Help !!!!

[cvernon581]

Going to take pics of waterfalls this week, need help can get the stop action shots need help with the long exposure time any hints will be taken thanks for the help!




charles

[OsmosisStudios]

Depending on where these waterfalls are, and when you'll be there, you'll need an ND filter. I've gotten 20s exposures in the evening, but the falls I was shooting were fairly secluded. I've tried it in brighter day-time hours and even with an ND I wasnt able to get more than 1 or 2.

[PROUDphoto]

Plan on the time of day you go see the falls. I have a ND +8 and I had to shoot more around 5-530pm so you might get better shots early day or late afternoon. But a ND filter is a must. I bought mine for about $40

[kencaleno]

You are able to stack a polarizer with an ND filter for an extra 2 stops or so. Ken

[navcom]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Depending on where these waterfalls are, and when you'll be there, you'll need an ND filter. I've gotten 20s exposures in the evening, but the falls I was shooting were fairly secluded. I've tried it in brighter day-time hours and even with an ND I wasnt able to get more than 1 or 2.

For a waterfall, you shouldn't need more than 2 seconds. I find around 1-2 seconds are perfect...



ISO 100
f/11
1.3 seconds
B+W 8x neutral density filter
Taken about 4 in the afternoon (wish I could've been here about 6:00am ) You get much better light early or late in the day...usually about an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise.

[Elmo]

Let me try another approach. ND and CPL's will help., but some other things to try. As others said try to not shoot them in bright sun.

Next set ISO as low as possible. Then set f-sotp at f:8 and try a shot (shutterspeed will vary depending upon lighting conditions.

Then try f:11 then f:16 an on as far as you can.

OH! a tripod is a must.

depending upon the speed of the water even 1/2 second might work. It is all a matter of trial and error plus conditions. .

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by navcom

For a waterfall, you shouldn't need more than 2 seconds. I find around 1-2 seconds are perfect...
.

This depends greatly on FLOW. The shot you posted seems to have a rather heavy flow of water running thorugh it: many of the waterfalls around here are significantly smaller and are reduced down to a trickle unless you get them during/JUST after a heavy storm.

[navcom]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

This depends greatly on FLOW. The shot you posted seems to have a rather heavy flow of water running thorugh it: many of the waterfalls around here are significantly smaller and are reduced down to a trickle unless you get them during/JUST after a heavy storm.

I understand what you are saying, but most normally-flowing waterfalls can be "flow-captured" with 2 seconds exposure. Here's one of a stream that was pretty slow flowing.



ISO 100, f/8, 2 seconds, ND filter.

Nothing at all wrong with slower exposures...just saying it's not necessarily needed. I've captured hundreds of waterfalls from 100+ feet high in the spring run-off to 12 inches in a drought. I can't think of many instances where you need 20 seconds of exposure to capture silky waterfall flow.

Are we talking slow-moving streams or waterfalls? Falling water is falling and will be blurry at about 1/30 to 1/15 second. At 1-2 seconds, it's smooth. If it's a slow-moving stream or river, that is different. A stream is not necessarily "falling".