Silky looking waterfalls?

[MicMin]

What is the best settings for taking pictures of waterfalls and getting the silky look to the water?
I will have a tripod and I know that I will need to use a longer exposure. Could someone give me some details on what would be a good starting point to try or any other info that would help? I will be using a Nikon D40.
Thank you.

 

[DaT5]

What is the best settings for taking pictures of waterfalls and getting the silky look to the water?
I will have a tripod and I know that I will need to use a longer exposure. Could someone give me some details on what would be a good starting point to try or any other info that would help? I will be using a Nikon D40.
Thank you.

You will want a longer exposure time - typically 2-4 seconds - so use the tripod! Any movement at all and your picture will be blurry.
I repeat, your camera needs to be still!!!!!

Without going into the technicals of shutter and aperture, I would put your camera in shutter priority mode ("S") and experiment with that. Take a few at 1 second, a few at 2 seconds, etc. Don't use your flash.

 

[wdwmom2]

With my Canon S3, I used the shutter priority mode at 1/4 sec at f4. I also used a neutral density filter, otherwise I would have overexposed the pic. Oh, and a tripod is essentual!

(Ignore that I oversaturated the greens. I was doing some editing and went alittle crazy. Haven't went back to fix it yet!!)

 

[Gdad]

Good advice above. Another good tip is to use a remote shutter release so you do not nudge the camera when hitting the button. If you do not have one use the timer (the one you would use to run and get into the picture ) that gives the camera a few seconds to get still before it snaps.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Different exposure times give you different effects. I'd try everything from 1/30 second to 4 seconds to see what effect you like.

As has been said, a tripod is very helpful. Without it, you'll need something else to hold your camera still. That could be a rock, bench, the ground, or whatever.

When taking the picture, it is best to use a remote shutter cable. The act of pressing the shutter button on the camera will induce a little extra "shake" that you want to avoid. If you don't have a remote shutter cable try to 2 or 10 second delayed timer mode.

For shots between about 1/30 and 4 seconds, you should also lock up your mirror. The slap of the mirror going up when you take the picture adds a bit of extra vibration. At faster shutter speeds, you are essentially outrunning the vibration. At slower shutter speeds, the vibration is not really noticeable.

Longer shutter speeds require smaller apertures (higher f-stop numbers). As your aperture increases, so does diffraction. I try to avoid going over f/11 unnecessarily. I'd prefer to lower my ISO if possible. I'll go as high as f/16 before I start resorting to ND filters.

Bright, direct sunlight is bad for waterfall shots. It's usually more light than you want. It also tends to be very contrasty with bright spots and deep shadows. Waterfalls are best shot on cloudy days or very early or late in the day.

 

[YEKCIM]

You may want to pick up a neutral density filter in case you need to lengthen the exposure more than the lighting conditions would otherwise allow. A circular polarizer works well for this, too.

~Y

 

[wdwmom2]

Good advice above. Another good tip is to use a remote shutter release so you do not nudge the camera when hitting the button. If you do not have one use the timer (the one you would use to run and get into the picture ) that gives the camera a few seconds to get still before it snaps.

Oh yea, I also used my timer. No touching of the camera while it is taking the picture!!!!! I came back to mention this, but Gdad and Mark beat me too it!!!!

 

[MicMin]

Thank you everyone. The suggestions for settings and all of the tips are very helpful.
I will be sure to use a tripod and a remote shutter release. I don't have a neutral density filter but I will try to get one.

Wdwmom2 that is a beautiful picture!

DaT5 welcome to the DIS.

 

[mabas9395]

I'm sorry, but when I read the thred title, I asked myself, "Why would someone want to take photos of silly looking waterfalls"?

 

[handicap18]

With the D40 you'll want to probably use Manual. Lowest ISO which I believe is 200. To get a decent exposure of around 1/4th or so you'll need a very narrow f/stop. Probably f/16 to f/22.

If you use a VR lens you might be able to get away with 1/4th handheld, other wise you'll need the tripod.

This one was 1/5th, but could have been slower. f/stop was f/20. ISO 200:
Also taken with the 70-300mm VR lens at 70mm handheld

Same waterfall different angel and focal length:
18mm, f/22, 1/3 second, ISO200. Take with a tripod.

 

[DizneyNutz]

That a filter is not required. You can still take some pretty neat photos with just the camera and no filter.

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File Size: 174 kb - 639x426 Taken On: 2007:12:09 07:58:05
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Date/Time: 2007:12:09 07:58:05 Resolution: 639 x 426
Flash Used: No Focal Length: 18.0mm (35mm equivalent: 29mm...
CCD Width: 22.28mm Exposure Time: 10.000 s
Aperture: f/8.0 ISO Equiv.: 200
Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: Manual Exposure Mode: Manual

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File Size: 219 kb - 639x426 Taken On: 2007:12:10 09:52:12
Camera Make: Canon Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Date/Time: 2007:12:10 09:52:12 Resolution: 639 x 426
Flash Used: No Focal Length: 28.0mm (35mm equivalent: 45mm...
CCD Width: 22.28mm Exposure Time: 4.000 s
Aperture: f/5.6 ISO Equiv.: 400
Whitebalance: Auto Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: Manual Exposure Mode: Manual
Exposure Mode: Auto bracketing

 

[Master Mason]

That a filter is not required. You can still take some pretty neat photos with just the camera and no filter.

I think where people were saying a filter is needed is during the day, your shots are very nice, but are in lower light situations, where I completely agree, no filter is required.

 

[MicMin]

LOL mabas9395. If I see any silly waterfalls I will take pictures of those too.

Thank you for the additional help handicap18. Your pictures are wonderful. I would love to be able to get pictures like that.

DizneyNutz great shots of the Wilderness Lodge. Thank you for posting the information.

I will print out all of the info that everyone has shared and will give it my best try.

Thanks again.