I’ve been fascinated with photographing water long before I started my Alex Aaronson freelance business. There is something really special about water and the way it changes shapes and forms- from the calm, still lakes, to the beautiful fountains, to the vast, deep sea. There is a different aproach to be taken for every kind of water source you will be photographing. Below are my basic tips on how to improve your work.

Oftentimes, when photographing water, we cannot get a good image because of all the different ways in which light is being reflected. This is why it is really important to master yoru camera’s exposure. Too many highlights can make your photo look white and it can make it difficult to emphasise on the smaller details. If you underexpose by ½ a stop, you will be able to achieve fantastic results. If you are looking for some examples, check out the “Nature” section of the Alex Aaronson blog!

Filters can definitely help you elevate your image, not just when it comes to photographing water, but in any other setting as well. Of course, you need to know what’s the right way of using them- when I first started the Alex Aaronson blog, I was over-using filters, which did not do any favours for the qualtiy of the photos. When photographing water, a good idea will be to use a polarising filter. This kind of filter will help you remove any reflections and glares, which are a common occurnace when photographing water. What’s more, this kind of filter helps bring out all the colours and details of the water, making for an even better photo. Another option you can consider are the Neutral Density filters- they will allow you to create long exposures, which as mentioned above, is essential when photographing water. Both the polariser and the naeutral density filters do not affect the true colour of your photos which is yet another plus!

If you want to create better landscape photographs with reflections, make sure that you have placed the hoirzon in the middle, so that you can create the most symmetrical image. The Alex Aaronson blog contains quite a few examples of landscape photography that can give you an idea of how to position the horizon in your images. Of course, you can always experiment with different horizon levels, so you can discover the one that matches your vision.