Photography is often about compromise. You can sometimes shoot the image exactly as you want it, making adjustments for exposure and sharpness. In many cases, however, that will not work. That is especially true when components such as leaves, animals, or water move.
Below is the Millstone River at Rocky Hill, New Jersey. I like this spot because the cascading water and simple bridge are picturesque. On a day without wind, you can put the camera on a tripod and keep the lens open for just a few seconds. The bridge and trees will be sharp; the water will be flowing smoothly.
Below is the Millstone River at Rocky Hill, New Jersey. I like this spot because the cascading water and simple bridge are picturesque. On a day without wind, you can put the camera on a tripod and keep the lens open for just a few seconds. The bridge and trees will be sharp; the water will be flowing smoothly.
On this day, I wanted to make sure the heron was sharp, so I used faster shutter speeds. The tradeoff was that the faster speeds worked against getting the smooth flow of the water. I ultimately tried several combinations and ended up with this one. The water was moving quickly, but I still got some smoothness and kept the bird sharp. Compromise was necessary so that I could successfully capture the bird, bridge, and water.
The bottom line is that some combinations just won’t work, and you have to consider what you want your image to show. I wanted to include all of the elements that could capture the beauty of this spot, not just one or two.
The bottom line is that some combinations just won’t work, and you have to consider what you want your image to show. I wanted to include all of the elements that could capture the beauty of this spot, not just one or two.