The addition of water to your summer photos can make for a magical capture IF you’ve got the right settings and you’re willing to play around with scale, perspective and light.
Below our ambassadors are sharing their tips for capturing great water photos. Enjoy!
#1 -Expose for the sky, then shoot from multiple perspectives.
This will give the color of the water in your photo a richer tone and allow you to capture interesting angles and details.
Emily of Everbranch Photography says,
Move your body. Try shooting from different angles to get the shot you’re looking for. Stand up, squat down. Your perspective will change a lot about how the water photographs. These photos were taken within an hour at the same beach. Shifting perspective and changing which direction I was shooting created completely different photos.
#2 – Play with shadows and light.
Watch how the light (or lack there of) plays off of the water and experiment with angles and focus.
Amy of My Letter-Sized Life says,
I like to play with the idea of shadow and light when taking water shots. One experiment I’ve liked using at sunset is to position my subject with the sun going down behind them. Then I take the shot completely out of focus and slowly dial it back in to where the silhouette of my subject is present, yet soft, and the light is creating a beautiful bokeh.
Maryam of Hi + Hello Photography says,
Try photographing at dusk, when water takes on an otherwordly quality. At the right angle, the water looks opaque and reflects the fading golden sunlight.
Emily of Everbranch Photography says,
Here Emily Ockwig achieves another extraordinary look on a rainy day. Absent of the suns bright rays she captures an obscured reflection of the trees and a beautiful silver glow off the overcast sky. When shooting puddles Emily suggests, “Move your body, shoot with a long lens, find your scene and wait for your story to unfold. Watch the puddle while staying aware of how everything else will effect your shot.”
#3 – Experiment with scale.
Don’t be afraid to show just how big (or small) your water is.
Emily of Everbranch Photography says,
When we were swimming in Lake Superior, I wanted to show just how small we are in comparison. I got low, shot wide, and sent my husband out a ways.
When shooting in puddles, however, remember that any surface textures may show in your photos. Little pebbles can add to the story, creating what might look like a starry sky.
#4 – Use slower shutter speeds to capture the flow of water
The beauty of a waterfall or other flowing water source is best captured with a slower shutter speed and a steady camera.
Marie-Pierre Capistran of Pretty Please says,
Waterfalls are best taken with very slow shutter speeds. This can be tricky when it is very sunny. It’s best to go on Aperture mode on your Camera. Then select a very small aperture Llike F 16 or f20. If it is really bright outside a ND filter can help. Try to always use a tripod for these shots or steady your camera on flat surface.
#5 – Use higher shutter speeds to freeze the water’s motion
This will works best when you have a subject that is engaging with a body of water big or small.
Amy of My Letter-Sized Life says,
Whenever I shoot my kids playing in the water I try to use a high shutter speed so I can capture all of the fun details that unfold as they splash around and play. Depending on the time of day, you may have to adjust your ISO or aperture to make sure you have enough light coming in.
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