Getting that silky flowing water look is easier than it looks. Here's how to do it.
Waterfall
(Click on image to enlarge)
Photo by Hamed Saber
Introduction
Have you dreamed of taking photographs of a waterfall or river where the water appears to be rushing past while the rocks, trees and other landscape items remain frozen in time? Here’s how to get that effect.
The Secret
The secret is leaving your shutter open for at least a second or two, so the water appears to move while everything else remains nice and sharp. A tripod or other stabilizing method is a must. One problem with this shooting method is that you will have to leave your shutter open longer, which means you are letting in more light than normal. It is best to attempt this method early in the morning, or late in the day, just after sunset, or on an overcast day. Here’s what you do: set your digital camera to shutter priority mode and set the shutter speed to 1 or 2 full seconds. If you want to attempt this during broad daylight, you will have to use a step-down filter to limit the amount of light coming into the camera. Bracketing several images with different exposures is a good idea to ensure that you get that perfect shot. By using this method, you prevent your photos from being totally blown out and over-exposed.
Experiment
For an even more dramatic effect, go out on a day when there is a light rain or drizzle. The overcast sky will take care of the exposure issue, and the rain will make the rocks and other landscape elements glisten and “pop”. Try setting your aperture at f/22 and leave the shutter open even longer to get the silky, flowing water effect.
While you are out there, try experimenting with black & white mode. Or setting your shutter to 1/60 and panning the water for an opposite effect, where the water is frozen but the landscape appears to be rushing by.
Conclusion
Waterfalls and rivers are wonderful photographic subjects because they offer such a wide variety of photographic options. Experiment with different ways of capturing the flow of water and you will be pleasantly surprised at the results.