How to Photograph Waterfalls

How to Photograph Waterfalls

Waterfalls are beautiful. There's just something magical about water falling over a cliff or group of rocks and spashing down. When I first began my photography obsession I tried taking pictures of waterfalls but they never turned out well at all. The pictures always turned out overexposed and didn't have that smooth motion that I had seen in other photographs of waterfalls.

Seven Falls in Bear Canyon north of Tucson, AZ

There are some simple keys to getting great photographs of waterfalls. You do need a camera with at least some manual control though. The basic point and shoot cameras with no ability to control anything will not work. You will also need a tripod. Neutral density filters can also help but aren't necessary. I'll explain what they are in a minute.

Seven Falls in Bear Canyon north of Tucson, AZ

In photographing waterfalls it is usually best to get low and somewhat close to the waterfall. This will make the waterfall appear larger.

Only shoot waterfalls on a cloudy day or when sunlight is not directly hitting anything in the shot.
Make sure it isn't windy.
Set up the camera on a tripod and compose the shot the way you think looks best.
You'll want at least a 1/4 second or longer shutter speed
Adjust the aperture and ISO to compensate for the shutter speed.
Set the timer on your camera and take the picture.

Having sunlight brightens the area too much and will not allow for a slow enough shutter speed. All you will end up with is bright white, or blown out, pictures. Cloudy days are perfect for shooting waterfalls, and the darker the better. Windy days cause two problems. The first is camera shake. Even on a strong tripod wind can cause the camera to move which causes blur. The second problem is the wind blowing water droplets onto your camera and equipment.

Adjusting the shutter speed, aperture and ISO all depend on the type of camera you are using. I suggest reading the manual or taking a class if you do not understand these elements. They are essential in understanding how to really use your camera. I'd also suggest taking a look at some YouTube videos on how to use your particular camera.

Bridal Wreath Falls in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson, Arizona

In most cases shooting on a cloudy day will be enough but if you still can't slow down the shutter speed enough without the picture turning completely white a neutral density filter can help. These come in two main types and for the most part are only available for the DSLR cameras. DSLR cameras are the one with the interchangeable lenses. Neutral density filters are like a sunglass lens. It darkens the light coming into the lens. One type screws onto the front of the lens and the other is like a piece of square plastic (actually resin or glass). There is an attachment that screws onto the front of the lens and then this square piece slides into the attachment.

The main thing is to get out there and practice. These same techniques can work very well with rough flowing rivers and ocean waves. Practice with anything from 1/6 second to even 30 second shutter speeds. I find that 1/4 second to 3 second shutter speeds produce the best results but that can vary depending on the waterfall and other factors.

Waves down in Rocky Point Mexico