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

80 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 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 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 Facade of Hotel Schweizerhof in Lucerne with a red bus depicted as a motion blur in the foreground 12 mm · f/18 · 1.3 s · ISO 200 Two large carnival figures with straw bodies in front of the Hotel Schweizerhof facade in Lucerne under a blue sky. 35 mm · f/14 · 1/80 s · ISO 500 Blue facade illumination at Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne at night with passing cars 15 mm · f/9 · 1 s · ISO 250 Interior view of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne with a colorful projection on the ceiling and walls 12 mm · f/2 · 1/15 s · ISO 4000 View into the illuminated nave of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne during a light show 12 mm · f/2 · 1/20 s · ISO 4000 Visitors walking through an alley at night with illuminated flower installations during the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne. 15 mm · f/4 · 1/60 s · ISO 1600 Chapel Bridge and Water Tower in Lucerne at night with light projections from the Lilu Light Festival 22 mm · f/4 · 1.3 s · ISO 1000 Interior of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne with blue light projections during the Lilu Light Festival. 12 mm · f/4 · 1/13 s · ISO 4000 Interior of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne during the Lilu Light Festival featuring blue light projections and golden illumination on the altar. 27 mm · f/4 · 1/3 s · ISO 5000

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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