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

34 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
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 The paddle steamer Uri cruising on Lake Lucerne at dusk in front of a mountain landscape 36 mm · f/4 · 1/125 s · ISO 1600 The sun sets behind the hills over Lake Lucerne 45 mm · f/22 · 1/100 s · ISO 1250 Sun setting behind mountains over Lake Lucerne with cloudy sky 12 mm · f/22 · 1/60 s · ISO 1000 A ship sailing on Lake Lucerne during an orange sunset 45 mm · f/16 · 1/100 s · ISO 250 A passenger ship cruising on Lake Lucerne during an orange sunset 45 mm · f/16 · 1/100 s · ISO 250 Orange sunset over Lake Lucerne with a small ship on the horizon 45 mm · f/16 · 1/80 s · ISO 200 Lake Lucerne in the orange light of sunset with cloudy sky 45 mm · f/16 · 1/100 s · ISO 250 Golden sunset over Lake Lucerne with dark cloud formations 45 mm · f/16 · 1/200 s · ISO 200 A dark blue anniversary flag of FC Luzern blowing in front of the Lucerne lakeshore scenery. 29 mm · f/16 · 1/125 s · ISO 200 Night view of Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus with light trails from boats 12 mm · f/4 · 1.6 s · ISO 1000 View of Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus with illuminated villages at night 12 mm · f/2 · 1.6 s · ISO 200 Side view of the paddle steamer Gallia on Lake Lucerne with a forested shoreline in the background 270 mm · f/13 · 1/160 s · ISO 200 Aerial view of the forested Bürgenstock mountain above Lake Lucerne at sunset 400 mm · f/10 · 1/500 s · ISO 2000 Sun flare behind a dark stone element at Lake Lucerne overlooking the Alps 25 mm · f/22 · 1/250 s · ISO 200 View from a hotel room of snowy Lake Lucerne in Lucerne 16 mm · f/10 · 1/125 s · ISO 500 A Christmas-decorated raft with fairy lights, Christmas trees and reindeer figures floats on Lake Lucerne at night. 30 mm · f/11 · 2.5 s · ISO 800 Water mist projection on Lake Lucerne during the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne at night 30 mm · f/6.3 · 1/3 s · ISO 800 Water projection on Lake Lucerne during the 2025 Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne at night. 30 mm · f/6.3 · 2 s · ISO 800 Ferris wheel and a boat at Lake Lucerne with a mountain backdrop 50 mm · f/16 · 1/80 s · ISO 400 Pink flowers in the foreground and view across Lake Lucerne to Mount Pilatus in Lucerne 24 mm · f/16 · 1/60 s · ISO 125 View of Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne at sunset 15 mm · f/22 · 15 s · ISO 800

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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