• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: How to do Landscape Photography and Nature Photos

Photography Question 
- Peggy J. Sells

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Peggy J. Sells
Peggy J. Sells's Gallery 		 

Blurring the Motion of Water


I understand that to blur the motion of water I need a slow shutter speed. When I slow the speed down I get a much brighter picture. Do I need to take this type of shot in low light to get the correct exposure? Or is there some other settings I need to pay attention to? I am using the Canon EOS 20D SLR.


To love this question, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 

Andy 		  Waiting for an overcast or cloudy day is one option. You can use the smaller aperture (larger f number) or lower ISO setting. You can also add filters to your lens. A polarizer or neutral-density filter cuts the amount of light hitting the sensor so a slower shutter speed can be used. Hope this helps.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 

Michael H. Cothran 		  You need to adjust your aperture after you slow down the shutter speed.
Michael H. Cothran
www.mhcphoto.net


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 

Brian A. Wolter 		 
 
 
I achieved this effect by setting my camera to these settings. f8.0, 1/15 sec, and ISO 100.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Peggy J. Sells
Peggy J. Sells's Gallery 		  Thanks for the responses. The only thing I haven't tried is the filter. That makes sense that it will cut down the light so I can use a slower shutter speed under daylight situations.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 

Andrew Laverghetta 		  Michael probably had what I would call the best answer. Simply using a longer shutter speed is going to definitely overexpose your image. For each stop you increase the shutter speed, you will need to close down the aperture 1 stop as well, and so on. If you use your camera on P (program mode) and turn the main dial, I'm not sure, but I think it will do this for you, although if you like to use it manually, you'll have to change the settings manually.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 

anonymous 		  Won't the indicator on your camera let you know that the photo is going to be overexposed? Which is then when you close down the aperture?


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Peggy J. Sells
Peggy J. Sells's Gallery 		  Natalie,
The issue of shutter and aperture is not where I am having a problem. It is getting the desired effect. When I adjust my aperture with my shutter the exposure is good but the effect of the water is not what I am looking for. I am learning that a major part of getting the look I need is it needs to be fairly dark location.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 
- Bob Cournoyer

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Bob Cournoyer
Bob Cournoyer's Gallery
 
 
 
Not necessarily "dark". Overcast/grey/drizzly but not midday.
Bob


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 27, 2005

 

Brian A. Wolter 		 
 
 
I was able to get the effect with the settings as I stated above, and I used my polarized sunglasses as a filter. I am going to try to get something darker than that to see if I can get the effect even better by using a slower shutter speed.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 28, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Peggy J. Sells
Peggy J. Sells's Gallery 		  Brian, will you upload a picture used with your polarized sunglasses to get the effect.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 28, 2005

 

Brian A. Wolter 		 
 
 
Peggy, I tried that in my last post, but it didn't work. I will try again now. If it still doesn't show up, just click on my gallery link under my picture and got to the photo titled "Rushing Water".


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 28, 2005

 

Joseph Finn 		  Peggy I use the same camera but with a 2 or 3 stop ND filter on sunny days, I have even used them together. They work great and I get the desired effect even slowing the shutter speed to 1/4 of a sec for a very silky water effect...Joe


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 28, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Peggy J. Sells
Peggy J. Sells's Gallery 		  Thanks Joe I will try the settings and filter.


To love this comment, log in above
0 February 28, 2005

 

Gabriel Pedre 		  If I may add my two cents, sometimes it's not a technical problem, but one of artistic result. Might I suggest taking two shots using a tripod. Take one where the water is perfect, take the secong where the envoronment is perfect, then use Photoshop or similar to combine the images for the desired results


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 01, 2005

 

Tiffany L. Cochran 		  The best effects I have seen of blurring water is by using the Neutral Density filters.


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 01, 2005

 

Gus D. Thomas 		 
 
 
Well I have a 20D also (I love it by the way)and have found that if it is bright out you do need a polorizing filter to help. 100 ISO will work best using f20 or more. If you are at f20 you should be at about 1/15 of a sec, which whould help get the effect you are looking for. But the BEST way , at least that I have found, is in full shadow, early or late in the day or on a cloudy day.


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 01, 2005

 

Gus D. Thomas 		 
 
  Yosemite waterflow
Yosemite waterflow
aperture f36, shutter .8 sec, lens 55 mm, location yosemite, time of day 10:30 AM

Gus D. Thomas

  
 
Well I have a 20D also (I love it by the way)and have found that if it is bright out you do need a polorizing filter to help. 100 ISO will work best using f20 or more. If you are at f20 you should be at about 1/15 of a sec, which whould help get the effect you are looking for. But the BEST way , at least that I have found, is in full shadow, early or late in the day or on a cloudy day.


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 01, 2005

 

Allen M. Aisenstein 		 
 
 
The exposure must depend upon the amount of blur you want as well as the available light. This depends in turn on the amount and speed of the water.
For example, a little waterfall will require a much slower shutter speed than Niagra Falls to show motion. It's best to experiment and gather experience by it. See one of my recent waterfalls shots taken at about 1 sec.
Hope this helps. Allen M. Aisenstein


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 02, 2005

 

Allen M. Aisenstein 		 
 
  Bushkill Falls (s1972)
Bushkill Falls (s1972)
Pocono Mountains shot of the Falls at about 1 sec. exposure. I used a Neutral density filter and a tripod of course. Lens opening not recorded.

Allen M. Aisenstein

  
 
The exposure must depend upon the amount of blur you want as well as the available light. This depends in turn on the amount and speed of the water.
For example, a little waterfall will require a much slower shutter speed than Niagra Falls to show motion. It's best to experiment and gather experience by it. See one of my recent waterfalls shots taken at about 1 sec.
Hope this helps. Allen M. Aisenstein


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 02, 2005

 

Tyler B. Sutcliffe 		  Along with all the other answers, try using a slower ISO, thus making the camera less sensitive to light, (and probably getting a better quality photo due to less noise or graininess)


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 03, 2005

 

BetterPhoto Member 		 
 
 
if you wanter cool water slow shuuter speed way down and ignore the blinking f/stop

this one is 30sec. f22 iso 100


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 04, 2005

 

BetterPhoto Member 		 
 
 
yup


To love this comment, log in above
0 March 04, 2005

 
Log in to respond or ask your own question.