How to capture Waterfalls

1) Slow shutter speed

With a specific goal to make the water look smooth, you have to use slow shutter speed of a few seconds or more. Slow shutter speeds make the "ghosting" impact, making the subject seem smooth and foggy, which is exactly what you need. Quick shutter speed just stops the running water, making the scene look excessively ordinary.

                                                     

2) Use a tripod

To capture moving water you need to catch moving water and make it look smooth and delicate, you have to use a tripod, since it is unrealistic to hand-hold a camera without presenting camera shake when using extremely slow shutter speeds. While you could set your camera on a stone or some other item, you would even now be restricted by the amount you can move and what part of the waterfall you could catch.

3) Use the smallest ISO

Once you set your camera on a tripod, you need to continue working on decreasing your shutter speed. Lowing the camera ISO to the smallest number not only increases image quality, but also decreases the shutter speed.

                                                   

4) Change aperture to a larger number

Lowering aperture, or increasing the f/ number, decreases the amount of light that passes through the lens. If your shutter speed is too high, try changing the aperture to a larger number like f/11 or even f/16, if necessary.

                                                   

5) Take wide-angle and telephoto lenses

Take both wide-angle and telephoto zoom lenses to photograph waterfalls. High and powerful waterfalls can release plenty of water into the air, which might land on the front of your lens or even potentially damage your equipment.