water can be beautiful, dramatic, dangerous, and, in just about every case, photogenic.
Taking beautiful pictures of water takes practice, patience, and a little bit of luck. Here are a few tips to help you get the best images you can.
Tiny bubbles and drops of rain
Dewdrops, raindrops, and dripping faucets can all provide interesting and fascinating pictures, but they're not easy to capture. You'll definitely need a tripod, a zoom or macro lens, and if possible, a shutter release cable or remote control. If your camera has a multi-shot mode, give that a try so you have more possible shots with which to catch that perfect image.
If you have the option, try experimenting with multiple light sources. You can also achieve different drop and splash effects by varying the depth of the water and the dish it's falling into. Using different liquids can also produce interesting effects — try adding food coloring to milk and dripping one color into another.
If you're photographing something like dew or raindrops on flowers, pay attention to the world that's captured inside the water. If you zoom in close, you might be able to see the upside-down reflection of trees, other flowers, or even yourself!
Freezing water on the move
A fast shutter speed and high ISO will allow you to freeze moving water such as waves, waterfalls, and splashes. This can produce especially fun shots of water sports such as surfing, water skiing, or diving. How fast a shutter speed you'll need will depend in part on how fast the water in question and the people in it are moving. A slow-moving river might be easily frozen in time at a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, while Niagara Falls or a competitive diver might require 1/500th. Again, your camera's multi-shot mode will yield the best chance at the perfect shot, and timing is everything!
Go long for smooth, soft lines
Many times, when people think of water photography, they think of pictures of waterfalls, where the water is a long, soft ribbon of light. The photo at the beginning of this article is a great example of this effect. This is the opposite of the freezing water technique described above and is accomplished by using a slow shutter speed. You'll need a tripod to alleviate camera shake, and it's easiest to convince your camera to use a slow shutter speed when you're working in low-light conditions. Deep shade such as in a forest, early morning, late afternoon, or even twilight can produce beautifully moody water shots.
In addition to using a slow shutter speed, set your ISO as low as possible, so you maintain the most detail. Using a small aperture (i.e., a high number) will also lengthen the exposure time and give you a lovely motion blur. Again, consider the speed at which the water is moving — long, languid waves require a much longer shutter speed to blur than a fast-moving waterfall. Try shutter speeds of 1/30 or even a second or more to get a nice, soft blur. Even slower speeds can achieve interesting abstract effects, as well — try setting your shutter for 20 seconds or more and see what happens!
Reflections
People are naturally drawn to reflective surfaces, and there's nothing more relaxing than the calm serenity of a mirror-smooth lake. As with all photography, capturing the most beautiful photo of reflections on water takes a bit of planning. Scope out the scene and determine where you'll find the best angle to shoot from. Pay attention to the reflections but also to the scenery in the foreground and background, and look for interesting details that will make your shot stand out.
Be sure to use a small aperture (i.e., a larger number such as f/11) so that everything is in focus. The angle and quality of the light also plays a huge role in pictures of reflections on water — the "golden hour" of early morning and late afternoon will give you that beautiful glow and interesting shadows.
Water photography is definitely one category that requires a lot of experimenting with different settings and techniques to capture the most beautiful photographs.
Source of this story www.tecca.com/column/photography-water-how-to-digital-photography-101/
Taking beautiful pictures of water takes practice, patience, and a little bit of luck. Here are a few tips to help you get the best images you can.
Tiny bubbles and drops of rain
Dewdrops, raindrops, and dripping faucets can all provide interesting and fascinating pictures, but they're not easy to capture. You'll definitely need a tripod, a zoom or macro lens, and if possible, a shutter release cable or remote control. If your camera has a multi-shot mode, give that a try so you have more possible shots with which to catch that perfect image.
If you have the option, try experimenting with multiple light sources. You can also achieve different drop and splash effects by varying the depth of the water and the dish it's falling into. Using different liquids can also produce interesting effects — try adding food coloring to milk and dripping one color into another.
If you're photographing something like dew or raindrops on flowers, pay attention to the world that's captured inside the water. If you zoom in close, you might be able to see the upside-down reflection of trees, other flowers, or even yourself!
Freezing water on the move
A fast shutter speed and high ISO will allow you to freeze moving water such as waves, waterfalls, and splashes. This can produce especially fun shots of water sports such as surfing, water skiing, or diving. How fast a shutter speed you'll need will depend in part on how fast the water in question and the people in it are moving. A slow-moving river might be easily frozen in time at a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, while Niagara Falls or a competitive diver might require 1/500th. Again, your camera's multi-shot mode will yield the best chance at the perfect shot, and timing is everything!
Go long for smooth, soft lines
Many times, when people think of water photography, they think of pictures of waterfalls, where the water is a long, soft ribbon of light. The photo at the beginning of this article is a great example of this effect. This is the opposite of the freezing water technique described above and is accomplished by using a slow shutter speed. You'll need a tripod to alleviate camera shake, and it's easiest to convince your camera to use a slow shutter speed when you're working in low-light conditions. Deep shade such as in a forest, early morning, late afternoon, or even twilight can produce beautifully moody water shots.
In addition to using a slow shutter speed, set your ISO as low as possible, so you maintain the most detail. Using a small aperture (i.e., a high number) will also lengthen the exposure time and give you a lovely motion blur. Again, consider the speed at which the water is moving — long, languid waves require a much longer shutter speed to blur than a fast-moving waterfall. Try shutter speeds of 1/30 or even a second or more to get a nice, soft blur. Even slower speeds can achieve interesting abstract effects, as well — try setting your shutter for 20 seconds or more and see what happens!
Reflections
People are naturally drawn to reflective surfaces, and there's nothing more relaxing than the calm serenity of a mirror-smooth lake. As with all photography, capturing the most beautiful photo of reflections on water takes a bit of planning. Scope out the scene and determine where you'll find the best angle to shoot from. Pay attention to the reflections but also to the scenery in the foreground and background, and look for interesting details that will make your shot stand out.
Be sure to use a small aperture (i.e., a larger number such as f/11) so that everything is in focus. The angle and quality of the light also plays a huge role in pictures of reflections on water — the "golden hour" of early morning and late afternoon will give you that beautiful glow and interesting shadows.
Water photography is definitely one category that requires a lot of experimenting with different settings and techniques to capture the most beautiful photographs.
Source of this story www.tecca.com/column/photography-water-how-to-digital-photography-101/