PDA

View Full Version : Photographing fast moving water

jertzeedon
08-18-2008, 05:40 AM
I was trying, unsuccessfully to photgraph rushing water on a canal.
The water dropped about 8 feet down and I was trying to capture the rush of the water both with a slow and fast shutter speed.

The fast shutter speed worked fine, but when I took pics with a slow shutter speed, less than 1/15th, right down to 2 seconds all I got was a "white" pic. Even when I tried to go fully manual and adjust the aperture it still came out white (bar the banks of the canal).

Now, the rushing water is mainly white so I understand the blur but there are two questions....

1) how do I set the camera up for that smooth moving water effect that you get from using a slow shutter speed

and

2) why on some of the were the banks of the canals washed out in white??

Thanks
pas49ras
08-18-2008, 06:21 AM
What camera were you using...did you use a tripod for the slow shutter shots? You were overexposing the slow shutter speed shots. Most times you will need to add a ND filter to limit the light entering the camera lens. You probably maxed out what the aperture could do.
jertzeedon
08-18-2008, 06:29 AM
What camera were you using...did you use a tripod for the slow shutter shots? You were overexposing the slow shutter speed shots. Most times you will need to add a ND filter to limit the light entering the camera lens. You probably maxed out what the aperture could do.

I was using a Fuji S8100.
I did use a tripod for the slow shots.

I think you are correct about the maxing out on aperture. Is an ND filter the only (or best) way of compensating?

Also, what is the difference between an ND4 filter and the other numbered ND filters??
pas49ras
08-18-2008, 10:00 AM
You can try this....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387332-REG/Cokin_CBAD700_Shoe_Digital_Filter_Holder.html
Since the 8100 doesn't accept screw on lens filters you need to get another type of filter holder..

For info on ND filter..read away..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter

Also..make sure you set the camera to the lowest ISO setting you can.... I think 64 on the 8100
jertzeedon
08-19-2008, 06:44 AM
Thanks for all your help