How to take Waterfall Pictures
Written by: www.ForestWander.com
Selection
Selecting the right waterfall is one of the most fun and easiest parts of taking waterfall pictures. In order to make the most of your time you should look for a waterfall that is appeasing to the eye and soothing to look at. After all who would want to look at a waterfall picture that is ugly? Just go with your heart and with what looks good to you.
If you like how a waterfall looks, then it will probably be worth taking a picture of the waterfall to share with others.If you are pressed for time, then make the most of your time, and try look at the waterfall from a perspective that maybe someone else cannot see.
There is hidden beauty in just about any setting so try to think outside of the box when selecting the right waterfall to take a picture for your purpose. Clear your mind of everyday thoughts and stresses maybe just set for 5 minutes and stare at the waterfall, studying its shape and the flow of the water. Within no time you will find yourself seeing the potential for a great waterfall picture once you have cleared your mind.
Season
Choosing the right season can be critical to taking the right waterfall picture. Winter is a tough time especially if you live in the upper northern region. Freezing water can be just as beautiful as flowing water if taken from the right perspective. However, it has been my experience that a frozen waterfall picture is really a bland setting and can kill the whole excitement of a waterfall picture.
During the spring season waterfalls can be especially beautiful if the picture is taken at the right time. Too early in the spring season and the vegetation around the waterfall picture setting will still be dead looking from the previous winter. An ideal time to take a waterfall picture in the spring is when the flowers and trees are in full bloom. This is typically during the May month of spring and it is well worth waiting for the right time to get a good waterfall picture.Summer can also be a really great season to take waterfall pictures.
The strong growth of green vegetation and summertime flowers can make a wonderful setting for a spectacular waterfall picture. Although the sun can pose challenges during the hot summer months a proper polarizing filter can dim down the bright rays that cause for quick exposure times. The bright colors that come out from a well lit scene often make it worth the extra effort of compensating for the bright light. Summer can be a dangerous time for taking pictures of waterfalls, because snakes and other critters may be lurking in the shadows. I live where poisonous copperhead snakes are prevalent during the hot summer days. So I watch very carefully when climbing up and down cliffs to get waterfall pictures.The autumn fall season is my favorite time of year for taking waterfall pictures.
The colors of the leaves and the hue of the fall sky make for wonderful, magical, waterfall picture opportunities around every corner. This time of year the temperatures are just right for hiking and spending the entire day outside in the forest, looking for the right shot to take your best picture. Try to incorporate as much fall foliage as you possibly can in your waterfall picture, as you will appreciate this once you see the finished product. Thinking back from a time when there is no fall foliage, it will be a very pleasant sight to remember and imagine. Again, study your setting and look around for some time, before getting in a hurry and taking the waterfall picture. You hurry all of the time throughout each and every day, this is the time to relax and let your mind think of the more simple carefree things of nature.
Positioning
Placing yourself in the right position for taking your waterfall picture is very critical to the success and satisfaction of your waterfall picture. Taking the picture in just any position will do in a hurry but in the end you will not be satisfied. If you take the time to get to a position that may be uncommon, and even may be difficult to get to you may find that the extra effort and time is worth it to get the best waterfall picture.
Be careful when climbing over rocks or down cliff sides you can fall unexpectedly and get hurt and if you are in a remote area it may be some time before someone comes along to help you. Getting in the right position for a waterfall picture is tough sometimes but you must weight the cost, it is not worth it if you get hurt and damage your equipment in the process.
Time Value and Exposure Factor
In order to take custom waterfall pictures you must have the capability of adjusting the amount of time light is allowed into the sensor and the volume of light that is let in at one time. These two values are typically called exposure factor and time value. Exposure factor or aperture value is how wide the opening is when the shutter is opened and the digital sensor or film is exposed.
Over exposing a waterfall picture can be very disappointing once you get back home and see the results. It is important that you are familiar with these settings before you get to that perfect place, in the perfect position, and during the right season. Familiarize yourself with these settings on your camera before you leave on your trip, take a couple of pictures and look at the results, after writing down or noting which pictures have what settings.The time value is the favorite setting of waterfall picture photographers. This setting allows you to manipulate the amount of time the digital sensor or film is exposed, and when moving water in a waterfall is involved you will achieve a blurred effect, that gives the viewer of the waterfall picture a sense of realism and motion. The aperture value cannot be ignored when manipulating the time value. T
Typically you will need to have a very small aperture opening to minimize the volume of light allowed in at once since the time has been increased that light will be allowed in to the sensor.In the evening dusk hours of the day and in the early morning are the best hours to take waterfall pictures. The reason is because of the powerful sunlight that is present during the noonday and afternoon hours. Too much polar filtering can have a degraded affect on waterfalls pictures so it is best if you can plan to take the waterfall pictures at a low light time of day. Overall you should have fun at what you are doing if you become too stressed or under pressure when trying to achieve the waterfall picture results you want then you need to take a break and relax. Do not get stressed out over something that should be enjoyable. Plan and take your time when going on a waterfall picture adventure, you may want to visit some of the places I have taken waterfall pictures of in West Virginia, if so visit our ‘Where to take Waterfall Hikes’ page for some directions, descriptions and maps.
For reference waterfall pictures visit www.ForestWaterfalls.com