We did the Crabtree Falls hike this weekend.  It’s a moderate hike, and the US Forest Service has done a nice job of making it a go at your own pace hike.  There are plenty of resting spots along the steep uphill route, and the switchbacks keep it from actually being too strenuous.

I actually found the downhill journey more challenging, because you have to really be careful of your balance and footing.  Gravity is already pulling you downwards, and it’s easy to slip.  Where you can easily take a large step in an upwards direction, you will find very difficult going downwards, unless you use a walking stick.  I carry a staff, and this is really essential going down steep inclines.

If your camera is set to automatic, and you take a picture of a moving water, the quick shutter speed will freeze the motion.  Your water will look like ice.  So using today’s digital cameras, you need to slow down the shutter, to allow some blurring of the water, yet at the same time keep the sharpness of the image.

Camera set to "Landscape." Water looks frozen.

If you have a more complex digital SLR, this is no problem – use a shutter speed of 1/15 of a second, or maybe 1/10th.  If you have a point and shoot digital camera that doesn’t allow you to change the shutter speed manually, you can use this trick.  Choose the setting that says either “Slow Synch,” or “Slow Syncro,” or “Night Portrait.”   You are looking for the setting that has a slow shutter speed.  So you may have to read the manual to find this setting.  Maybe there is a setting for “Fireworks.”  That would do it.

Camera set to slow shutter speed (1/15th sec). Water looks natural.

When you are ready to take the picture with the slower shutter speed, no matter what camera you use, you MUST have the camera rock steady.  That means using a tripod, or leaning the camera firmly on a tree, or railing, or even the top of your hiking pole.  I leaned my camera on the railing for the below picture.

Camera set to slow shutter speed. Water looks like moving water.

You may be able to get away with holding the camera and leaning your elbows on a railing, but your wrists will have some movement.  My advice is to lean the camera itself against something that is rock solid, and gently take the picture.  You will be amazed at what the slow shutter speed will do.

Let me know your results, by posting a comment below.  Tell us what setting is used on your camera to slow down the shutter speed.

See you on the trail!