Pocono Waterfall Workshop May 2009: Part 3

Fast or slow? What looks best? Either can be a good choice depending upon the mood you want to create. Slow shutter speeds create the “veil” effect with moving water inducing a feeling of tranquility.

A fast shutter speed creates a feeling of power as the water splashes over the rocks. Neither is correct or best… it is determined by the artist and the mood they would like to create. However, be sure to get the speeds fast enough, or slow enough, to properly create the intended mood.

Typically, the veil should be created with a speed no faster than 1 full second. Often 3 seconds is preferred. Stopping the action of fast water requires a minimum of 1/500 of a second… the faster the better. The trade off? With fast shutter speeds, less depth of field is possible, so be sure most of your scene is on the same focus plane, or concentrate on a small portion of the overall scene.