You can't shoot long-exposure waterfalls in bright daylight, unless you do this...
For milky, slo-mo images of waterfalls you need to use the right combination of filters
When visiting a waterfall during daylight, it can be challenging to capture a long exposure shot due to the bright light. However, with the right equipment and technique, it is possible to achieve stunning results. The key factors are strong neutral density filters, a circular polarizer, and a sturdy tripod.
I set out to photograph a local waterfall that features a cascading waterfall. I used the NiSi JetMag Pro Landscape ND Kit, which includes an adapter ring, circular polarizer, three stop filter, six stop filter, and ten stop filter. This kit is available in various sizes to fit different lens filter sizes. The cost for the 82mm kit is $499 / £359.
Using the circular polarizer helps remove reflections on the water's surface, enabling clearer visibility. It also reduces available light, which works well in combination with the neutral density filter. In my setup, I used the CPL and ND8 filters.
The process begins with attaching the filter ring to your lens, which matches the thread size of your camera lens. Once the ring is in place, you can add the magnetic filters, which simply snap onto the ring. Next, select the appropriate metering mode to ensure the water is not overexposed. In this case, I chose highlight metering to prevent highlights from being lost in the image.
To ensure a stable shot during long exposures, a remote release or delayed camera release is recommended. For this shoot, I set the camera to a five-second delay after fully depressing the shutter button. Additionally, when focusing through the filters, it is advisable to switch to manual focus, especially in overcast conditions. I focused just in front of the waterfall, approximately 5 meters away, ensuring that the entire scene is in focus.
Lastly, when composing your shot, utilize the gridlines on your camera to place key elements according to the rule of thirds. In my composition, the base of the waterfall is aligned with the lower third of the frame, the start and end points of the final drop are placed on intersections, and the main waterfall is positioned along the left-side vertical axis.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
