Waterfalls make a great subject for landscape
photography. Either as part of a panoramic view or
as a stand-alone landscape, waterfall scenes can be
quite spectacular.
You’ve seen pictures of waterfalls in magazines and
books and would love to be able to take pictures
such as those. Well it is not as hard as you may
think. In this article you will find some simple
tips to use when confronted with a magnificent
waterfall.
Prepare.
These are a few items that you should consider
having with you on your outing to the waterfalls or
any other photo shoot for that matter.
1) A
tripod is a must. You will be using long shutter
speeds and it is essential to keep the camera rock
steady.
2)
Use a shutter release cable instead of the shutter
release button. This is not an essential piece of
equipment if you are very careful. However it is
possible to get camera shake when you press the
shutter release button.
3)
Use a neutral density filter. This will help keep
the shot from being overexposed in the lighter areas
such as sky, clouds, snow etc. It will also help
reduce the light source so you can use longer
exposure times. The longer exposure will give the
flowing water of the falls that silky appearance.
This makes for a much more attractive shot.
4)
If possible take a variety of lenses. This of course
will enable you to take shots from wide angle
panoramic to tight-in telephoto. It will also enable
you to take shots from varying distances.
5) A
lens hood will cut down on flaring especially if
there are sunny periods.
6)
Put your equipment in a backpack. This is the most
comfortable way to carry it. Make it as light as
possible.
7)
If you will be walking trails to get to the falls
make sure you have a trail map and make it an outing
with friends. Always remember safety first.
Camera tips.
Here
are some tips about your camera settings. Not all
cameras will have all of these settings. Read your
cameras manual and use the settings that are
available to you.
1)
If you can adjust the ISO on your camera, set it
low, 100 should be fine. If your camera doesn’t go
that low don’t worry, just set it as low as you can.
2)
Try different f-stops to see which affect you like
best. A higher f-stop will give you a greater depth
of field and allow for a longer shutter speed
without over exposing the shot.
3)
Experiment with the shutter speed. Try 1 or 2
seconds or even longer. The effect will be dazzling.
The longer the exposure the softer the moving water
will appear.
4)
Set the camera to bracket the shot. When you hold
the shutter release down the camera will take three
shots. One at regular exposure then one a little
under and one a little overexposed. You can then
choose the one you like the best.
5)
Set the white balance manually. Again, your cameras
manual will tell you how to do this.
Taking the shot.
Now
it is finally time to take the picture. Here are a
few suggestions to get you started.
1)
Start taking your pictures from a distance, and
gradually move in closer. This will help to keep the
scene from becoming contaminated. You don’t want
ugly footprints in your scene especially if it is a
winter scene. (For those of us who get snow in the
wintertime.)
2)
Take your pictures when the waterfall is in the
shade. The best time of day is early morning or
evening when the light is not so direct. An overcast
day is also great for shooting waterfalls. The
cloudy conditions help to diffuse the light.
3)
Frame the falls with the rocks of the cliff or
trees, or ice formations. If you get ice and snow
during your winter this is absolutely the best time
to photograph waterfalls.
4)
Don’t put the waterfalls right in the center of the
shot. Try for an angle from one side or the other or
place the falls offset in the frame. If you can get
close to the bottom or the top of the falls without
getting your camera wet this can make for a
spectacular shot. Always remember. Safety first.
Don’t try for that spectacular shot if there is a
danger of falling.
5)
Try tilting the camera at different angles.
Sometimes this can give you a perspective you didn’t
see at first. A tall slender waterfall looks better
when the camera is tilted 90 degrees, to give a
portrait view. A wide waterfall looks better taken
with the camera level in a landscape view.
Summary.
Make
preparation, collect together the proper equipment
and travel as light as possible. There will be
hiking involved.
Decide on a strategy for the shoot. Write down the
settings you will want to use in an order that flows
well.
Approach with a plan. Take your distance shots first
to avoid contaminating the scene. Have your shots
planned before hand. But be prepared for that
unexpected, unplanned shot. You will find that those
are often the prize shots of your outing.
When
walking into the falls pay attention to your
surroundings. You never know when a terrific shot
will present itself. Where ever you go always be
looking for photographic opportunities.
Go
out often and you will find that you learn something
new each time and you will be able to see the
improvement in your photography
About
The Author
Two of
my passions are photography and writing. I have been
doing both for quite a while and in the last two
years I have combined both into a single project. I
have developed a website about digital photography
tips. Taking photos and writing about them has been
a joy. With quite a bit of written material starting
to accumulate I have decided to write some of it
into photography articles as well.
For more
great articles and photography information,
including tips and techniques see the U-P-T web
site. http://www.ultimate-photography-tips.com
This is a must visit on your photography adventure.
