How to Capture Perfect Silky Water Photos Using Slow Shutter with Court Whelan

In this episode of The Wild Photographer, host Court Whelan gets into the art of capturing the silky water effect in nature photography. Court explains how to create that soft, flowing look with waterfalls, rivers, and oceans, a technique often seen in professional landscape photography. He shares practical advice on selecting the right equipment, from tripods to neutral density filters, to achieve the best results.

Listeners will learn essential camera settings, composition tips, and post-processing techniques to enhance their silky water photos. Court also covers creative ways to use movement, light, and foreground elements to add depth and interest to each shot. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned photographer, this episode provides actionable insights to elevate your landscape photography.

Expect to Learn:

• Key camera settings for silky water photography
• How to use ND filters to control light exposure
• Tips for creating balanced compositions
• Common challenges in slow shutter photography and how to overcome them
• Techniques to capture movement while maintaining sharpness in static elements

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:

• [00:01:40] –Sponsor Message and Why Silky Water Photography?: Court introduces the sponsor of the video Lensrental.com. Court explains the appeal of the silky water effect and its impact on landscape photos.
• [00:04:03] – Essential Equipment: Overview of tripods, cameras, and ND filters for long-exposure photography.
• [00:07:39] – Shutter Speed Basics: How to adjust shutter speed for different water movements and achieve the desired silky effect.
• [00:11:28] – Using ND Filters Effectively: Court explains how ND filters help achieve longer exposures even in bright daylight.
• [00:16:40] – Composition Techniques: Tips on framing scenes, using the rule of thirds, and incorporating foreground elements.
• [00:21:51] – Overcoming Challenges: Common issues like overexposure and motion blur, and how to solve them.
• [00:24:11] – Creative Applications: Ideas for using silky water techniques with various landscapes, from rivers to oceans.
• [00:26:48] – Final Tips and Recap: Court summarizes the key points and encourages experimentation.

This episode is kindly sponsored by:

LensRentals.com. 

My Full Camera Kit:

• Canon R5 Body
• Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8

Chapters

• 0:00 Capturing Silky Water in Photography
• 4:28 Mastering Slow Shutter Speed Photography
• 16:23 Composing Silky Water Photography