Chris – how do you get those silky waterfalls in harsh light like you did???
So I get asked this a lot because you have to have a slow shutter to achieve the silky smooth waterfalls. Now you can get fancy with filters and such that make the camera view things a few stops below that allows for slower shutters speeds even in daylight as this was shot but I don’t even own a filter. Not that there is anything wrong with that and they absolutely have their place and time to be used…however I have never shot with one and don’t own one.
So how did I get this?? Well basic knowledge here will help out as I am not going to go through the entire exposure routine on this one…however if your camera is able to shoot at ISO 50 remember that moving from ISO 50 to 100 doubles your setting. The secret for this type of thing is to shoot at your highest FStop in this case F/22 and the LOWEST ISO in this case ISO 50.
So for the below shot I shot this with the following settings:
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
ISO: 50
Focal Length: 17mm
Aperture: f/22
Exposure Time: 0.25s (1/4)
Date Taken: 2014-03-24 13:54:28
Exposure Program: aperture priority
Today’s Photo: Powerful Waterfall
So there is actually a story to this image. This photo was shot on what we thought was going to be a trip to the top of the mountain where the Chimney Tops reside. It was chilly, we were headed up to the top – got out the car, put on some warm clothes, grabbed the camera pack and tripod and off we went. Crossed over a bridge and there was this totally awesome set of rocks everywhere with water streaming awesomeness each way we looked. I of course said – hey I am going to take some shots here before start up the mountain – you guys hang out and I will be done shortly. OK great! We are going to explore. So I take some shots here and there, climb around up and down these rocks. Take a few photos of people with their cameras and such. I get finished and I go find everyone and to my surprise there is a soaking wet 11 year old explorer with a huge smile…me….ummmmm…nice job slick….are you cold? Yeah kind of – just then jumps again to another rock and *SPLASH* there he goes again…dip number two in the water. By the time we made it back to the car (which I had the best parking spot we could get and this place was CROWDED!!!) he fell in 3-4 times. Now normally this would not be an issue as I am ALWAYS prepared and carry an extra closet in my truck…however that is for me and my truck was a few states over…so yeah we did not make it past go….we did not collect any money (poor Monopoly humor here…) and headed right back to the hotel to get the poor little guy warmed up and a change of clothes. On the way up it was gorgeous, no traffic, perfect conditions. The way back to the hotel for operation “warm change” everyone must have told everyone else that conditions were perfect and that there was no traffic – because on the way down the road in WAS PACKED. so instead of planning to come back up we stayed around the hotel for another hike that was within a rock throw of the hotel. This was also nice – however there is a story for that one as well…but I will bore you with it later…as the camera did not make it out of the bag…
