So, I’ve been getting into landscape photography lately, and I kept seeing these amazing shots with perfectly still water, like a mirror reflecting the sky. I was wondering, “Does the water really need to be that smooth?” So, I decided to put it to the test myself.
My Little Experiment
First, I picked a location. I chose a nearby lake that’s usually pretty calm, but sometimes gets a bit choppy with the wind. I figured it would be a good place to see the difference.
Then, I went there on a few different days. I wanted to get a variety of conditions. One day was super calm, almost no wind at all. Another day was breezy, with little ripples on the water. And the last day was pretty windy, with actual waves.
- Calm day: I set up my camera and tripod, and took some shots. The water was like glass. The reflections were super clear and sharp. It looked pretty awesome, I gotta admit.
- Breezy day: The reflections were still there, but they were kinda distorted, all wavy and stuff. It didn’t have that “perfect mirror” look, but it still looked pretty cool, in a different way. It felt more… dynamic, I guess.
- Windy day: Okay, this was tough. The waves were crashing, and there were hardly any reflections at all. I tried to get some shots, but they mostly just looked messy. The water was the main subject, not the reflections.
What I Learned. My Takeaway.
So, after all that, here’s what I think: Smooth water definitely makes for those classic, stunning landscape shots. The reflections are just beautiful. But… it’s not the only way to do it.
Breezy or even slightly choppy water can create a different kind of beauty. It adds some movement and texture to the photo. And sometimes, like that windy day. It can add some movement and feeling of being powerful.
It really depends on what you’re going for. The “perfect” shot or the “perfect for you” shot. So my conclusion, the one fit you is the best. I realized I actually liked both, just in different ways. I am pretty happy to find out these and will use them both.
