Photography tips

Photographing reflections

Hotel Schweizerhof on the Lucerne lakeshore at twilight

Key tips

  1. Use a long shutter speed to smooth out the water surface and emphasize the reflections.
  2. Use a long shutter speed to capture the reflections of the lights calmly on the water surface.
  3. Select a longer shutter speed to calm the movement of the water and enhance the reflections.

Photographs on this topic

8 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 Architecture City
The Water Tower in Lucerne on the Reuss river with Mount Pilatus in the background 29 mm · f/22 · 1.3 s · ISO 100 Blue light installations on trees along the Lake Lucerne shore during the Lilu Light Festival at night 30 mm · f/16 · 13 s · ISO 800 Night view of the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne during fireworks 15 mm · f/8 · 4 s · ISO 500 The Swisswheel Ferris wheel at twilight on the lakeshore in Lucerne, reflected in the water surface. 15 mm · f/22 · 10 s · ISO 200 Ferris wheel and Mount Pilatus reflected in a puddle on the shore of Lake Lucerne. 30 mm · f/9 · 1/80 s · ISO 250 Reflection of half-timbered houses in a puddle at night in the old town of Lucerne 15 mm · f/20 · 13 s · ISO 800 Illuminated Ferris wheel on the shore of Lake Lucerne at night with reflections in the water 127 mm · f/22 · 10 s · ISO 400 Night view of the illuminated Ferris wheel and the city skyline of Lucerne by Lake Lucerne 50 mm · f/2.8 · 1/10 s · ISO 400

Related topics

  • Architecture
  • City
  • Camera settings
  • Light
  • Composition
  • Perspective
  • Lucerne
  • Blue hour
  • Night
  • Evening light
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