Taking photos of waterfalls is always fun. It doesn’t matter whether the waterfall is small or large. Water movement, surrounding fog, and patterns in the water are great subjects to photograph. I have 10 suggestions for creative, diverse waterfall photos.
Waterfalls come in countless shapes and forms. Each of them is amazing and it can be very difficult to photograph it in a special way. It’s more than framing the entire waterfall in just one shot. Look for details, surroundings, and experiment with long shutter speeds.
If you find a beautiful waterfall, you can spend hours exploring the possibilities. I have ten suggestions that can help you take more creative photos.
Suggestion 1: Capture the Entire Waterfall
This is the clearest way to photograph a waterfall. To make it more special than just an ordinary photo, use long exposures with the help of neutral density filters. A 10-stop filter is usually adequate, but if there are moving clouds in the frame a 15-stop filter can make a difference.
A long exposure will remove all the detail from the falling water. Let the waterfall stand out from its surroundings, or at least try to do so. It can give the possibility of artistic appearance.
Recommendation 2: Capture the dynamics of a waterfall
If you want to see the intensity and dynamics of falling water, a short shutter speed is necessary. Various shutter speeds are possible and it all depends on the type of waterfall that works best. There is also a personal preference that needs to be taken into account.
An extremely short shutter speed will show a lot of water droplets and a lot of detail in the water. But be careful not to completely freeze the movement. Experiment with different settings and find the most optimal one.
Water droplets can stand out when there is a backlight. However, this can be difficult. It depends on the ability to move around and have the right perspective.
Recommendation 3: Capture Waterfall Details
Always look for detailed information. Especially if the water flows over rocks and moss there will be a lot of detail. There are patterns and shapes to be found. You can use these features for your composition and draw attention to a certain point or subject in the frame.
Use a polarizing filter to eliminate light reflection on wet surfaces. It increases the contrast between the water, moss and rocks. It will also bring out the color. Find the best shutter speed to get beautiful streaks and lines in the water.
Suggestion 4: Use Foreground Subjects to Capture Waterfalls
It is not always necessary to use a waterfall as the main theme. If there are interesting foreground subjects, change the focus to these subjects and use the waterfall as a backdrop. Use a longer focal length to create a shallow depth of field.
The limited field of view at longer focal lengths also provides the ability to fill out the background, even with a small waterfall. Longer shutter speeds can create a curtain of water in the background. Just be careful with any movement your subject makes.
Suggestion 5: Let the water come to you
Use the water flowing from the waterfall as a guide towards the waterfall. For these compositions, portrait orientation can help you achieve a balanced division of elements in the frame.
For these compositions, it is not always necessary to capture the entire waterfall in the background. However, if that’s your desire, it’ll be easier to get everything in the frame if you choose the ultra-wide angle. In that case, use maximum depth of field to get everything within acceptable sharpness. If that’s not possible, move on to focus stacking.
Tip 6: Photograph the waterfall from a bird’s eye view
A bird’s eye perspective offers a unique way to photograph waterfalls. Not only does it allow for capturing falling water, but it also allows you to show how the water flows.
By viewing the waterfall from an overhead perspective, you can use the water as a guide through the frame. Sometimes just standing on top of the waterfall is enough.
If there is a bridge over the waterfall, use it. However, if allowed and possible, use a drone to get a realistic perspective. Rotate the composition in such a way that the water flows in a beautiful direction within the frame.
Recommendation 7: Capture water flow
In most compositions, water flows toward the edge of the frame. Forcing your attention against the current can be an effort.
Choose to capture the water as it flows toward the subject on the horizon. In this way, the direction of observation is guided by the direction of the water itself. It feels more natural. However, it would be wise to place the subject where the water flows.
Suggestion 8: Use great lighting to penetrate the mist
There can be a lot of mist at the waterfall. Use this mist to your advantage. However, it could be truly amazing if it could catch the sunlight shining through the mist.
Learn how when light comes from the best possible way. Of course, this is not possible with every waterfall. But it’s worth considering the possibilities. If you can visit the falls at the right time, take advantage of the opportunity.
Hint 9: Find the rainbow next to the waterfall
If there is mist at the waterfall and the sunlight is shining at the right angle, you can see a rainbow. At large waterfalls, there is a huge amount of mist, and double rainbows can even be seen.
Always look at the sun’s position during the day. This makes it possible to plan the position of the rainbow relative to the waterfall. If there’s a full moon, you might get lucky and catch a rainbow.
Suggestion 10: Bring a dish towel with you
Taking photos of waterfalls can be a challenge. Spray and mist can ruin your photo if it gets into the lens. The best way to dry lenses is with a dish towel that has been washed a few times.
Dishcloths allow you to place the camera in places that wouldn’t normally be possible. Dry the lens after each shot and take multiple photos. Because water droplets will appear in different locations in the frame, multiple shots can be combined to remove water droplets in the frame.
Do you have more suggestions?
These 10 suggestions can help you get many interesting photos of waterfalls. But this is not limited to these ten suggestions. If you have additional suggestions, please share them in the comments section below.
