Photographing waterfalls presents the photographer with the opportunity to create some very creative shots. When photographed properly, the photographer can make running water appear soft and almost ghost-like. This technique is not difficult to master, but it takes a fair amount of stamina and perseverance to achieve…not to mention some physical agility. This technique is best suited for cameras that have the ability to manually adjust the shutter speed and focus. Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras are best equipped for this type of setup, but quality point-and-shoot cameras may work just as well.
Shutter Speed
In order to create the soft, flowing appearance, the camera must be set to either manual or shutter priority mode. By using shutter priority, the photographer can adjust the shutter to a slow speed while the camera adjusts the aperture settings automatically. Since we will be working with slow shutter speeds, stabilization is critical for this type of shot, which presents a unique challenge in itself. Flowing streams and waterfalls are generally located along rugged terrain, and carrying additional equipment may be difficult, if not hazardous. As an alternative, a couple of bean bags placed on an available stable surface may be adequate and certainly, much easier to carry.
Once you locate a body of moving water you would like to photograph, set your camera to shutter priority as described above (see the article on shutter priority for more detail). Read the rest of this entry »
Tineye, you’ve probably never heard of it. And, technically, the public in general won’t hear of it for a little while longer. Tineye is a search engine that is currently in beta testing with over 500 users who are hacking away at it to see how this fascinating little search engine will hold up to real-world tests.