or How to hurt yourself without really trying.
A week or two ago, I decided to see if this domain was available and lo and behold, it was. So new domain, new hosting and hopefully new ideas….. well, there are new ideas, but for the moment, I am going to rehash a blog post from a previous website that I thought I had deletted. Hard to believe that back in November 2013 I posted about a new photography subject (to me at least) I had started to play around with.
Now unto one of my favorite things….
As some are quick to point out, I am not a professional photographer, just a guy with dreams of grandeur and a nice camera. I havent taken any classes in a very very (did I say very?) long time.
So a lot of what I try to do is self taught from reading books, searching the web, bugging the hell out of the few pros who will talk with me and experimentation. One of the things I really like shooting other then birds at my sisters bird feeders is……
Waterfalls…….
I really enjoy shooting waterfalls. I think I have learned alot about fstop, shutter speed, ND (neutral density) filters, circular polarizers and how to hurt myself without really trying, all by the greatest learning tool available, trial and error while shooting waterfalls.
Lets start with a little bit of background on waterfalls. There are many different types of waterfalls out there. I always thought if water fell down it in a soothing and pleasant way it is a waterfall.
I was wrong.
According to Wikipedia’s entry on waterfalls these are the types of waterfalls that are out there, but I will not be getting all sub categoryily like they did and I am going to post just the main ones.Mind you, I will be talking and sharing my experiences with waterfalls here in Connecticut and a few within driving distance of my home but in New York and Massachusetts, so alot of these types wont be near me.
So when you are looking through my pics and say “thats not a waterfall” please refer to this list of descriptions and remember just because it isnt as big as Niagra Falls…….
Well insert your favorite penis joke in there and it works just as well lol
- Ledge Waterfall: Water descends vertically over a vertical cliff, maintaining partial contact with the bedrock.
- Plunge: Fast moving water descends vertically, losing complete contact with the bedrock surface. The contact is typically lost due to horizontal thrust of the water before it falls. It always starts from a narrow stream.
- Horsetail: Descending water maintains good contact with bedrock most of the time.
- Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.
- Tiered/Multi-step/Staircase: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.
- Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall.
- Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.
- Tide Fall: A waterfall that directly empties into the sea or ocean.
- Frozen: Any waterfall which has some element of ice.
Before we start talking about cameras, filters, settings and tripods, there is a different subject I really should discuss.
Safety
Yes safety, as in personal safety. As my wife, Tammy, will attest, there is always the chance you could hurt yourself. I have come home to her yelling at me “What The Hell Did You Do To Yourself!” numerous times, while cleaning scrapes, cuts and bruises or just covered in mud. Just the other day a inch thick branch fell out of a tree and just missed me, so you never know what could happen.
Most of these places where I find these waterfalls are a short hike into the woods, granted there are trails but you should really have on the right foot gear. I recommend a waterproof hiking boot with some type of non skid sole. Personally, I tend to lean towards hunting boots. Most are waterproof and even insulated. When your close to the waterfall on rocks that are wet and have moss and algae on them you will thank me, or even when needing to stand in a few inches of water to get your shot.
Make sure your cell is charged (no not so you can brag about the awesome waterfall pics your taking on Instagram) and in your shirt pocket (I tend to wear button camo jackets with pockets) or in a holder. You dont want to lose the cell phone.
Tell someone where your going to be, so if you dont come home when the other half calls saying its time to eat, they know when and where to send the rescue crews.
I also tend to carry a few other things with me, a GPS receiver (ok so I am a cacher to, but thats another blog for another day…), 2 or 3 bottles of water, some snacks, an emergency poncho, flashlight or headlamp and my multitool. You never know when you might need a pair of pliers or a screwdriver.
This is one of my very first attempts at a waterfall, no nuetral density filter, no circular polarizer, no clue what I was doing other then setting the camera on top of the tripod and using a remote shutter release.
This was a learning experience for me. I learned that I really needed to get a neutral density filter and READ my cameras manual again and use the manual settings on it the next time I was shooting a waterfall. I liked the picture anyways, even though I was hoping to get that cool smooth silky look of the waterfalling.
I put some of what I learned into use soon, I started seeking out waterfalls in the woods and in deep and darker places, places where I could slow down the shutter speed a bit more, one of the places I went was not far from home, Buttermilk Falls. I learned at this point, I could slow the shutter down but still hadnt thought of what would be the next 3 important things to do and for when shooting waterfalls.
I needed a Nuetral Density filter
I needed to watch for gloomy overcast skies
I needed to start playing with a smaller aperature
Those three things would allow me to increase the time my shutter was open, by allowing a little less light in I stood a better chance of getting that silky smooth water effect I kept seeing everyone else getting in their waterfall photos.
For this picture, I think I finally put it all together. I took what most would consider a crappy foggy, misty, drizzly afternoon and went waterfall hunting.
This is another trip where I am glad I had worn good hiking boots, the trail was uphill thru rocks, leaves, moss and mud. I lost my footing more then once and couldve been really bad if the boots didnt grip.
There were many spots along this ravine to stop and shoot, and this was one of my favorites and I can not wait to go there when there has been a bit more rain.
I set up using my neutral density filter and circular polarizer, slowed down my shutter speed and turned it up to 16 on my aperture. Which allowed me to shoot a 40 second exposure. The only thing I wouldve done different was turn down my ISO to 100.
But, those are the things we learn thru trial and error, and over the last 10 years since I first posted this blog my Waterfall Photography has greatly improved.
That was definitely one of my best waterfall trips, not so much seeing the falls, but what I taught myself during this trip. Not only did I get a few really good shots, but I was a lot more selective in what I was shooting. I walked out of the woods and had shot less then 75 pictures.
There turns out to be many different things you can shoot at waterfalls, I took a shot of the moss and leaves. I managed to leave the shutter open for a full 50 seconds, it was late afternoon and the sun was setting on a cloudy afternoon. The flashlight I keep in my camera bag came in handy walking out of the woods in the dark.
Reading back on this blog from when I first started my attempts at Waterfall Photography, there were a few things that I didnt seem to touch on for more then just a few words, but really need to talk about now.
There are two things that you really should invest in. A good tripod and a good set of Nuetral Density Filters. You will need a tripod that can take abuse and water, plus be able to comfortably (relatively at least lol) carry into the woods and scramble rocks. I use an aluminum one from Vanguard, I will discuss that workhorse later. I started off using a really cheap set of square neutral density filters off of Amazon, moving up to screw on filters and Variable Nuetral Density Filters. I am using screw on ones again, but it is all a matter of personal choice. I do highly recommend doing your research on them.
There are a few other things that I also use, but are not really needed. Like a shutter remote. Nice to have, but you can always set up your cameras shutter timer. I have a android tablet with OM Image Share, which I can control the shutter speed, ISO, Aperture, live view and also trigger the camera shutter. So many cameras these days have their own nifty app to do this all thru wifi or bluetooth
Here is a Gallery of a Few of My Waterfalls pics over the years
Like so many other things in life, even years after first posting that blog, I am still learning how to do this. I still read the occasional book, read and watch tutorial after tutorial (post processing in Lightroom and Photoshop is a PAIN IN THE ASS) on Youtube, even bought a course or two over at Creative Live.
Here are some of the favorite websites I used…..
At least these are the ones still around that I used back in 2013. I am working on a more updated version, but wanted to share one of my first blog posts ever. If you would like to share your ideas, tips or comments please by all means feel free!!
beautiful