Waterfall photography is one of the most spectacular forms of art we can create. Knowing how to take photos of waterfalls not only allows us to become great panorama photographers but in addition it facilitates better photographers in general. There is one dilemma with taking photos of waterfalls that many photo enthusiasts battle with. That is the daylight. Sometimes waterfalls can be too dark or overexposed. It seems to be a challenge to get the correct exposure. Lets observe some ways we can take sharp and clear shots of waterfalls.
In this waterfall photography tutorial I will be discussing the foremost challenges with exposure. Exposure is a term to explain how much complete lighting there is. This will mean that that the brightness of your falls must be just right; not overexposed and not too dark. This can be tricky when you are taking photos of your waterfall on a bright day.
You can see one of my earlier photos of a waterfall. This was taken on the automatic mode over ten years ago when I knew very little about photography. Thankfully, now, I know how to take photos! The predicament with this picture is that the camera exposed for light off the shadow areas of the photo and missed the top section. As a consequence of the crest of the waterfall is not detected because it's too bright.
The trouble with this shot is that the camera exposed for light off the shadow areas of the photo and missed the top section. As a result the top of the waterfall is not detected because it's overexposed.
Years later when I invested in Lightroom 4 I decided that would try and fix some of my earlier photos.
When waterfalls are captured on a bright day in the automatic function we get one of two things. The waterfall is perfectly exposed and all the surrounding elements, like your mountain range and cliff face is underexposed. (Too dark.) We might also be faced with the surrounding things being just right and our waterfall being overexposed (too bright.) How do we get the waterfall and the surrounds both appearing perfectly exposed?
When waterfalls are captured on a bright day in the auto function we get one of two things. The waterfall is perfectly exposed and all the surrounding elements, like your mountain range and cliff face is underexposed. (Too dark.) We possibly will also be confronted by the surrounding things being just right and our waterfall having too much light (too bright.) How do we get the waterfall and the surrounds both appearing ideally exposed?
You will observe that when taking your falls in gentle light, it's simpler and easier to get better exposure. The brighter areas are reduced and the shadows are not as strong. Light is refracted due to the overcast day and therefore we get a subdued look in our photos.
You will notice that when capturing your falls in gentle light, it's easier to get better exposure. The highlights are reduced and the shadows are not as strong. Light is refracted due to the overcast day and therefore we get a filtered look in our photos.
This photo was a 3 shot panorama. Water is tough when you shoot panoramas. You have to have your shutter speed on super fast. I'll talk about this in a different photography tutorial.
Let's inspect this photo a little more thoroughly. The light is coming from the upper part of the photo and we see shadows in the rock face below. To be able to create this waterfall photo I made certain that I had the correct exposure. I metered off the flowing water. You see your waterfall will be the lightest thing in the picture so it is imperative to tell the camera to meter off that. This works especially well if you are spot metering.
Let's inspect this photo a little more. The lighting is coming from the top and we can detect shadows in the rock face below. To be able to shoot this waterfall photo I made certain that I had the best exposure. I metered off the flowing water. Your waterfall will be the lightest thing in the scene so it is vital to tell the camera to meter off that. This works particularly well if you are spot metering.
How to shoot waterfalls depends on your brightness, where you stand and getting the true exposure. Once you have all three then you can take pleasure ingoing to the next level; editing. Sometimes bringing up the whites and dark by a little bit will help smooth out the light even more.
You may want to increase the vibrancy, or enhance one colour only. Take your time and find the right method that works for you. Soon your waterfalls will be looking like works of art you will want to hang on your wall.
In this waterfall photography tutorial I will be discussing the foremost challenges with exposure. Exposure is a term to explain how much complete lighting there is. This will mean that that the brightness of your falls must be just right; not overexposed and not too dark. This can be tricky when you are taking photos of your waterfall on a bright day.
You can see one of my earlier photos of a waterfall. This was taken on the automatic mode over ten years ago when I knew very little about photography. Thankfully, now, I know how to take photos! The predicament with this picture is that the camera exposed for light off the shadow areas of the photo and missed the top section. As a consequence of the crest of the waterfall is not detected because it's too bright.
The trouble with this shot is that the camera exposed for light off the shadow areas of the photo and missed the top section. As a result the top of the waterfall is not detected because it's overexposed.
Years later when I invested in Lightroom 4 I decided that would try and fix some of my earlier photos.
When waterfalls are captured on a bright day in the automatic function we get one of two things. The waterfall is perfectly exposed and all the surrounding elements, like your mountain range and cliff face is underexposed. (Too dark.) We might also be faced with the surrounding things being just right and our waterfall being overexposed (too bright.) How do we get the waterfall and the surrounds both appearing perfectly exposed?
When waterfalls are captured on a bright day in the auto function we get one of two things. The waterfall is perfectly exposed and all the surrounding elements, like your mountain range and cliff face is underexposed. (Too dark.) We possibly will also be confronted by the surrounding things being just right and our waterfall having too much light (too bright.) How do we get the waterfall and the surrounds both appearing ideally exposed?
You will observe that when taking your falls in gentle light, it's simpler and easier to get better exposure. The brighter areas are reduced and the shadows are not as strong. Light is refracted due to the overcast day and therefore we get a subdued look in our photos.
You will notice that when capturing your falls in gentle light, it's easier to get better exposure. The highlights are reduced and the shadows are not as strong. Light is refracted due to the overcast day and therefore we get a filtered look in our photos.
This photo was a 3 shot panorama. Water is tough when you shoot panoramas. You have to have your shutter speed on super fast. I'll talk about this in a different photography tutorial.
Let's inspect this photo a little more thoroughly. The light is coming from the upper part of the photo and we see shadows in the rock face below. To be able to create this waterfall photo I made certain that I had the correct exposure. I metered off the flowing water. You see your waterfall will be the lightest thing in the picture so it is imperative to tell the camera to meter off that. This works especially well if you are spot metering.
Let's inspect this photo a little more. The lighting is coming from the top and we can detect shadows in the rock face below. To be able to shoot this waterfall photo I made certain that I had the best exposure. I metered off the flowing water. Your waterfall will be the lightest thing in the scene so it is vital to tell the camera to meter off that. This works particularly well if you are spot metering.
How to shoot waterfalls depends on your brightness, where you stand and getting the true exposure. Once you have all three then you can take pleasure ingoing to the next level; editing. Sometimes bringing up the whites and dark by a little bit will help smooth out the light even more.
You may want to increase the vibrancy, or enhance one colour only. Take your time and find the right method that works for you. Soon your waterfalls will be looking like works of art you will want to hang on your wall.
About the Author:
Amy Renfrey is a professional photography teacher. She is the author of several photography ebooks and a monthly photography emagazine. She shows you how to take stunning photos every single time, even if you have never used a digital camera before. Click here to learn photography the easy way.
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