Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Photography Tips: Shutter Speed on Waterfalls (Images)

The speed of your camera's shutter plays a big role in how you capture an image of a waterfall.

In today's photography tips, I am posting some examples to show how you can use shutter speed to control the appearance of flowing water in your photos.  This picture was taken at 1/6th of a second.


With the camera mounted on a tripod, as all waterfall photography should be done,  another shot was taken at 1/ 160 sec. Notice, higher shutter speeds will do what's called, freezing the motion.


This photo was taken using a 0.6sec shutter speed.


1/8sec was used as shutter speed on this vertical shot.
Then, 1/320 on the next photo.

And, 1/5sec on the final image.

Try using different shutter speed settings on waterfalls, or any scene where you want to capture an image of moving water.  It will have an impact on the appearance of the water in your final photo.  Some people prefer the veil, or soft effect, others go for the crisp look of motion freeze in their waterfall photography.  Whenever I shoot waterfalls,  I take several shots each way.

HERE'S AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY


MORE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS HERE




6 comments:

Unknown said...

I can literally spend hours staring at the fast-moving water of a stream, and it is even more enthralling with a waterfall. It is the same with staring at the flames of a fire, but it is a different story when the fire is out of control.

RyukyuMike said...

FishHawk,
Yup, I hear that but, at this one I left my backpack and bug spray behind, in the car. Mosquito gang had a lot of fun with me !

Unknown said...

I really hope you didn't pick up anymore ticks. (Make that, really, really, REALLY hope.)

RyukyuMike said...

FishHawk,
Now that you mention it, there seems to be a biggun in my armpit. I'll spare you the agony of watching my Swiss Army knife, this time !

Alison said...

Thanks for the tips! Now I want to find a waterfall to try out the tips. :)

RyukyuMike said...

Alison,
Have fun and be safe.