Natural Focus » David Boag - photographer, author and lecturer.

As photographers we can portray the natural world in our own creative way and there are occasions when we can choose to use the movement of water for creative effect.

The scene in Switzerland to the right is almost two photographs, one could cut the image in half horizontally and have two acceptable images; and it is the bottom half that I am mainly referring to. I have allowed the water to move in the photograph which creates a flowing milky effect - ethereal and soft.

This effect is created by using a long exposure or a slow shutter speed (however you prefer to think of it).

Compare the two images below - the one on the left was using a long exposure, the right was using a fast shutter speed.

• Right - The fast shutter speed (say 1/500th sec.) captured each water droplet suspended in the air.
• Left - The aperture was open for a long time (say 1 sec.) and during that time the each individual droplet moved enough to create the blurred effect.

 Useful thoughts

• You will need a tripod - You will need to be using a very long shutter speed and there is no way that you can hold the camera steady enough without a good support.
• The composition must be good - It is no good relying on the creative effect to make the picture work, it must have good composition.
• Any solid objects such as rocks must be sharp - The contrast between the hard, solid, immovable rocks and the moving water is what makes these images work.
• The exposure must be long - It is impossible to give a precise figure because it depends on your nearness to the water and how fast it is moving; but aim for over half a second.
• It is best taken early morning or late evening - This is when the light is poor that you have greater flexibility to use long exposures.
• Long exposures mean small apertures - This will provide you with great depth-of-field so there is no excuse for anything being out of focus.
• A cable release will help - When using long exposures it is very easy to nudge the camera as you depress the button; a cable release will prevent that happening.

I have illustrated this effect in boulder strew rivers but anywhere water moves has potential to be treated in this way - a running tap - the movement of the lapping tide - only your imagination is the limiting factor.

Have YOU any illustrations of how YOU have used a slow shutter speed to allow water to move?