By “PhotoSource3” on eBay
So how can we get mystical images of misty waterfalls like this? It's easy. Read on.
Welcome to the Photographer's SupplyStation Newsletter! This is the Water issue.
 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'll also include a link to some really extraordinarilarly
low-priced sales on the equipment you'll need in order to make
your images and videos into great images and videos. 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! Please feel free to e-mail me with any comments or suggestions for what you'd like to see covered in our next issue. |
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 In this issue, we'll show you how to capture some
really different and interesting images of water. Water? Sure!
Water is usually free, you can find it just about everywhere
you go, and with today's small and light new digital cameras
and camcorders, we can just slip a camera into a handy pocket
or purse, and take them with us everywhere! 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. Read on and we'll show you all
the tricks to getting great shots. Don't miss the "Water
Photography" pictures, just below where
I tell you exactly how to get the same results - quickly and
easily. |
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| Q. Can I use a strobe with my video camera? A. No. Strobe/Flash Lighting Equipment is great for still photography, both film and digital; and was the top choice of professional photographers throughout the second half of 20th century, and still a favorite today, for many. However, flash equipment (all strobes are flash units), and will not work for video. Continuous Lighting Equipment works well for all types of photography, and performs perfectly with all camera types: digital cameras, video cameras, camcorders, film cameras, and movie cameras. | |
| We're having a super-low-priced PGO Sale but only for a short time; check it out, you'll be glad you did: CLICK HERE! |
| 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. | |||||||||
 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. Recap:
Deep DOF: Aperture: f11-16 or smaller; Shutter speed: Slow 2
to 10 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 DOF 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. Back to Top | |||||||||
 Oops! Now how did Alex get
her picture in here? Oh, now I remember. See how wet she is?
Photographers will find the strangest things around water. Whether
it's at the beach, by lakes and streams, or around swimming pools
- wherever there's water, if you keep your eyes open, you're
sure to find a mermaid or two. I've even found a few in the bathtub.
Keep those cameras handy. ;-) |
 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! |
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 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. |
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 receipe 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 neighberhood swimming pool. Or maybe even the one in your back yard. Keep your eyes open. |
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 NOTE: This issue of the NewsLetter is still being revised, so check back soon for the updated version! |
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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. Back to Top | |||||||||
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| If you like the Newsletter, you are cordially invited to Subscribe. No cost. No obligation. No spam. Sucha deal! | |||||||||
| 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. :) |
| 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! |
| 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. |
© 2009 RMorgan/Adam Publishing Co./Wryter All Wrights Wreserved Worldwide! So there! ;-)
