15 Waterfall Photography Tips – How To Shoot Epic Cascade Shots
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Loading... - Hyben Musyoka
- 04 Aug 2022
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Well in this article we’re going to teach you exactly how to shoot waterfalls like a pro.
Capturing the silky movement of the water tumbling over rocks, between lush ferns and flowing through the cascades can take an ordinary picture and make it print-worthy.
We’ve been working as professional photographers for years, and while we’re best known for our travel photography, we have built up a bit of a reputation for our waterfall photography in particular.
One of the most common questions we get is about how to photograph a waterfall with that classic silky moving water flow, and today we want to share our tips and secrets with you!
How to Photograph Waterfalls – A Professional Guide for Beginners and Intermediates
If you’ve never taken long exposure waterfall shots before, don’t worry – it’s surprisingly easy!
There’s just a few settings and technical aspects you need to know, then it all comes down to experimenting and creativity.
Let’s get into it!
Buy a Camera That Can Shoot in Manual
The first thing you need do is get yourself a camera that gives you complete control over all the camera settings. Also known as ‘manual mode’.
The good news is that you don’t need to go out break the bank to get one. In fact most new digital cameras now let you fully control things like shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
While it’s true that professional expensive cameras have higher quality, there’s no need for you to go out and buy the most expensive camera on the market.
Instead do your research (we recommend you check out this article we put together on the best travel cameras) and find one that fits in your budget.
Once you have the camera, you’re ready to go out and shoot waterfalls!
Use a Slow Shutter Speed
In order to make the water look silky smoothy you need to use slower shutter speeds to show the movement of the waterfall.
If you use a fast shutter speed, something like 1/2000 of a second, your camera will freeze every single water drop in the scene.
That can be fine if you want to emphasise the power of the falls, but if you’re trying to nail classic waterfall long exposures this is not the effect you want to have.
When you use a slow shutter speed, perhaps around 1-2 seconds, all of the water that moves during that time will blur itself onto the sensor. That’s what creates the silky look. Read More…
