Photographing Waterfalls

Author of text and photographs: Goran Katić

When it comes to nature, photographing waterfalls is always interesting, although, a common mistake people make is setting the exposure and shutter on automatic. That's when the waterfalls turn out looking 'frozen'. . When you, already, 'broke' your back to get near to a waterfall, then at least try to play with a few different exposure settings.


Picture #1: Photograph taken using exposure setting 1/30 seconds.


Picture #2: Photograph taken using exposure setting 1/400 seconds.

As you can see on the above photographs, different exposures give different effects (results), however, when it comes to photographing these kind of objects, use of longer (slower) exposures are much more appreciated.

Few suggestions for better photographs:

  1. If you have no intentions on badgering yourself with shutter apertures and exposures, set your camera on a 'shutter priority' i.e. you choose the exposure and the camera will then choose the shutter aperture.
  2. Let your minimum exposures be 1/10, however, that again depends on how much light you have.
  3. You can get the best waterfall shots after the rain, because then the water level is higher then in summer (days).


Photograph #3: The biggest Plitvice waterfall which has 'a bit' weaker intensity after summer droughts.


Photograph #4: Good photograph can be taken regardless of waterfall intensity and height.

See also