Long exposure waterfall photography doesn't always require the heaviest ND filter in your bag. The conventional wisdom of using 10-stop filters for those silky-smooth water effects might be due for reconsideration.
Coming to you from Chris Baitson, this insightful video demonstrates how a lighter touch with ND filters can dramatically improve your waterfall photography. Baitson explains that while he previously relied on a 10-stop filter to achieve 60-second exposures at f/10 for maximum water movement, his technique has evolved significantly. Now he opts for a polarizing filter combined with just a 3-stop ND, resulting in exposures around 2.5 seconds instead of a full minute. This combination serves multiple purposes - the polarizer removes shine from rocks, enhances visibility through water, and intensifies green tones on moss-covered surfaces. The shorter exposure time preserves crucial texture and detail that would otherwise be lost, particularly at the bottom of waterfalls where excessive exposure can create an unrealistic swell effect that lacks dimension.
Baitson's second compelling reason for using lighter filtration relates to shooting flexibility. In locations where tripod placement is impossible due to uneven terrain or precarious positions, the combination of lighter ND filtration with modern image stabilization technology opens new creative possibilities. He demonstrates this by capturing handheld long exposures of approximately 1.5 seconds using his OM-1 Mark II's impressive 8.5 stops of stabilization. This liberating technique allows you to shoot from positions that would be inaccessible with traditional tripod setups, significantly expanding your creative options when photographing in challenging environments with many boulders or uneven surfaces.
The practical applications of this lighter filtration approach extend beyond just technical improvements. By retaining more detail and texture while still achieving the pleasing motion blur effect, your waterfall images gain dimensionality and realism while maintaining that dreamy quality long exposures are known for. This technique represents a thoughtful evolution in approach rather than a complete rejection of traditional methods - you're still creating long exposures, just with more nuance and intention behind your filter choices. The ability to shoot these exposures handheld in certain situations adds yet another dimension to your creative toolkit.
Check out the video above for the full rundown from Baitson including sample images that demonstrate these techniques in action.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
I usually don't use NDs for waterfalls - and I agree - it preserves the textures, you just dont really need that long an exposure. Still NDs can lead to interesting results too though...
This technique his great when you get your first tripod. Most people move on to greater originality when they enter high school. Don’t waste the bandwidth on such trite techniques.
I always get a chuckle out of an article that purports something new that many of us have used for decades... even if cyclically. I have seen the prevailing wisdom go from no-stops to 3 stops to 10 stops and stops in between as fickle public-likes sentiment has drifted.
Calling this a "New Approach" is a stretch. But I suppose there are new-to-the-game photographers who don't know any better or, rather, any different.
What a clickbait title. Enticing title to reel us in with a reveal of nothing new to anyone who has ever photographed a waterfall. I mean, seriously, who beyond absolute noobs uses a 10-stop filter to wash away all the detail from the waterfall? It's a bit like saying a new approach to photographing skies and then revealing that this new approach is having clouds in the sky.
The tackiest of all photography genres. I was guilty of it too. No need for NDs at all most of the time unless it is super bright. Lens stabe, ibis or burst will do, at between 1/3 to 1/15 of a second to preserve some texture and avoid the super tacky look.