Sometimes a mineral

Water is one of the better examples of our brains seeing things one way, and a camera seeing it another. Our brain inherently sees the motion of water ripples and light playing on the surface. If we watch carefully we can see a drop of water spray, and track it downwards until it lands on something. 

A stills camera can't do that. With a fast shutter speed it will produce an image with every drop of water sharp, clear, and motionless. Or with a slower one the image will show that drop as a streak, and if the shutter is open long enough it will show the water turning into that milky look. 

The photographer's artistic vision drives the choice of camera settings. If you're doing a shot of triathletes splashing into water at the start of a race, you probably want the fast shutter speed. If you like the milky look, get a tripod and neutral density filters and have fun. I find the in between shutter speeds to be the most interesting.

This is an attempt to thread the needle, showing a bit of motion, but not too much. 

I've taken lots of photos of water, and often I'm not particularly satisfied with the results. Often I'm doing it because there's a reflection involved. So here's some attempts at water photos that have not been previously blogged.

My favourite bridge is in there somewhere. Just out of the photo on the bottom left is a series of footprints ending in a wet spot. I couldn't get to the spot needed for a photo without risking leaving my own wet spot.

Ice and water and rocks can be enormously photogenic. Or not.

Here's another version of the November runner up photo. Not a re-cropping of that one, it's taken from a different place.

Fish Creek is full of tiny little constructed waterfalls. People love wading in the river, building little pools or dams. The water flowing over them fascinates me, even if the camera isn't fascinated. A walk through the park, listening to the water over the rocks, and the wind in the trees is enormously relaxing.

Reflections are always fun, if surprisingly hard sometimes. Oddly enough, dark murky water usually gives the best reflections.

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