Stillhouse Hollow Falls

[cathyg62]

My daughter and I went on a hike to these falls yesterday. I needed more practice shooting waterfalls since I am going to the Smokey Mountains in 2 weeks and finding the waterfalls there is my main objective. The lighting here was a challenge for sure, and I had to keep raising the ISO. I had my aperture at 1/20 & 1/25 hoping to get the 'silky smooth water' that I have seen so many photos of on here. So I am not sure if they didnt turn out like I wanted because the water flow was not there or because I didnt use a tripod., or a combination of both. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

This is the top part of the falls....


This is the only shot of the entire falls that I got...



I love the reflection in this one....

[cphoniball]

Yea, take a tripod next time and go even lower on the shutter. I've never done it myself, but I'd think you'd want somewhere between 1/4-1 second exposures.

[jonsphotography]

Nice composition. I particularly like the second image. You might want to try an ND filter for a longer exposure. It would allow a longer exposure of the moving water without the overexposure of the trees. Of course, when using an ND filter, your shutter speed will be slower which would require (or at least highly suggest) to use a tripod.

As for the last image. Nice work!

[equilution]

Very nice watere shot with the leaves, Cathy. It looks surreal, and I like how the two leaves on the right reveal the water tension, but doesn't quite break it. Thanks for sharing.

[cathyg62]

Originally Posted by jonsphotography

Nice composition. I particularly like the second image. You might want to try an ND filter for a longer exposure. It would allow a longer exposure of the moving water without the overexposure of the trees. Of course, when using an ND filter, your shutter speed will be slower which would require (or at least highly suggest) to use a tripod.

As for the last image. Nice work!

Thanks for the suggestion... and welcome to DPS !!!

[Jim Fox]

Good start!

My only suggestion would be to start shooting just before sunrise (like 30-45 minutes maybe up to 1hr after), use a tripod and shoot at ISO 100. Then you won't get the hot spots and a smoother water.

Yeah, it means getting up way early.......but I think things look so much better with the low light.

The other thought if you can't shoot at those times of the day is to do a bracketed shot and throw it into Photomatixs or something.

Example: This one was shot about an hour (maybe little more) before sunset in a "Heavily" wooded area. ISO 100, 20 sec exposure, f/16

[mymaison97]

Hi Cathy

This is my shot of Stillhouse Falls (I like your view though...did you climb up part of the side or go over from the top edge?) BTW...I did take this around 1130am...it all depends on the light/cloud cover and definately use a tripod! Someday I will get up to the Smokies to shoot those falls, but there are plenty around here that I've not gotten to yet! Have fun and good luck!



Exposure: 1.6
Aperture: f/25.0
Focal Length: 26 mm
ISO Speed: 100

[cathyg62]

Originally Posted by mymaison97

Hi Cathy

This is my shot of Stillhouse Falls (I like your view though...did you climb up part of the side or go over from the top edge?) BTW...I did take this around 1130am...it all depends on the light/cloud cover and definately use a tripod! Someday I will get up to the Smokies to shoot those falls, but there are plenty around here that I've not gotten to yet! Have fun and good luck!



Exposure: 1.6
Aperture: f/25.0
Focal Length: 26 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Oh so good... that is what I was hoping for... I went about 2:30pm. I did go about 1/2 way up, but I didnt go under the ledge. Thanks for the tips !!!!

[cathyg62]

Originally Posted by Jim Fox

Good start!

My only suggestion would be to start shooting just before sunrise (like 30-45 minutes maybe up to 1hr after), use a tripod and shoot at ISO 100. Then you won't get the hot spots and a smoother water.

Yeah, it means getting up way early.......but I think things look so much better with the low light.

The other thought if you can't shoot at those times of the day is to do a bracketed shot and throw it into Photomatixs or something.

Example: This one was shot about an hour (maybe little more) before sunset in a "Heavily" wooded area. ISO 100, 20 sec exposure, f/16

That is lovely, thanks for the tips !!

[mymaison97]

230pm should have been fine for the photo this time of year (sun setting much earlier), but yesterday was so beautiful and bright, that that didn't help. I wanted to go up to the mountain to get some more fall shots, but no one wanted to go because it was so nice. And today's just a wet, dreary day. Go figure.