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Tips on Photographing Melting Icicles

Photographers often take pictures of icicles to capture the unique beauty of each one. Lens selection is one critical component when photographing melting icicles, and the type of lens you use is dependent on how close you can or want to get to the icicles. If you are photographing some smaller icicles on the side of the house, then you might be able to get close and use a wide-angle lens.
  1. Use a Tripod

    • When you have the time to set up and use a tripod, it is always a good idea to use one. Tripods minimize the amount of camera shake, which can become very noticeable if you are shooting with a longer telephoto lens. Camera shake appears in your images as blur. When using a longer telephoto lens that allows you to fill the viewfinder with the icicle, be aware that these lenses have a very narrow field of view that makes camera shake even more noticeable in pictures.

    Background

    • Determine the ideal shooting location for the picture you want to take. Consider the background in your picture. If you have a very bright colorful background, it might distract the viewer̵7;s eye from the icicle. Fill the frame with as much of the subject as possible; this will give you a better quality image than if you have to crop it in post-production. If possible, position your camera so that the light is coming from the side shinning onto the icicle. This will light up the icicle and give it more definition.

    Focus and Aperture

    • Your focus point should be the very bottom of the icicle. This is where the water will collect before it drips away. Use the largest aperture setting on your lens; this setting is represented by the lowest number. Using this setting will cause the background to blur, making the focal point more obvious.

    Fast Shutter Speed

    • Ideally, the picture will show a drop of water just as it falls from the icicle. To capture this drop of falling water, use the fastest shutter speed you have. If lighting conditions are a little dark, you can increase the ISO on your camera to allow for the faster shutter speed. Many digital single-lens reflex cameras have a maximum shutter speed between 1/4000th to 1/8000th of second. Whether you are using a point-and-shoot or single-lens reflex camera, you will want to use the fastest setting possible.

      Not only are you trying to capture the water as it drips, but also you need to account for how quickly you press the shutter release when you see it happen. Pre-focusing and holding the shutter release down will make it easier to catch the water droplet as it falls.


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