Waterfall Shots

[vfrcauv]

Just got a Canon PowerShot SX110 IS and want to use it in the manual mode for waterfall shots. Most of my photos in the past were taken with digital cameras without a manual mode. I see many great landscapes to photo while riding a dirt bike or hiking in the NC mountains. Needed a camera small enough to fit in my pocket while hiking and riding motorcycles.

Really like the waterfall shots with one piece flowing look maintaining quality of surrounding color and landscape.

Is there reference guides or information available for shutter speed and aperture settings to achieve the flowing look of waterfalls? Did not have much information in the SX110 IS operators manual about shutter speed/aperture settings in the manual mode.

Thanks,

Bill

[blackcap]

To get flowing water you'll need fairly slow shutter speeds. You'll need a tripod unless you can find somewhere to rest your camera.

I have no idea what your camera is capable of, but if it has Av mode (Aperture priority) you could try setting it to the highest f number (e.g. f/22) and lowest ISO (e.g. ISO 100) and let it decide the shutter speed for you. If you can't get the shutter speed slow enough to get the flowing water effect you want, then the normal approach is to use an ND filter to darken the scene. Not sure if you can get filter adapters for your camera though.

[vfrcauv]

To get flowing water you'll need fairly slow shutter speeds. You'll need a tripod unless you can find somewhere to rest your camera.

I have no idea what your camera is capable of, but if it has Av mode (Aperture priority) you could try setting it to the highest f number (e.g. f/22) and lowest ISO (e.g. ISO 100) and let it decide the shutter speed for you. If you can't get the shutter speed slow enough to get the flowing water effect you want, then the normal approach is to use an ND filter to darken the scene. Not sure if you can get filter adapters for your camera though.

I made a portable monopod for the waterfall shots that will fit in the small 1400 pelican case on the bike. Will shoot waterfall shots Thursday and try your recommendations. Had someone to recommend buying John Shaw's Field Guide. It was written for shooting with film, but should be able to translate to digital. Will buy this book too! If I get some good shots will post a link to the shots. :)

Thanks for the Advice!

Bill

[vfrcauv]

Here is the link for a shot out of a set of photos taken today. Used the manual mode, f/8, ISO 80, and centered the exposure meter indication by adjusting the shutter speed. Thanks again:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32259082@N08/3130951253/in/photostream/

[radlux]

Nice work. I think you achieved the flow you were going for

[Karl Johnston]

most of the pictures in my gallery were taken by a powershot sx100 (predecessor to that cam)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karljohnston

Have a look for some idea on how far that little thing can go.

[vfrcauv]

Nice work. I think you achieved the flow you were going for

most of the pictures in my gallery were taken by a powershot sx100 (predecessor to that cam)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karljohnston

Have a look for some idea on how far that little thing can go.

Few reasons I bought this camera, initial $225 cost, it is small & light enough to stick in my mesh jacket waterproof pocket while riding Dual Sport motorcycles, uses AA batteries, and has a manual mode. Had to set the tripod in water for a few shots Tuesday. Will be shooting many waterfalls/landscape shots in the NC/SC mountains.

Nice Shots Kajuah

Thanks Radlux

Bill

[vfrcauv]

A couple waterfall shots taken yesterday.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3164769972_2b1de6f4c9_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/3164769938_8d694c7b0b_o.jpg

Lots of fun learning to take shots in the manual mode with the PowerShot!

Thanks again!

Bill

[EveryMilesAMemory]

Feel free to browse through our waterfall galleries (http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/Waterfalls) where all the EXIF data is listed for each waterfall shot we have posted there.

Just scroll over the large image, and click on photo info which will tell you all the camera settings that were set to achive the shot.

I find this very helpful when I see a shot that I like. I then have an idea as to what that pwerson set their manual settings at to get that look

Hope that helps

[vfrcauv]

Feel free to browse through our waterfall galleries (http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/Waterfalls) where all the EXIF data is listed for each waterfall shot we have posted there.

Just scroll over the large image, and click on photo info which will tell you all the camera settings that were set to achive the shot.

I find this very helpful when I see a shot that I like. I then have an idea as to what that pwerson set their manual settings at to get that look

Hope that helps

Bookmarked the link. Lots of good info! Here are a couple of shots from today:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32259082@N08/3177963416/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32259082@N08/3177958958/in/photostream/

Thanks!!!!!!

Bill

[EveryMilesAMemory]

I like the 2nd one better as the first has a few too many blown highlights

Are you using a ND Filter or a polarizer? Both help in cutting the light hitting the sensor and giving you a bit more play to work with

I find it very helpful to have a Graduated Split Neutral Density Filter for shooting waterfalls. Almost everyone of our shots have one if not all of these filters on them

My favorite filter is a 9 stop ND Filter. You can get good water shots at noon with this filter added in full sunlight:D

[vfrcauv]

I like the 2nd one better as the first has a few too many blown highlights

Are you using a ND Filter or a polarizer? Both help in cutting the light hitting the sensor and giving you a bit more play to work with

I find it very helpful to have a Graduated Split Neutral Density Filter for shooting waterfalls. Almost everyone of our shots have one if not all of these filters on them

My favorite filter is a 9 stop ND Filter. You can get good water shots at noon with this filter added in full sunlight:D

Pat,

"Thanks" for your advice. I need all I can get. :) Been looking at your site and see you are taking time to travel & take shots. I retired and have time to travel the NC mountains & "learn" how to take shots.

