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

163 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
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 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 The low sun in a reddish coloured sky over Lucerne. 400 mm · f/8 · 1/400 s · ISO 400 Wasserturm of the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in sunny weather 29 mm · f/22 · 1.3 s · ISO 125 Detailed view of the dying lion sculpture at the Lion Monument in Lucerne 150 mm · f/10 · 1/320 s · ISO 200 Close-up of the Lion Monument with Swiss coat of arms in Lucerne 150 mm · f/10 · 1/400 s · ISO 200 Close-up of the stone lion figure of the Lion Monument in Lucerne 150 mm · f/10 · 1/500 s · ISO 200 Close-up of the stone lion's head from the Lion Monument in Lucerne 150 mm · f/10 · 1/500 s · ISO 200 Detail view of a spear carved in stone at the Lion Monument in Lucerne 150 mm · f/10 · 1/500 s · ISO 200 Château Gütsch sits on a wooded hill above Lucerne, with blooming cherry branches in the foreground. 62 mm · f/16 · 1/125 s · ISO 200 Château Gütsch hotel on a hill above Lucerne surrounded by blooming trees 82 mm · f/16 · 1/160 s · ISO 200 Hotel Château Gütsch in Lucerne surrounded by flowering trees 82 mm · f/16 · 1/160 s · ISO 200 Medieval watchtower of the Musegg Wall in Lucerne framed by flowering spring trees 40 mm · f/16 · 1/125 s · ISO 200 View through blooming cherry tree branches towards a pointed church tower in Lucerne. 45 mm · f/14 · 1/80 s · ISO 200 Close-up of a chapel bridge gable in Lucerne with coat of arms and inscription behind flowers 36 mm · f/22 · 1/80 s · ISO 4000 The facade of Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne, located directly on the lakeshore in clear daylight. 45 mm · f/22 · 1/100 s · ISO 250 Hotel Schweizerhof by Lake Lucerne in Lucerne 45 mm · f/22 · 1/80 s · ISO 250 Silhouette of the Water Tower in Lucerne with sun reflection on the Reuss river 24 mm · f/22 · 1/60 s · ISO 250 Water tower of the Chapel Bridge on the Reuss river with Mount Pilatus in the background 25 mm · f/22 · 1 s · ISO 320 Carnival mask on a pole in front of the facade of Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne 45 mm · f/13 · 1/15 s · ISO 200 Facade of the Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne with colorful decorative elements and passing cars in daylight 16 mm · f/14 · 1 s · ISO 200

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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