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

280 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 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 Mount Pilatus above Lake Lucerne during sunset 45 mm · f/4 · 1/320 s · ISO 200 Young ibex grazing in rocky terrain on Mount Pilatus. 400 mm · f/11 · 1/800 s · ISO 800 Young ibex standing on a rocky slope at Mount Pilatus 400 mm · f/11 · 1/800 s · ISO 800 Two ibexes on a rocky slope at Mount Pilatus 225 mm · f/11 · 1/500 s · ISO 500 Young ibex in a rocky environment on Mount Pilatus 400 mm · f/11 · 1/800 s · ISO 640 An ibex standing on a rocky ridge on Mount Pilatus. 400 mm · f/11 · 1/800 s · ISO 400 A young ibex standing on a rocky slope at Mount Pilatus. 400 mm · f/11 · 1/640 s · ISO 320 Red Pilatus cogwheel train travelling through the steep rock face of Mount Pilatus. 100 mm · f/14 · 1/125 s · ISO 200 The red Pilatus cogwheel train travels through the steep rocky landscape of Mount Pilatus. 236 mm · f/14 · 1/320 s · ISO 640 The Pilatus cogwheel railway runs along a steep cliff. 325 mm · f/14 · 1/500 s · ISO 1000 Red cogwheel train driving through steep rock and grass landscape on Mount Pilatus. 214 mm · f/11 · 1/500 s · ISO 1600

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
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