Calm waters

[MrDrizz]

Is there any way to tell if a body water is likely to be calm or a bit choppy? Like favourable weather conditions, or is it totally dependent on wind speed?

Cheers.
Mark.

 

[MattyW]

Wind speed. Under 3mph is usually good enough for reflections, but you can sometimes get away with a higher speed if the place you're shooting in is sheltered by trees. In the Lakes for example, there's usually a wind coming from the west. Tarns with a rock face to the west will often be less disrupted by this wind, and you can chance reflections at up to 5-7mph perhaps.

 

[MrDrizz]

Thank you sir.

 

[SFTPhotography]

Wind speed. Under 3mph is usually good enough for reflections, but you can sometimes get away with a higher speed if the place you're shooting in is sheltered by trees. In the Lakes for example, there's usually a wind coming from the west. Tarns with a rock face to the west will often be less disrupted by this wind, and you can chance reflections at up to 5-7mph perhaps.

This. I love reflections, I won't shoot lake and mountain shots UNLESS there is good clear reflections. Choppy water in my view is an ugly aesthetic and a real mood killer for lakes.

I use the Met Office and MeteoBlue forecasts. Wind speeds no more than 3mph and gusts not greater than 6. Sheltered areas you can get away with a little more but stillness rocks. Wind is a fecker for photography as trees can blow and get motion blur, I avoid windy days like I avoid hookers with HIV

For tidal waters you need low or high tide as well as low winds to get reflections, it isn't easy.