Shutter Speed

[Kyle Kulig]

I was trying to capture some photos of flowing water last weekend at slow shutter speeds.

[John Bennett]

Kyle the best time to get those kinds of shots are at first or last light or on overcast days. The problem is how to slow the SS enough, without over exposing the highlights, which can be everything from the water to the skies.

The most obvious thing is to reduce your ISO as far as possible, and stop down atleast to f14…if not more if your lens can handle it and add a CP that further reduce the light getting through by another two stops.Even with all that, acheiving the look you want on a sunny day is going to be near impossible unless you also add a some form of ND like constant 5 stop, or a variable ND that allows you to reduce light by 1 to 8 stops.

Without all those save that kind of shot for overcast days where theres a drizzle or at first light..and if possible/needed compose your shot to remove the sky from the scene.

Overcast day
iso 50
f16
1.3 seconds
2 stop Circ Pol mounted
held braced on a log

fairly bright day
iso 50
f14
1 second
2 stop Circ Pol
6 stop reduction via variable ND
2 stop graduated CP (hand held and feathered)

total light reduction upper part of frame 10 stops, 8 stoprs lower

[kurt budliger]

What John said!

[Roy Conley]

With bright sunlight and slow shutter speeds you will need a ND filter to control the amount of light coming through the lens.

[Kyle Kulig]

All very helpful, thanks guys.

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