Try this trick for Waterfall Photography
I have photographed many waterfalls over the years and just like seascapes, it is the flow of the water that draws me in each time.
Waterfall photography can be very rewarding however there is something that I recommend you try that will blow your mind! It’s normally a pretty straightforward task of putting on the wide angle lens and capturing the bigger scene however by sticking only to your telephoto lens you can capture many scenes within the scene. This approach will catapult your photography skills and ability to find more intimate compositions not only for this shoot but also for many others!
For this shoot I was headed to a fantastic waterfall just outside of Coachford in Cork. Mullinhassig Wood is a Coilte wood, meaning it is managed and used for rejuvenation. A long winding river runs the length of it and offers many photographic opportunities as you walk the path that runs parallel.
I have photographed this location many times previously and it isn’t the rolling cascades that draw me back each time. It’s instead the impressive waterfall that sits right at the rear of the wood that draws many a visitor in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
On this day another photographer had asked me if I would like to join him, Mark Fletcher is a fantastic photographer and sound guy, who has been focusing his talents recently on waterfalls and wanted to see what this particular waterfall was all about. Upon arriving I decided that today I would try something different, I wouldn’t photograph it in the traditional sense, with a wide angle lens and capture the flowing water as the foreground. I would instead only use one lens, my telephoto 70-200 and see that types of shots I could pull out of the bag.
I knew it was going to be muddy here as there was a lot of rain previously, however this would also lend itself well to the waterfall being in full flow and as I took the wet walk towards the back of the wood it was quickly apparent that it would indeed be in full flow.
Mark had arrived before me and I spotted him knee deep in the water, in his waders as I reached the prize. Light was gently caressing the side of the waterfall and Mark seemed perfectly positioned to grab some stunning shots. After a quick hello the light was gone, I had missed it, so not deterred I stuck to my plan, put on my telephoto to try this approach with this subject.
Using only a long lens allows you, just like landscapes, to pick out shapes and vignettes from the bigger scene, and the rapid flow of water here certainly would help in this quest. The darkness of the rocks combined with the luminosity of the water immediately had me spotting a frame that was effectively split in two. Water on half and rocks on the other.
This waterfall is naturally split by a giant bolder that sits right at the crest in the middle, looking now through the lens to the other side I could see a somewhat reversed version of what I had just shot, both shots were similar but also different.
An upper pathway runs behind the flowing waterfall and looking again through the telephoto lens I could see my next composition. The yellow colour of the railing with some trees and foliage between it and the top of the waterfall meant that I could create some depth in the image, so I framed up my next shot with this in mind.
By only looking through the lens you begin to see some close up details that would normally just pass you by, and it doesn’t take long for your eyes to start seeing things differently! Zooming in and out also helps this, as there are areas in all waterfalls which can create mystery as a vignette of the bigger picture.
The area in question is a popular walking spot for many however soon afterwards myself and Mark were met by a young man, Connor. He wasn’t just there to take in the scenery, he was there to go for a dip. yes thats right a dip in the extremely cold and fast flowing waters. Without any hesitation he was togging off to wade in and allow the rushing waters to envelope him. Cold water therapy is quickly becoming a thing as it promotes massive health benefits and Connor was determined to get his fill. He certalinly was braver than us, as we stood on the bank and fired off a couple of shots of this somewhat crazy guy while we were at it.
Overall this approach to waterfall photography can be very rewarding, particularly in a scene that will look more or less the same with a wide angle lens for everyone who is there photographing it, the difference with a telephoto lens however is that you can pick out your own unique shots.
I would highly recommend that you give it a go the next time you are at any waterfall, be it known or not known as your shots could be from any waterfall in reality, you are picking out scenes from within the scene.
It was a great outing with Mark, and yes of course he nailed his shot with the light, I was delighted for him.
