Since I haven't been able to get out much I decided to share some tips with you on how to make a successful waterfall photograph.

• Use a sturdy Tripod
  
  This is probably the most important tip I can give you when it comes to waterfall photography.  Some of the shots require you get in the water and the currents can be pretty strong, so you will need a solid tripod.  A solid tripod is also needed for the long shutter speeds you will need to create the water blur.
  
  
• Use a circular polarizer
  
  A good, quality circular polarizer will cut glare and reflection off of rocks, the water's surface, foliage, etc..  It will also act as a ND filter and slow your shutter speed by a stop or two.
  
  
• Use a cable release
  
  A cable release will allow you to fire the shutter without touching the camera, thus eliminating camera shake.  If you don't have, or forget your cable release you can also use your camera's self timer function.
  
  
• Overcast days are best
  
  The absolute best days to photograph waterfalls is in extreme overcast conditions.  It is even better during or after a light rain.  The rain will saturate the colors of rocks and foliage making things look better all around...but this is where you will really need that circular polarizer!
  
  
• Low ISO
  
  Always shoot at your camera's lowest native ISO.
  
  
• Filters
  
  The use of ND, or Neutral Density Filters, will also help to slow your shutter sped down if the light is too bright.  I own several ND filters, but I find my results are much better if I get to the waterfall with the right light instead of relying on the ND filters.
  
  
• Go during the right time of year
  
  We have several smaller falls around my area.  I know the summer months the water will be extremely low or, in some cases, dried up all together.  The best time of year to photograph waterfalls is when your area gets the most rain.  Typically this is Fall and Spring.
  
  
• Get out there and shoot
  
  Lastly, get your tail out there and shoot some falls.  You can use Google, Flickr, etc to search for falls in your area.  Then get out and practice, practice and practice some more!
  
  
  This is a shot I made at Machine Falls located near Tullahoma, TN.
  
  Technicals: ISO 100, F/8 at .6 sec
  
  
  
  

Well, digging into the archives again, since I have zero free time these days.

This is an isolation shot of Rutledge Falls located near Manchester, TN.  It is one of my all time favorite falls for many reasons.  First, it is a great waterfall.  Next, it is about an hour from my house.  Lastly, you always leave with some killer shots from this place....always.

This shot was taken last fall.  October to be exact.  Water was pretty low, so I used that as an advantage to show how many steps make of this fall.  I also took advantage of all of the freshly fallen leaves on the rocks.

This shot was made using the Canon EOS 40D and Canon 70-200 F/2.8L lens.  This shot was also made just after high noon, so I also used a ND filter.  On this particular day, I was headed past this fall traveling for work and could not be there at a "low light" hour.  I happened to pass by about 12:30 or so and wanted to shoot, so I had to use the ND filter.  I always think waterfalls come out better by getting there at "right light".  But you can sacrifice a shot using a quality ND filter if for some reason you just can't be there during that nice, low light.

Technicals: ISO 100, F/16 @ 2 seconds

This is the first "real" blog post of the new site.  Since I changed platforms completely, I could not move all of my blog posts from the old wordpress site.  Well, not without paying a professional, and I wasn't really up for that.

I have been so super busy with work and now that my son has started football practice, I practically have no free time at all.  So, the camera hasn't seen daylight in weeks.

This image is one I made last year on a trip to Bankhead National Forest.  This was a fall that doesn't have a name.  It is also a rain dependent fall.  Since we haven't seen a significant amount of rain in a while here in North Alabama, I am betting this fall doesn't exist right now.  I remember this day like it was yesterday...it was the perfect waterfall shooting day.  It was overcast and cloudy, I was with 5 or 6 other great photographers and we managed to hit about 6 different falls that day.

Technicals: F/16, ISO 100 @ 4 seconds.  Taken with Canon EOS 40D and Canon 17-40F/4L

Here’s a shot I took a month or so ago at one of my favorite waterfalls, Rutledge Falls in Manchester, TN.  I can’t even begin to tall you how tranquil and relaxing this place is at the end of the day.  To capture this image I had to get in the water.  I didn’t mind at all.  The water in the creek is spring fed and is very cold!  Perfect for a June in the South…or July, or August.  I collapsed my Vanguard Alta Pro 283CT to it’s lowest position to get my camera “eye level” with the cascade in the foreground to capture this unique point of view.  I also used my B+W Circular Polarizer to eliminate sheen from the water’s surface. foliage and rocks.  A cable release was also used to reduced camera shake.  The release is a pretty essential tool in my bag, I use it almost every time I use my camera.  Once I had my camera setup for the composition I wanted, I dialed in my polarizer, adjusted the camera settings (ISO 100, F/16 @ 3.2 seconds) and fired the shutter via camera release…about 3 seconds later this is what I got.

I hope you enjoy!  Looking at this picture again makes me want to drive back up there right now.