How to photograph: Waterfalls and Streams

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How To Photograph

Series 1. Waterfalls and Streams


Photographing waterfalls and streams can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a photographer. Nothing beats the soothing sound of running water from mother nature herself. Well, maybe the sound of rain on a tarp tent, but that guide is for another day. haha

Equipment that you will need.


  • A camera. Preferably a DSLR, but anything that allows you to control your shutter speed will work.
  • A wide angle lens. Whether it's a zoom or a prime, something between 10mm and 30mm is usually the best.
  • A tripod. You will need a sturdy tripod since you will be doing long exposures. A sturdy tripod prevents camera shake.
  • A neutral density filter. Long exposures will let a lot of light into your sensor, the best way to prevent this is by using ND filters.
  • Proper clothing. Prepare for the worst conditions when photographing waterfalls. Gore Tex is great for wet conditions.
  • Remote shutter release. You may not need this if your camera has a controlled timer. 
  • A microfiber lens cloth. Chances are, your lens may fog up or you may end up with a bit of water on your lens.
Stream of Mossy Boulders - 4/1 second - F/11.0 - ISO 100 - 50mm                                                                                                                                                                      Stream of Mossy Boulders by JonUriah

Finding a waterfall or stream.


There may be one near you! The best way to find one is to get out and go exploring or look online. A website that I use when researching a waterfall is Trails.com. Here is a list of different references to help you find a waterfall.
  1. www.trails.com/activities.aspx…
  2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_…
  3. www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com…
For further information on finding a waterfall you can Google search "NPS (a national park near your location) Waterfalls"
Sanctuary - 1/160 second - F/4.0 - ISO 100 - 50mm                                                                                                                                                                   Sanctuary by JonUriah

Setting up your composition. 


When setting up your composition, look for leading lines, foreground elements, and objects to frame your image. This can be anything from rocks and boulders to flowers and trees. When you have a foreground element the photo becomes more interesting. Make sure that your horizon is level. If you need to you can get a bubble level to set on top of the camera. If your horizon is not level the photo will look off, since the water is running one way while the image is shifted another way.
Abrams Falls - 1/2 second - F/8.0 - ISO 100 - 50mm                                                                                                                                                                                                Abrams Falls by JonUriah

Photographing the subject.


This will take trial and error to understand what gets you the results that you want. Meter your scene correctly. If you are unsure of how to meter a scene, read my Beginner Guide To A Proper Exposure. You generally want a narrow aperture, somewhere between f/8 and f/11. Shutter speeds will vary between what you want to create. 1 second or more will usually give you a soft milky effect, which is desired by most photographers. Use a neutral density filter on your lens if you cannot achieve longer shutter speeds. Use the timer on your camera or a remote shutter release to trip the shutter. This will prevent camera shake and blur in your photograph. 

Now that you know how to photograph waterfalls and streams, get out there, explore, and have a great time!
Are these tips and guides helpful to you? 
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