The
Photographer's SupplyStation Newsletter
By
“PhotoSource3”
on eBay
Welcome to the
Photographer's SupplyStation Newsletter!
This is the Water
issue.
So how can we get mystical images
of misty waterfalls like this? It's easy. Read on.
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Thank You
for your interest this
newsletter, and I hope you'll enjoy receiving it. In
every issue, I'll provide interesting and helpful photo
and/or video tips and techniques, and (of course) I
In this issue I'm covering a
subject that you can find everywhere, won't cost you a
cent (unlike models:), and for many of these images you
won't even need any lighting equipment at all!
We'll show you how to
capture some really different and interesting images of
water. Water? Sure! And whether we're at home or
outdoors, you might as well make some different and
visually arresting pictures. We don't even have to leave
home to get great "liquid" pix, like the little "Drip"
shown here (and larger below). And we can get some
really mesmerizing pictures when we're outdoors.
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Water is a fantastic
subject for photographers,
and this is the perfect time to get out there and make some
amazing water pictures. If you want to freeze each droplet of
water, use fast shutter speeds. But if you'd like to get the
enthralling effects like in the two pictures below, where the
water floats in a soft mist, you have to do the opposite; you
have to use slow shutter speeds. And don't even think
that you'll need a super-duper high-end digital SLR! And even if
you forget to bring your camera along when enjoying an outdoor
excursion, it's likely you'll have a cell phone with you. Yes,
the little camera built into most cell phones is capable of
making some great water images. But do your best to slip your
camera into your pocket or purse. You'll be glad you did. |
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Ah, such silky-smooth "cotton candy" fluffy cloud effects are
pretty easy to make. You can create this mysterious-looking
floating mist with a camera and a tripod and a s-l-o-w shutter
speed. To get such great DOF (Depth Of Field), you'll want to
use a small aperture (try f16). Set your camera on a solid
tripod, carefully compose your shot, and then start with a 1
second shutter speed, and then decrease the shutter speed in 1/2
second intervals (first 1 second; then 1 1/2 seconds, then 2
seconds, etc.) up to 10 or even 15 seconds.
Set your sensitivity high; try ISO
400, and keep going higher (up to 1600) until you get the
results you like. See what settings ring your bell. Friends will
be amazed. |
This type of image won't require too small of an aperture,
because the Depth of Field is somewhat less. But also try some
alternative apertures; and try lots of alternative settings;
experiment. The greatest accomplishments come from folks who
weren't afraid to push the envelope. So push hard, and see what
happens. |
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Go for the slow shutter speeds:
for the misty, dreamy look. If you'd like to get the soft and
floating effects like in these images above, where the water
floats in a mysterious mist, you have to use s-l-o-w shutter
speeds. How slow? At least 1/4 second, but generally
you'll want to use 1 to 2 seconds (the pix
above were both over 4 seconds). Then use even slower shutter
speeds (try 5 seconds, 10
seconds, 15 seconds, and 20
seconds; then when you get home and can see the images better
(on your computer's monitor or printed out), label each image
you like with the camera settings and shutter speed (length of
time), so you can repeat your favorite effects in the future.
Depending upon the capabilities your camera, you'll most likely
have to set your camera on "Manual" in order to get the longer
shutter speed settings. IF you have a point-and-shoot camera
without a manual override, and if your camera complains, or
won't let you use a slow enough shutter speed, all you have to
do is set the ISO settings to a lower sensitivity or use a
smaller aperture, or a little of both. Try setting your camera's
ISO/ASA at 100, or 64 or even 25. It's not hard to do, and
everyone will think you're a great photographer! ;-) Why?
Because you ARE a great photographer! And as you learn how to
get more interesting images you will become an even better
photographer. Keep coming back to Photographer's SupplyStation -
“PhotoSource3” on eBay and you'll learn lots more. For free.
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Catching a drop of water as it falls calls for a fast shutter
speed and - if available - a macro lens. Use a wide open
aperture to blur the background, and place a poster board of a
color of your choosing behind the dripping water to give it a
smooth and interesting color background. Start at 1/500th of a
second and go from there until you're happy with the results.
And for all photography, use a tripod! No photographer worth
his/her salt will handhold a camera with a shutter speed under
1/250, or even 1/500th of a second. Get a good tripod, and use
it! |
Recap:
Deep DOF: Aperture: f16 or smaller; Shutter speed: Fast 1/500 or
1/1000. Set your
sensitivity high; try ISO 400, and keep going higher (up to
1600) until you get the results you like. |
Go for the fast shutter speeds
to make some very
interesting pictures of water - either at home as the drip above
illustrates - or down at the beach, where the crashing waves
splash up against the shore and provide all sorts of strange and
interesting images of water droplets frozen in air! Be sure to
include a few shots with people in them, like surfers and
children - especially when they get hit with a wave. Do the same
with waterfalls and gurgling brooks as the water splashes over a
rock. Basically, to freeze
each droplet of airborne water as a giant wave crashes into the
shore, set a shutter speed of at least 1/500
of a second, and then go for a shutter speed of 1/1000
and see how you like the results. Make a lot of
exposures - you can just trash any you don't like. IF your
camera complains about using a fast shutter speed, all you have
to do is either set your ISO setting to a higher sensitivity, or
use a smaller aperture, or a little of both.
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Wherever there's still water, there will be reflections! Take
advantage it whenever you can. Take your exposure reading off
the reflection, then add about 1/2 stop and see the results.
Keep tweaking the settings and see which settings get you the
results you like best.
Recap:
Deep DOF: Aperture: f16; Shutter speed: Whatever works, probably
around 1/60, perhaps slower,
depending on your ISO setting. |
Freezing the droplets is as easy as pie! Just shoot at 1/500 and
1/1000 second. Poof! Frozen drops!
For long DOF (Depth Of Field),
which means everything in the image is clear and sharp, set your
aperture at f16 or smaller. If you have no manual override, set
your camera to "Aperture Priority" and set the aperture to as
small as you can.
Recap:
Freeze water: f11-16; 1/500 or faster.
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A fast shutter speed and a wide open aperture, along with a good
macro lens is the recipe for results like this. The
"photographer's eye" is a talent developed over time and with
practice. So go practice looking at water in many different
ways. You'll be amazed at all the things you'll see. |
For shots like this, all you'll need is a friendly neighborhood
swimming pool. Or maybe even the one in your back yard. Keep
your eyes open. |
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| The two pictures
below might not win any prizes, but they're interesting and
certainly well composed. I like them both. The most interesting
aspect, though, is the camera that was used. Both were taken by
a cell phone. Some of the greatest pictures of all time were
made using little more than a box with a pinhole in it. It's not
the tool; it's the photographer.
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| If you like the
Newsletter, you are cordially invited to
Subscribe.
No cost. No obligation. No spam. Sucha deal! |
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Well, that's it for this issue. I
hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to contact me if you have any
questions or comments. Be well, be happy, keep your eyes open,
and always have your camera ready.
PhotoSource3@pss3.com |
| The best single
piece of photographic advice given to amateurs is: "Use a
tripod!" When? ALWAYS! Or at least whenever possible (also use a
remote trigger). The next best piece of photographic advice is:
Turn off that damned flash! 'Nuff said. :) |
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Notice:
Check out my eBay
store for more photographic goodies!
The only way to be sure you haven't missed something that might
be perfect for your needs is to check my eBay auctions
and store items by clicking
HERE! |
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If you can't find exactly what you
want, feel free to
ask.
It will be our pleasure to make up a custom package just for
you. At a good price, too. |
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