For a nature photographer, waterfall photography is like a
dream come true. A subject tailor-made for a great image,
waterfalls can be a magnet for anyone with a camera.
Like any subject in nature photography, waterfall photos
also come with their own set of challenges. A beginner can
be disappointed with their results time and time again,
simply due to simple mistakes that can be easily overcome.
A good waterfall photo does not require hi-tech photography
equipment or fancy techniques; just a decent camera and a
basic understanding of a few manual settings.
In fact, a really good waterfall photograph probably owes
more to good lighting and composition than to technology.
This is great news; it means you can improve your waterfall
photos no matter what sort of camera you have! Here are
five simple tips to help you take some great waterfall
photos of your own.
Waterfall Photography Tip #1. Choose the Right Weather
Conditions. Many waterfalls are found in the rainforest, or
in heavily wooded areas. That means the same rules of
lighting that apply to rainforest photography also apply to
waterfall photos. In most cases, the best results will
happen when you take your photos in overcast weather. Cloud
cover creates even, low-contrast lighting that eliminates
harsh patches of light and shade from your waterfall image.
While we are on the subject of lighting; avoid using your
flash in most situations. It will destroy the atmosphere
created by the natural light.
You should also try to avoid windy days. If you are working
with a slow shutter (see tip #2), you don't want the trees
to be blowing about and blurring the background in your
photo.
Waterfall Photography Tip #2. Experiment With Shutter
Speeds and Carry a Tripod. You have surely seen the soft
wispy effect photographers create by shooting flowing water
at very slow shutter speeeds. This is a popular techniqe
and has great impact for some photos. However, it is not
the only method you should try. Some photos can look great,
but if you do all your photos this way it can become boring
and repetitive. Also, the wispy effect just doesn't suit
every waterfall. In my experience, cascading waterfalls
that tumble over rocks and have several levels look great
at slow speeds. I usually a shutter speed of one second.
However, waterfalls that fall straight down over a ledge
into a pool usually look better with a bit more
defininition; try a speed of about 30/sec or 15/sec.
Experimenting with different speeds will always get you the
best result in the end.
Regardless of the effect you are after, you should always
have your tripod with you for waterfall photography. If you
are in the forest on a cloudy day, the level of light will
be very low, and you may find yourself forced to use very
slow shutter speeds whether you like it or not.
Waterfall Photography Tip #3. Explore Downstream. When you
arrive at your location, the first instinct is usually to
stand right in front of the waterfall and take the most
straightforward angle. However, the best result is often
found when you explore downstream. You may find an angle
where the stream cascades toward you, with the main
waterfall in the background. Or you may be able to frame
waterfall through the branches of the trees. There are
plenty of possibilities; the point is, there is never only
one shot to take at a waterfall, and the obvious photo is
not always the best.
Waterfall Photography Tip #4. Give Your Wide-Angle Lens a
Workout. A wide-angle lens comes in handy for a few
reasons. Firstly, it has a naturally strong depth of field.
If you are using a slow shutter speed for the water, it is
important to keep the rest of the photo sharp. If your main
subject is moving and the surroundings are out of focus,
your result will just be a big blur. Secondly, the
wide-angle lens has an exaggerated sense of perspective,
allowing your viewer to feel that they are looking up the
stream or into the rainforest, not just at a flat picture.
Waterfall Photography Tip #4. Let The Flow Of Water Shape
Your Composition. Whenever you compose a photo, you use the
lines and shapes in the picture to create the best impact.
The flow of water in a waterfall photo has great visual
impact. The viewer's eye will naturally follow the
direction of the water, so you should use this to help
shape your composition. If you stand downstream so that the
stream flows toward the camera, you can create a distinct
visual direction in your composition that will truly catch
and lead the eye of the viewer.
So, there you have five very simple ways to take better
waterfall photos. As in all nature photography, writing and
reading about it is never as inspiring as getting out and
doing it. I hope these tips give you some motivation to
grab a friend, get out there and practice. Have fun!
----------------------------------------------------
If you found these tips helpful, visit
http://www.naturesimage.com.au to find Andrew Goodall's top
selling ebook "Photography In Plain English" and check out
his popular rainforest and waterfall photography
collection. While you are there, don't forget to subscribe
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