Requirements for Shooting Waterfalls
Normally you will need nothing other than a digital SLR camera for shooting some of the amazing views of waterfalls but accessories like camera lens, filters, tripods and other essential accessories can help you to focus more clearly.
When you are taking photographs of unwavering objects like monuments and waterfalls a study tripod can be a versatile choice so that slow stutter speed will not be a problem. Whether buying an inexpensive version at a department store or a carbon-fiber version at a local camera store, look for one with a quick release head and enough weight to hold steady. Using a shutter release cable will also increase camera stability by limiting the photographer's contact with the camera.
Next, a simple polarizing filter will help produce vivid colors while decreasing shutter speeds dramatically. A Circular polarizer works best, but requires the photographer to dial the filter into the correct position relative to the sun. Another option is a neutral density filter, which decreases shutter speeds by 2-3 full stops.
Ideal Time for Shooting a Waterfall
(Waterfalls images must be created before the sunrise or after sunset. As with all other types of photography the best time for shooting a waterfall is either in the morning or during the dusk.) Unless located in a well-shaded area, images created throughout the day will either have too high of shutter speed or blown out detail in the background of the image.
Shooting at either dusk or dawn gives photographers the perfect light required to lower the shutter camera's shutter speed without loosing detail in bright portions of the camera. During this period the sunlight will be even throughout out the frame, the shadows will not creep in unnecessarily leading the problems like white balance. All digital sensors react differently in this situation, but the camera may need the white balance set to shade.
Camera Settings to Capture the Perfect Waterfall Image
The three components like light setup, accurate composition and sturdy tripod should be arranged before looking into the camera settings. There are a variety of different shooting modes a photographer can use; however, the general rule is a small aperture with a long shutter speed.
The lowest end of the ISO settings is required while selecting the options like shutter speed and aperture priority. Next, select an aperture between f/11 and f/22, insuring a shutter speed well above 1'. The slow shutter speed will create the desired silky water texture, while the small aperture will create sharp detail throughout a large depth of field.
Use the LCD screen to verify results, and adjust the aperture and shutter speed combination to obtain the desired image.