Silky Water: A Beginner's Guide to Long Exposures

One of the questions I get asked most in my classes is "how do you make the water look like that?" You know the look: waterfalls and creeks turned soft and silky, like mist flowing over the rocks. The good news is it is one of the easiest tricks in landscape photography, and you can learn it in an afternoon.

The secret is a slow shutter speed. A fast shutter freezes every droplet. Leave the shutter open for longer, anywhere from half a second to a few seconds, and the moving water blurs into smooth white streams while the rocks and trees stay sharp. That contrast between still and moving is what makes the photo.

Use a tripod. This is the one bit of gear you really need. Nobody can hand-hold a camera steady for a full second. If you don't have one, a rock, a log or a rolled-up jumper will do in a pinch. Use the 2-second self-timer or a remote so you don't bump the camera when you press the button.

Set it up. Put your camera in shutter priority (S or Tv) or manual, set your ISO as low as it goes (100 is perfect) and close the aperture down to around f/11 to f/16. Start at 1 second, take a shot and check the screen. Too blurry and ghostly? Go faster. Water still looks choppy? Go slower. There is no single right answer, so play around.

Go when the light is soft. Bright sun makes it hard to get a slow shutter without the photo going white. Overcast days, early mornings and deep shady gorges are your best friends. Deep inside Hancock Gorge in Karijini, the walls block the harsh sun, and the reflected light makes the red rock glow while the water spills softly over the ledges. You can see the result in Hancock Gorge Falls.

Closer to home, Upper Kondalilla Falls in the Sunshine Coast hinterland is a perfect place to practise. The rainforest canopy keeps the light gentle and there are plenty of rocks to set up on. Have a look at Upper Kondalilla Falls to see how the green of the forest frames the falling water.

My personal tips: wipe your lens often, because waterfalls throw spray everywhere. Get low and include some rocks or moss in the foreground to lead the eye into the falls. And if you have a phone, try the Live Photo "Long Exposure" effect (or night mode on some Android phones). It is a great way to get a feel for it before you pull out the tripod.

Most of all get out there and enjoy it!!!

Shop the prints: see Hancock Gorge Falls in Adam's Mid WA prints and Upper Kondalilla Falls in the Sunshine Coast prints, available on paper, canvas or aluminium.