Camera Club Monthly Assignment: Rivers

Guardian photographer Graham Turner offers somes tips for photographing rivers, using the River Roding at Loughton in Essex as an example Photograph: Graham Turner

Graham's first tip is try not to fall in Photograph: Graham Turner

A weir on the River Roding. Do not drop your camera in the water. If you drop you camera or phone in and you are able to retrieve it promptly, do not turn it on - it kills it. Remove batteries and card, and leave to dry somewhere warm for a few days with fingers crossed Photograph: Graham Turner

Remember the rules of composition. It's best if the focal point is not in the centre Photograph: Graham Turner

Clouds reflected in the surface of the water. Warm colours advance, cold colours like blue recede. Photograph: Graham Turner

Flare from low sun behind a silhouetted tree reflected in the water of the River Roding. Lighting is usually better at the beginning or end of the day. Photograph: Graham Turner

There are many moods to a river depending on the seasons and the time of day Photograph: Graham Turner

Lens flare from low sun over reeds. Consider changing your viewpoint - high up or low down Photograph: Graham Turner

Natural textures at the river's edge. Fill the frame with relevant information, and cut out anything that doesn't help the picture, by changing lenses or moving your position Photograph: Graham Turner

A wide angle lens, used low down, will make a tiny stream look like the Amazon. A telephoto will compress the picture Photograph: Graham Turner

Remember the Country Code. Leave nothing but footprints; take nothing by photographs Photograph: Graham Turner