Photography tips

Using aperture creatively

Mount Pilatus massif in Central Switzerland surrounded by fog in the evening light

Key tips

  1. Choose a medium aperture like f/8 for landscape subjects to achieve a balance between detail sharpness and light intake.
  2. Select a medium aperture at high focal lengths to capture the subject clearly.
  3. Select a medium aperture to ensure the entire summit subject remains sharp.

Photographs on this topic

1057 photographs with tips

The exact camera settings for each shot are shown below it - a starting point for recreating the look yourself. Click through to a photograph for detailed photography tips on that specific shot, under "Photography tips for this image".

All subjects Mountains City Architecture Landscape Pilatus Lucerne Central Switzerland Lake Lucerne
Mount Pilatus massif in Central Switzerland surrounded by fog in the evening light 400 mm · f/8 · 1/10 s · ISO 800 Mountain range Pilatus near Lucerne wrapped in clouds during evening light 400 mm · f/9 · 1/15 s · ISO 800 The cloud-covered peaks of Mount Pilatus in purple evening light. 400 mm · f/9 · 1/15 s · ISO 800 View of the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in the background under a cloudy evening sky. 12 mm · f/14 · 1/15 s · ISO 200 View of the Chapel Bridge with Water Tower and Mount Pilatus in the background under a cloudy evening sky 12 mm · f/18 · 1/15 s · ISO 200 View through an ornate iron railing at the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne during evening light 24 mm · f/18 · 1/60 s · ISO 800 Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne with reflection in the lake at dusk 45 mm · f/20 · 1/30 s · ISO 200 View through a shaded passage towards the Lucerne Water Tower 28 mm · f/14 · 1/2 s · ISO 200 View through a round railing at the sunset-lit Reuss river in Lucerne 13 mm · f/18 · 1/100 s · ISO 200 Cobblestone alley in the old town of Lucerne with a view of the Chapel Bridge and the Wasserturm 29 mm · f/14 · 1 s · ISO 200 The moon shines through clouds at night above Mount Pilatus. 400 mm · f/8 · 1/250 s · ISO 25600 Full moon behind clouds over the dark Pilatus mountain 400 mm · f/8 · 1/250 s · ISO 25600 View from the Pilatus mountain massif over Lake Lucerne and surrounding mountains in sunny weather 12 mm · f/16 · 1/500 s · ISO 500 Steep wooden staircase on Mount Pilatus overlooking Lake Lucerne and Central Switzerland 12 mm · f/16 · 1/250 s · ISO 500 Hiking trail on Mount Pilatus with a view of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding area 12 mm · f/18 · 1/250 s · ISO 500 A man swinging a Swiss flag in front of the mountain panorama on Mount Pilatus 35 mm · f/11 · 1/1000 s · ISO 500 Group of alphorn players in front of the Hotel Bellevue on Mount Pilatus in clear weather 12 mm · f/18 · 1/400 s · ISO 500 Two men and one woman in traditional Swiss costume playing alphorns on the observation deck of Mount Pilatus with an alpine panorama in the background. 45 mm · f/18 · 1/320 s · ISO 500 Group of alphorn players in traditional Swiss costume in front of the Pilatus rock face 45 mm · f/18 · 1/320 s · ISO 500 Alphorn players in traditional costumes at Hotel Pilatus-Kulm in front of a rock face 45 mm · f/18 · 1/320 s · ISO 500 Illuminated paddle steamer Uri on Lake Lucerne with a forested mountain backdrop 36 mm · f/4 · 1/100 s · ISO 6400 Side view of the paddle steamer Uri on Lake Lucerne during twilight 36 mm · f/4 · 1/100 s · ISO 6400 Side view of the paddle steamer Uri on Lake Lucerne with Swiss flag 45 mm · f/4 · 1/125 s · ISO 5000

Related topics

  • Mountains
  • City
  • Architecture
  • Landscape
  • Light
  • Camera settings
  • Composition
  • Perspective
  • Pilatus
  • Lucerne
  • Central Switzerland
  • Lake Lucerne
  • Evening light
  • Fog
  • Sunset
  • Night
  • Blue hour
  • Snow
  • Rain
← All photography tips