photographing flowing water

[lionofjudah]

how do you guys decide what shutter speed to use?
Let's say shooting at ISO 100, F8 or F11 on a reasonably bright day, using appropriate filters etc.
1) to freeze water - how do you decide which speed is correct?
2) to blur movement - how do you decide how much blur is appropriate as in do you expose for 1second or 10seconds etc?

Of course I know strength of filter plays a part but any general rules when choosing speeds?

 

[rpsmith79]

Don't know if there are any hard and fast rules, but i always learn buy experimentation

Assuming you are shooting digital, it takes no effort to try a few different shutter speeds until you reach the desired affect

 

[seriousrikk]

Both answers depend on the speed of the water.

1. To freeze the water, 1/125 is usually enough, more for a raging torrent... although 1/1000 would usually get every single drop sharp.
2. Regarding blur, because the effect is dependant on the speed of the water and how much blur you want, it is a bit of trail and error. I generally start at about 2 seconds and bracket around that.

 

[lionofjudah]

Both answers depend on the speed of the water.

1. To freeze the water, 1/125 is usually enough, more for a raging torrent... although 1/1000 would usually get every single drop sharp.
2. Regarding blur, because the effect is dependant on the speed of the water and how much blur you want, it is a bit of trail and error. I generally start at about 2 seconds and bracket around that.

I am looking at photographing Iguassu falls so of course speed of water will be high. There are other sources of water - lakes and rivers I will be photographing

 

[Scarecrow]

The beauty of digital is that you can look at the back of the camera and see if you are getting the results you want straight away. Was a bit more hit and miss when using film.

 

[Naphta]

Depends what sort of shot you want. Some of mine below, nothing special but it does show the shutter speed and aperture underneath which might give you a rough idea on what you want. (I think all but 1 of these were taken with a CPL/10 stop filter.)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum Set/Wales/Trip 2/DSC_0446.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum Set/Wales/Trip 2/DSC_0449.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum Set/Wales/Trip 2/DSC_0484.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum Set/Wales/Trip 2/DSC_0485.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum Set/Wales/Trip 2/DSC_0486.jpg

 

[lionofjudah]

Depends what sort of shot you want. Some of mine below, nothing special but it does show the shutter speed and aperture underneath which might give you a rough idea on what you want. (I think all but 1 of these were taken with a CPL/10 stop filter.)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum%20Set/Wales/Trip%202/DSC_0446.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum%20Set/Wales/Trip%202/DSC_0449.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum%20Set/Wales/Trip%202/DSC_0484.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum%20Set/Wales/Trip%202/DSC_0485.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19631605/Forum%20Set/Wales/Trip%202/DSC_0486.jpg

Perfect thanks. These give me some ideas.

 

[Suvv]

There are a series of articles here http://ronbigelow.com/articles/waterfalls-1/waterfalls-1.htm a bit of a read but very informative.

 

[lionofjudah]

There are a series of articles here http://ronbigelow.com/articles/waterfalls-1/waterfalls-1.htm a bit of a read but very informative.

very good article.
many thanks for your help