My first goal is to learn about shooting mountain waterfall/stream photos eventually taking mountain landscape shots.

I do not have a filter. The Canon PowerShot SX110 IS lens is 1 5/8" diameter. I did not know if there is a filter that would fit. Guess this camera was designed mostly for shooting in the point & shoot automatic mode, but I am shooting in the manual mode. The smallest aperture setting on this camera in the manual mode is f/8. I tried for slightly lighter background tone with one notch above center on the exposure meter using shutter speed to adjust exposure on the following shot. Will check to see if a split neutral density filter will fit my camera.

May eventually have to move up to a SLR Digital. My original goal was to buy a camera small enough to be able to carry in my pocket while riding Dual Sport motorcycles and still be able to take quality shots on a monopod I carry in the 1400 Pelican case on the bike.

Here is another photo and manual settings from another shot yesterday:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32259082@N08/3178881083/


Camera: Canon PowerShot SX110 IS Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10) Aperture: f/8 Focal Length: 7.3 mm ISO Speed: 80 Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV Flash: Flash did not fire
Orientation: Horizontal (normal) X-Resolution: 180 dpi Y-Resolution: 180 dpi Date and Time: 2009:01:07 12:37:51 YCbCr Positioning: Co-Sited Date and Time (Original): 2009:01:07 12:37:51 Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:01:07 12:37:51 Compressed Bits per Pixel: 3 bits Shutter Speed: 106/32 Maximum Lens Aperture: 107/32 Metering Mode: Pattern Color Space: sRGB Focal Plane X-Resolution: 15091.703 dpi Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 15157.895 dpi Sensing Method: One-chip colour area sensor Exposure Mode: Manual White Balance: Manual Digital Zoom Ratio: 3456/3456 Compression: JPEG Image Type: IMG:PowerShot SX110 IS JPEG Image Number: 1010237 Model ID: 38928384 Focus Continuous:ContinuousAE Setting:Normal AEImage Stabilization:OffZoom Source Width:3456Zoom Target Width:3456Focal Type:ZoomScaled Focal Length:7300Focal Plane Size:234 x 176ISO:78.799042255394Measured LV:185Target Aperture:5.0215230280988Target Exposure Time:0.10065564574683White Balance:DaylightFocus Distance Upper:7.53F Number:8Camera Type:CompactAuto Rotate:NoneExposure Time:0AF Points Used:

[EveryMilesAMemory]

Hey Bill, that last shot is much better with the whites not being blown out.

Looks like you're learning pretty fast.

One way around using filters with a P&S camera is to use the Cokin or any of the others style filters that go in a holder mounted on the front of the lens.

What you can do is just hold the filter in front of any lens as long as the lens isnt wider than the front (Obviously :D)

I think we could spend years in the mountains of North Carolina and the Smokies just wandering around on our motorcycle. You've got a great gig going on if you already have a Dual Sport and are retired.

Be careful if you move up to the DSLR field of cameras as they get addictive very fast. Stick with your P&S till you exhaust it's abilities then move up. As fast as you're learning, it wont be long.

[vfrcauv]

Hey Bill, that last shot is much better with the whites not being blown out.

Looks like you're learning pretty fast.

One way around using filters with a P&S camera is to use the Cokin or any of the others style filters that go in a holder mounted on the front of the lens.

What you can do is just hold the filter in front of any lens as long as the lens isnt wider than the front (Obviously :D)

I think we could spend years in the mountains of North Carolina and the Smokies just wandering around on our motorcycle. You've got a great gig going on if you already have a Dual Sport and are retired.

Be careful if you move up to the DSLR field of cameras as they get addictive very fast. Stick with your P&S till you exhaust it's abilities then move up. As fast as you're learning, it wont be long.

Pat,

Will find Cokin or other holder mounted style filters.

Thanks,

Bill

[vfrcauv]

Took this photo today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32259082@N08/3185588259/

Thanks for the advice from everyone!

Bill

[RandyMN]

I have two shots of the same waterfall taken at 1/25 and the other at .3 second.

It shows very well the difference such a small time frame can look like.

[vfrcauv]

I have two shots of the same waterfall taken at 1/25 and the other at .3 second.

It shows very well the difference such a small time frame can look like.

http://www.randy-briggs.com/gallery/4964106_YPYKE#321849147_KHfAh/

Randy,

Those are nice shots. Makes a "big" difference in the water flow and looks like the slower shutter speed allows slightly lighter foliage too.

I am trying to find the exposure "sweet spot" for my camera for different
conditions, clouds, sunny, ect. I was worried today about not having enough light late in the day for the shot, so I over exposed a few.

Thanks for the example of slight shutter speed difference!

Photography is so addictive!!!!! :mrgreen:

Bill