Tips For Photographing Lakes

Taking photos of water may sound simple, but there is a lot of thought that goes into a nice photo and an exceptional one. You need to consider the time of day, in terms of light and amount of film exposure. Too much sun can washout sections of a photo. Since the human eye makes changes in what is seen unlike a camera, the use of gradient lenses may be useful. The use of a tripod eliminates shaken camera blurs when the shutter button is pushed.

You will need to adjust the shutter speed to capture the unique qualities of moving water. Your camera should be set on 1/250 or higher for fast shutter speed. You may also push the shutter button down half-way and move until you capture the water moving the way you like. Dramatic shots of foliage and boats make for great reflective photos when the lake is calm. If you keep your camera in action mode, you will be ready for the unexpected, such as a moose at the lake's edge.

To help set your shutter speed correctly and maintain sharpness, you should set the speed the same length as the focal lens. If you are using a 100mm lens, the speed should be set for 1/100 of a second. Seeing as wide lenses do not show camera shakes as much as other lenses, try to use a 1/60 of a second speed when your camera is hand held. Your photos will have more visual interest if you have framed it by carefully including a fallen tree in the water, along with some rocks or flowering bushes. For the best photos, the camera should be set on a tripod using a digital camera set at ISO100.