The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renown for its
huge array of wildflowers, and its beautiful flowing streams. It is an
incredible water world. Today’s photo shows a small portion of a large stream
in the late afternoon. The yellowish reflections are the late day warm-toned
reflections of fresh spring leaves on the surrounding trees.
Photographing moving water can be fun and creative.
Photographers often ask about the best shutter speed to show the movement of
water. The answer is that there is no one standard answer. Water moves at
different speeds, depending on how full a stream is and how much water is
flowing at any given time. After a rainfall streams often flow at a faster rate
of speed, so a faster shutter speed than you used the last time you
photographed the same stream might provide the same look.
Also, some people prefer a softer look which is achieved
with a slower shutter speed, while others prefer a less soft look achieved by
using a slightly faster speed.
The best approach is to try a variety of shutter speeds, and
then decide after downloading your images which ones work best. I generally
start with a shutter speed of about ¼ second. Then I double the time with each
succeeding shot, going to ½ second, then 1 second, then 2 seconds and so on.
Set the ISO at 100. Use Aperture Priority and set the f/stop
as high as it will go on your lens, perhaps f/22 or f/32. Then see what the
shutter speed is.
If you cannot get the shutter speed slow enough, add a
polarizing filter or a neutral density filter. Either of these, or both in
combination, will cut the amount of light getting through the lens, and
consequently will allow you to slow down the shutter speed.
It is best to photograph moving water on overcast days, or
early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when no direct sunlight strikes
the surface of the water. Direct sunlight on water can create very bright white
areas, causing extreme contrast and making it difficult to maintain good detail
in the whites as well as in the dark tones.
Try a variety of shots, some showing a long view of the
stream, and others showing close up vignettes of smaller areas. The best way to
learn what works best for you is to just get out there and shoot!
TECHNICAL DATA
Shutter Speed 4 seconds.
Aperture f/32. ISO 100. Lens: Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS, set at
200mm. Camera: Canon 5D Mark III. Gitzo tripod with Really Right Stuff
ballhead.
TODAY’S QUOTE: “Practice is the best of all
instructors.” --Publilius Syrus