How to photograph waterfalls.

[rpcrowe]

Lovely work from Elia Locardi! I certainly think that there is a place for blurred water in waves and waterfalls. However, the amount of blurring is up to the individual photographer's taste. IMO some photographers overdo the blurring but, that is their prerogative. I am not an editor paying for their shots so they can shoot any way they wish,

I would suggest that a person shoot several shots at varying shutter speeds to end up with what he or she likes.

One problem that often occurs in long exposures is that the foliage sometimes moves in the breeze and is not tack sharp. IMO, a blurred water shot needs a tack sharp surrounding to be effective.

[JohnRostron]

If you believe that the purpose of photography is to capture realism then it is indeed is un-natural. If you view photography as your way of creating an artistic image, then realism and 'natural' may or may not have relevance to what your doing. Your purpose is creating an artistic image.

I do not belive in such a purpose for photography in general. Most of my photogrsphy is to capure realism, though I will occasionally explore more abstract (artistc) possibilities. My original comment was to the effect that I, personally, prefer the short exposure when photographing waterfalls, whilst recognizing that others like the long-exposure image. Chacun a son gout.

John

[Tronhard]

"Chacun a son gout"

Absolutely - photography is, after all, an art as well as a science. In a world of diminishing tolerance, art is one of the things that reminds us that, in the end, there is room for preference.