Landscape photographers love to photograph moving water – waterfalls, rapids, even water quietly slipping over a rock.

When photographing moving water the primary exposure consideration is shutter speed.  A very short shutter speed, say 1/500 sec, can produce the ‘ice sculpture’ look’ in which the water is suspended in shiny, crystal clear forms.  This can be very effective and exciting.  As the shutter speed is lengthened, say to 1/15 sec,  the water begins to blur.  First you see little short traces of each of the drops.  Then as the exposure lengthens to a half second or more the traces merge together into the beautiful effects we love.  Really long exposure of 2 or more seconds produce a misty effect in which nearly all texture in the water is replaced with soft clouds of light.

But how do you get the long exposures you need, especially on a bright sunny day.

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Sunset, Owens Valley

Originally uploaded by Ralph Nordstrom

The Eastern Sierra are known for their incredible cuinstes.  We got this one during the workshop.

Mobius Arch Alabama Hills

Originally uploaded by Ralph Nordstrom

This morning we shot Mobius Arch in the Alabama Hills. A beautiful sunrise it was.

Mt Williamson Sunrise

Originally uploaded by Ralph Nordstrom

Mt Williamson is one of my favorite peaks on the Eastern Sierra crest. At over 14,000 feet is is also one of the highest. This morning I was there in time to enjoy an exhilarating sunrise.

silo round valley

Originally uploaded by Ralph Nordstrom

The workshop begins in three days and this is one of the spots we’ll photograph. Round Valley is just outside Bishop, CA.

In my photography workshops and one-on-one training I frequently have people ask me if the workshops are suitable for novices.  They go on to explain that they think they have a good eye but are a bit baffled by their camera, especially when it comes to exposure.  They just put their camera’s exposure mode dial on the little green rectangle (the fully automated mode) and shoot away. In other words, the camera makes all the decisions regarding exposure – ISO, f/stop and shutter speed.  But the camera’s built in light meter is often fooled and the exposure is off.

Getting the correct exposure is one of the most essential first steps in getting a great photograph.  I see a lot of photographs that have compelling compositions but are poorly exposed and the potential impact is lost.  So for those individuals who are interested in taking a photography workshop but aren’t at least passingly familiar with the operation of their camera with regards to exposure, I have a number of posts dealing with the topic that I refer them to.  I thought I’d pull them all together in a single post to make them easier to find.

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Originally uploaded by Ralph Nordstrom

This was Lake Sabrina last weekend believe it or not. Yep, where’s the lake?

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Originally uploaded by Ralph Nordstrom

Here is one of the photos I took today along the South Fork of Bishop Creek. South Lake was still snowed in but down the canyon spring was marching up. You can view the rest of the photos I took today on Flickr.

The Eastern Sierra photography workshop is in two weeks and there are still a few spaces left.  The dates are June 5-10.  Well be covering the Sierra from Lone Pine to Lee Vining.  If you’re interested, it’s not too late.  Send me a message on Facebook or leave a comment on the blog.  Here’s a link for more information.

2010 Eastern Sierra Photography Workshop

zabriskie_point_7_2009_600

Originally uploaded by Ralph Nordstrom

I thought I knew where I wanted this image to go but it had a mind of its own – beyond realism, beyond believability even, into pure emotion.