Photography tips

Focal length

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

Key tips

  1. Use a fast shutter speed or a stable base when shooting at a long focal length of 400 mm to prevent motion blur.
  2. Select a medium aperture at high focal lengths to capture the subject clearly.
  3. Use a fast shutter speed with long focal lengths to prevent motion blur caused by the magnification.

Photographs on this topic

373 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 Architecture City Landscape Pilatus Lucerne Lake Lucerne Central Switzerland
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 Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne with reflection in the lake at dusk 45 mm · f/20 · 1/30 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 Full moon behind clouds over the dark Pilatus mountain 400 mm · f/8 · 1/250 s · ISO 25600 Group of alphorn players in traditional Swiss costume in front of the Pilatus rock face 45 mm · f/18 · 1/320 s · ISO 500 The summit of Mount Pilatus surrounded by clouds in warm light 150 mm · f/9 · 1/10 s · ISO 400 A ship sailing on Lake Lucerne during an orange sunset 45 mm · f/16 · 1/100 s · ISO 250 Blue and white flags celebrating the 125th anniversary of FC Luzern at the lake 33 mm · f/6.3 · 1/800 s · ISO 200 Blue and white FC Luzern flags blowing in the wind in front of the Lucerne cityscape 45 mm · f/6.3 · 1/800 s · ISO 200 Flags celebrating the 125th anniversary of FC Luzern with Hotel Schweizerhof in the background 24 mm · f/16 · 1/160 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 The mountain chapel on Mount Pilatus near Lucerne, with Lake Lucerne and the city of Lucerne in the background. 165 mm · f/11 · 1/320 s · ISO 250 Hotel Bellevue embedded in the rock formations of Mount Pilatus 400 mm · f/11 · 1/640 s · ISO 400 View of the Pilatus peaks with hotel and transmission towers in daylight 100 mm · f/11 · 1/160 s · ISO 100 View of the rock formations at the summit of Mount Pilatus with a paraglider flying by 100 mm · f/11 · 1/200 s · ISO 125 The summit cross on Mount Pilatus surrounded by clouds and rocks 300 mm · f/11 · 1/640 s · ISO 250 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

Related topics

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