Creating "dreamy "water: Take a lot of water shots but can't seem to master the "dreamy water" look. Tried setting camera on TV mode and various slow shutter speeds but hasnt worked.

welshgypsy Loc: North Wales UK

Take a lot of water shots but can't seem to master the "dreamy water" look. Tried setting camera on TV mode and various slow shutter speeds but hasnt worked. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to be using the tripod?

MsJ Loc: Northern Indiana

Post a pic and let's see how it looks now.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

Tripod, slow shutter speed, and high f-stop, and hopefully a low light, or overcast day. Otherwise, need to add some darkening filters in front of the lens.

normsImages Loc: Alabama for now

Tripod and shutter speed slower than half sec.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

normsImages wrote:

Tripod and shutter speed slower than half sec.

... a lot slower.

Nikon13 Loc: North Carolina

All of the above with a remote shutter release. Polarizing filter helps cut reflections too.

Adirondack Hiker Loc: Southern Adirondacks

A tripod is a MUST. The exposure should be between 1/2 and 2 seconds. Also, I typically use an f/stop of f/16, as well as a circular polarizer to further reduce light and reduce any glare. I set the ISO to 100-200. Avoid sun light, it is a killer. Dawn, dusk overcast and even rainy days are the best times to shoot. Finally practice, practice, practice. Good Luck.

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Well said and thorough. I have gone as slow as 6 seconds. As you said the sun is our enemy when doing this.

Adirondack Hiker wrote:

A tripod is a MUST. The exposure should be between 1/2 and 2 seconds. Also, I typically use an f/stop of f/16, as well as a circular polarizer to further reduce light and reduce any glare. I set the ISO to 100-200. Avoid sun light, it is a killer. Dawn, dusk overcast and even rainy days are the best times to shoot. Finally practice, practice, practice. Good Luck.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

teresabinns wrote:

Take a lot of water shots but can't seem to master the "dreamy water" look. Tried setting camera on TV mode and various slow shutter speeds but hasnt worked. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to be using the tripod?

The best way to do this kind if photography is to get a 10 stop Neutral density filter. This filter cuts the amount of light reaching the sensor or film and you have to use a much slower shutter speed, as low as 30 seconds under lower light. This results in the dreamy cloudy look that moving water will have and clouds passing by will turn into soft pillows. You can also use this filter to shoot on sunny days for the same effect. Dont get a cheap filter, a higher quality filter will have a lot less color cast that cheap filters can have. Look at B&W or Schneider. The good filters are pricy but the glass is a much higher quality and there will be less color shifting. Polarizing filters do not have enough density to accomplish the desired effect. One last thing. There are slim design filters that will not cause vignetting on wide angle filters, if you can find one of these it will be a good investment. Have fun.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I've been wanting to play with this more for myself.
Thanks for the info.
A quick search came up with this site:
http://www.smashingapps.com/2009/12/12/45-breathtaking-examples-of-slow-shutter-speed-photography.html

Has some good examples.

welshgypsy Loc: North Wales UK

Adirondack Hiker wrote:

A tripod is a MUST. The exposure should be between 1/2 and 2 seconds. Also, I typically use an f/stop of f/16, as well as a circular polarizer to further reduce light and reduce any glare. I set the ISO to 100-200. Avoid sun light, it is a killer. Dawn, dusk overcast and even rainy days are the best times to shoot. Finally practice, practice, practice. Good Luck.

Thats exactly what I am hoping to achieve, great photo, will keep practicing

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

teresabinns wrote:

Thats exactly what I am hoping to achieve . . .

Here is the same effect on a very small waterfall (combined fall less than 3-feet). Exactly the same procedure.

Nikon D5000 at ISO 100, Nikkor 18-55 zoom lens at 55-mm, 0.6-sec at f/36.

Spring Creek ford in the Upper Tomichi Valley, Colorado

welshgypsy Loc: North Wales UK

Nikonian72 wrote:

teresabinns wrote:

Thats exactly what I am hoping to achieve . . .

Here is the same effect on a very small waterfall (combined fall less than 3-feet). Exactly the same procedure.

Nikon D5000 at ISO 100, Nikkor 18-55 zoom lens at 55-mm, 0.6-sec at f/36.

You're making me really jealous now!

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

silver wrote:

quote=teresabinns Take a lot of water shots but c... (show quote)

Just wondering what qualifies as pricy for a quality filter. I thought $40-50 would be considered pricy for a 52mm filter--still trying to wrap my mind around a $200+ filter.

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

hlmichel wrote:

quote=silver quote=teresabinns Take a lot of wat... (show quote)

It depends what size filter you are getting. I am getting a Heliopan 77mm 10 stop thin filter and the price for this filter is about $200.00. This is a high quality filter but if you look at some brands such as Singh Ray you will see filters there for 4-500.00. It depends upon size and what quality filter you are after. Sometimes it pays to spend more to get a better quality filter. Also the type of glass used influences the price.