Photographing Waterfalls: Tips for Success
Photo by Scott Setterberg / ColorTexturePhotoTours
When you’re standing in front of a waterfall, you are taking in an entire experience, more than simply the visual aspects of it. In order to capture that feeling when photographing waterfalls, you will need to know some tips and techniques for how to photograph waterfalls.
Photographing waterfalls has some technical challenges, such as how to convey the motion of the water falling in what is essentially a static or unmoving medium, the still photograph. Here are some waterfall photography tips that you can use with most cameras from entry level to advanced.
Choose a Slow Shutter Speed
photo by ArisSu via iStock
The number one reason why so many waterfall pictures don’t adequately convey the feel of the experience of seeing the waterfall in person is because the camera shutter speed was too fast. A key tool to control the final image when photographing waterfalls is to slow down the shutter.
For most general photography, a fast enough shutter speed to allow for hand held exposures without image blur due to camera motion is second nature to photographers of all levels. But the problem with that hand holdable shutter speed when photographing waterfalls is that it freezes the motion of the water actually falling and makes the image look unnatural.
Frozen moments of time with suspended drops and masses of water is not how we experience a waterfall in real life. Therefore, introducing some motion blur is not only acceptable, but is actually extremely important.
Photo by Scott Setterberg / ColorTexturePhotoTours
How slow of a shutter speed is necessary will be determined by several variables, including the exposure of the scene, how big or small is the waterfall, how far are you from the moving water, and how much motion blur you want to incorporate. Some scenes look great with just a little bit of blur, others look great with that super smooth look.
It will also depend on whether or not you’re making use of the next tips for photographing waterfalls.
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Support the Camera
photo by Gudella via iStock
Unless you have a camera with 5-axis image stabilization and exceptional hand holding technique, you will need some sort of camera support for photographing waterfalls such as a tripod, a monopod, a clamp, or a bean bag.
While a monopod is excellent for a lot of situations, taking advantage of all your options when photographing waterfalls pretty necessitates a tripod. If you are hiking to your chosen waterfall, the new carbon fiber tripods offer excellent stability with extremely light weight, though they do cost a bit more than aluminum tripods.
Even with a good tripod at the ready, you will still need to use some other techniques for sharp exposures, such as using a remote release or perhaps mirror lock up on a DSLR. This is a good place to point out how much much I love my new mirrorless camera, but you don’t need to buy a new camera just for photographing waterfalls.
Find the Right Waterfall
Photo by Scott Setterberg / ColorTexturePhotoTours
Not all waterfalls are created equal. While I actually have a few small waterfalls in city parks within walking distance of my home, the truly majestic waterfalls take some effort to reach. And finding a waterfall with no apparent man made elements nearby can be a real challenge.
You might find yourself wanting a guide to help you reach those outstanding waterfalls in out of the way areas of the world. ColorTexturePhotoTours has expeditions in the USA and in other areas such as Costa Rica that you can join.
Photo by Scott Setterberg / ColorTexturePhotoTours
These photo tours provide you with access to some amazing views of spectacular Costa Rica waterfalls and also some valuable tips for photographing waterfalls to showcase their majestic beauty perfectly.
If you have never taken a guided photography tour of any kind, going on a tour to Costa Rica for photographing waterfalls will absolutely blow your mind. Not only do companies like ColorTexturePhotoTours show you places you probably couldn’t find on your own, they also make the entire trek an enjoyable adventure by offering all-inclusive trips.
We’re talking transportation in-country, accommodations, meals, massages...you name it! After the 2020 we’re having, a relaxing photography adventure in which you don’t have to worry about a thing sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it?!
Choose the Right Spot
Photo by Scott Setterberg / ColorTexturePhotoTours
You found the right waterfall, with or without help, now you should scout out the area a bit to find good views of the waterfall. When photographing waterfalls, straight on is not always the best vantage point to take your pictures.
If there are trails taking you to the waterfall, see what the waterfall looks like from various spots on the trail. Can you get above the falls, behind the falls, or to the side? Don’t limit yourself to only one spot either. Move around and capture images from several vantage points.
In this tip, you can also look around for other photographic elements to include in your waterfall photos, such as foreground rocks, trees, or even other people on the trails. Adding in some extra elements can give you a fresh perspective of the scene.
Photo by Scott Setterberg / ColorTexturePhotoTours
One of the things I like about some of the more remote waterfalls is that I often find myself surrounded and covered by a canopy of trees. This has the effect of diffusing the light for small or medium sized waterfalls that may be under the same forest canopy.
If you are able to safely hike in and out in marginal lighting, planning for either morning or evening Golden Hour and Blue Hour can provide you with diffused light in a slightly different color than full daylight, making these times excellent for photographing waterfalls.
The time of year can also make a difference. When trekking to waterfalls during what some may call off seasons, weather such as misty days or overcast skies can also add surprising beauty to your waterfall images.
It’s Worth the Effort
Photo by Scott Setterberg / ColorTexturePhotoTours
Photographing waterfalls is very enjoyable from an art point of view, and it can also feed you in other ways. Many photographers experience a certain tranquility in photographing waterfalls that some other genres of photography may not offer them.
It can also be worth the effort when others like your beautiful images enough to display themselves. That's right, offer your images as high quality prints that others can purchase. Or, just print some images off on canvas or metal and display in your own home or office for your personal enjoyment.
Besides, it’s definitely worth all the effort you put forth because you got to have a good time pursuing the art of photography while photographing waterfalls.
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