Shooting Large Waterfalls. How to get past the mist?

[rcooper102]

Hey guys, I am new here, long time reader of DPS but never really tried out the forums.

Anyway, I recently was at this massive waterfall trying to shoot and the thing kicked up so much mist that I really couldn't get a decent shot. By the time I focus the camera my lens was completely covered in mist droplets.

I was wondering if there was any solutions to this? I considered underwater housing but the droplets will fall on it the same as any other lens.

The only idea i had was kinda bonkers and completely beyond the scope of what I can do but I was figuring that it is possible to put two large and powerful fans on either side of my tripod to blow the mist away from my camera. However, obviously doing this would be quite difficult as it would involve carrying 2 large fans and a generator up to the waterfall with no guarantee that they would have enough power to push the haze away.

I was wondering if anyone else had any other ideas? Perhaps like a really long lens hood?

Any suggestions would be great!

thx

[dave_lines]

move further away from the falls is about the only thing I have found that actually works. DAve

[rcooper102]

hahaa ya, that is what I did but I feel like i could have got a much cooler framing up close hahaha so I naturally am in search of weird solutions

[Desert Rose]

Did you use a lens hood? Maybe try using an unbrella.

[rcooper102]

Originally Posted by Desert Rose

Did you use a lens hood? Maybe try using an unbrella.

Ya I had a hood but it was pretty shallow, I was thinking of trying with a deeper hood at some point

As for an umbrella it probably wouldn't be all the effective as the mist floats towards my lens rather than falls from a above. If i positioned the umbrella to block the mist I would also block my frame :S

[IABoomer]

Thin piece of clear polycarbonate? Hold it over the lens while framing/metering the shot. Remove it just before tripping the shutter. Wipe off the lens after the exposure. Replace the polycarbonate. Repeat as necessary.

You could probably get one of those square ND filter holders and a cut a clear piece to fit that holder to keep your hands free for running the camera.

[rcooper102]

Originally Posted by IABoomer

Thin piece of clear polycarbonate? Hold it over the lens while framing/metering the shot. Remove it just before tripping the shutter. Wipe off the lens after the exposure. Replace the polycarbonate. Repeat as necessary.

You could probably get one of those square ND filter holders and a cut a clear piece to fit that holder to keep your hands free for running the camera.

Interesting solution, I think I will have to try that, it would probably work pretty well so long as the shutter speed is pretty fast. I imagine though with slower shutter speeds often used to shoot waterfalls droplets would still form too quickly

thanks though!

[wildbird]

Originally Posted by rcooper102

hahaa ya, that is what I did but I feel like i could have got a much cooler framing up close hahaha so I naturally am in search of weird solutions

All I can think of is move back further, and use a longer lens to get same framing.

[IABoomer]

Originally Posted by rcooper102

Interesting solution, I think I will have to try that, it would probably work pretty well so long as the shutter speed is pretty fast. I imagine though with slower shutter speeds often used to shoot waterfalls droplets would still form too quickly

thanks though!

If you're willing to open the aperture more, you may find that the camera sees past the drops on the lens and they don't affect the shot. Some sports shooters use a large aperture to keep shutter speed low to freeze action, but a nice side effect is it minimizes things like the chain-link fence between the shooter and the subject.

If you wanted to use a longer shutter speed, then maybe an actual ND filter to get the long exposure with a wide aperture to hide the drops. Use the clear sheet to setup/frame the shot, then swap in a dry ND filter for the shot.