How to take waterfalls with Canon 450D??

[SunderlandPhotography]

I'm planning on going to a river this weekend and I would like to know how I can take photos of waterfalls using a 18-55mm lens without the photo being washed out?

Should I use a polarizing filter?

What settings should I use?

[GeoffWessex]

I take it you want to get the blurry 'milky' effect of the water. If so, you'll want an exposure of at least a second (depends on fast the water's flowing). So, you've got to reduced the amount light that goes into the camera to allow a long exposure.

1. I take it you have a tripod. You'll need a stable base for your camera.
2. Certainly start off by choosing your lowest possible ISO.
3. Use a small aperture - not the smallest, but something short of that, probably f/16.
4. Set your camera up in either Av or Manual and frame your shot.
5. See what exposure your camera's meter is telling you to use.
6. Calculate how many stops more you need with the shutter speed to give you your required 1 second. e.g. Let's say your camera, at ISO100 and f/16, is giving you 1/30th of a second..... to get to 1second you'd need five 'stops' of light reduction. (1/15th, 1/8th, 1/4th, 1/2, 1). So you're going to need to put filters on the lens to reduce the light even more...... a Polarising Filter may well give you one or two 'stops' but after that you'll need Neutral Density filters..... they come in different strengths, measured in terms of 'stops' of reduction (although some - a little more expensive - are 'variable' up to 10 stops).

ND Filters are a story on their own and perhaps you can google for the details.

[SunderlandPhotography]

I took 200 photos using different settings in Manual. I think the composition of them could be a lot better. To be honest I don't like them.

All photos are processed in Photoshop and I've used a polarizing filter.

From Saturday, I'll be in Scotland, so I'll be taking A LOT of photos of water, landscapes and wildlife.

F/18
ISO 200
Shutter speed: 0.5


F/5
ISO 400
Shutter speed: 1/200

[patrickwilson86]

Nice shots, I like the second one best. It would be a good one to frame.

[arabelbrown]

Hey such a nice photography.In Both photography shown beautiful scenery. I think it clear photograph , I dont think any problem in canon 450D .

[patrickwilson86]

Before you even start taking pictures of a waterfall, investigate it closely. View it from a number of different angles, from both sides of the water, upstream and downstream. Move in close and watch how the water breaks over the rocks or the ledge. Spend a few minutes study the cascading of the water carefully. With this additional information, you’ll be able to classify the waterfall on a scale of raging and noisy to gentle and quiet, and various iterations between these extremes.