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Category: How to do Landscape Photography and Nature Photos

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- Peggy J. Sells

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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.


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February 26, 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.


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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


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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.


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February 27, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

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  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.


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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.


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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?


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February 27, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

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  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.


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February 27, 2005

 
- Bob Cournoyer

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Not necessarily "dark". Overcast/grey/drizzly but not midday.
Bob


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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.


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February 28, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

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  Brian, will you upload a picture used with your polarized sunglasses to get the effect.


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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".


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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


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February 28, 2005

 
- Peggy J. Sells

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  Thanks Joe I will try the settings and filter.


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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


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March 01, 2005

 

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


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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.


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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.


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March 01, 2005

 
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