Photography tips

Using shutter speed creatively

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. Ensure steady handling at longer shutter speeds to avoid camera shake.
  3. Use a fast shutter speed with long focal lengths to prevent motion blur caused by the magnification.

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 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 View of Mount Pilatus from a ship during sunset 12 mm · f/4 · 1/1000 s · ISO 200 Bürgenstock mountain ridge over Lake Lucerne in violet evening light 12 mm · f/4 · 1/400 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 Night view of Lake Lucerne from above with light trails from ships and city lighting. 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 Aerial view of the forested Bürgenstock mountain above Lake Lucerne at sunset 400 mm · f/10 · 1/500 s · ISO 2000 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 A passenger boat and a small motorboat on the blue shimmering Lake Lucerne. 259 mm · f/8 · 1/640 s · ISO 100 View from above between rooftops over Lake Lucerne with the Stanserhorn in the background 141 mm · f/6.3 · 1/800 s · ISO 100 View through a covered wooden walkway towards Lake Lucerne with the Alps in the background 30 mm · f/6.3 · 1/400 s · ISO 100 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 View from the lakeshore towards Lake Lucerne and the city of Lucerne at sunset 15 mm · f/4.5 · 1/320 s · ISO 100 View across Lake Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in the background at sunset 15 mm · f/5.6 · 1/200 s · ISO 100 Sailboats on Lake Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in the background at sunset 15 mm · f/4.5 · 1/640 s · ISO 100 Aerial view of Lake Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in the background 22 mm · f/9 · 1/1250 s · ISO 400

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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