9 GREAT Tips to Photograph Waterfalls

In this episode, I'll share 9 tips to photograph waterfalls. I visit two waterfalls in Lofoten, Norway. Waterfalls are favorite subjects of mine in landscape photography. If you go through my portfolio you'd see many of those photos. Lofoten is not known for waterfalls and the two I visit were fairly small, which had me work a little harder. While photographing the waterfalls I share 9 tips, such as camera settings and shutter speed, but also composition, and practical tips in regard to filters and tripods.
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[@MadsPeterIversen]

The ENTIRE Lofoten playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PL8OsdzASUWWDbLItjKVjtV3gVJPGv8B7x

[@alphabeta448]

Hi Mads, great video, as always. I noticed that since some time ago you started releasing videos in 60fps. Unfortunately, I cannot watch them full res on my 2k laptop screen because the processor heats itself too much and the fan starts spinning as crazy. Does it really pay off to use 60fps on youtube?

[@MadsPeterIversen]

@@alphabeta448 Hi, the answer must be an absolutely not, that also includes 4K, but it is nice to have ;)

[@dronedogstudio.online3638]

Mads Peter Iversen Thank you I learned a lot

[@Canadianforestfairy]

@@MadsPeterIversenhey what were your settings @5:08? Beautiful shots!

[@Jack-se2iz]

I love your positive attitude. You really made the environment work in your beautiful images. I learn every time I watch your videos. Glad you didn’t fall in!

[@boscoe2]

Beautiful photos. The location was spectacular and the artistry of the compositions really enhanced each scene. I would have liked text on the screen for each still photo showing the camera settings.

[@IKEMENOsakaman]

What a great location! Love the dogwoods. Saw a bunch those trees in the Smoky Mountains. Of course I didn't get up close 🙄. That reflection falls shot was beautiful ☺️. Thanks for video!

[@robertstephens1868]

Mads, you are lucky to have all the water you always have!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

There weren't a whole lot of water in those waterfalls :)

[@SkullMonkeyUK]

Lovely photos, great scenery and above all some great tips, ... thank you 👍

[@philipsmith1465]

Brilliant thanks for that one I just loved the final photo!!

[@jimmyb4982]

I love your emphasis on composition, Mads. Thanks for the awesome content.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks! And you're welcome :)

[@dieternoll-jansen2569]

Thank you very much for the Inspiration you give. Not even the result, also the way you do it is Amazing!

[@anthonygoss2591]

As usual well explained and easy to navigate. Thanks.

[@jody1622]

I liked the side shots of the waterfalls. I always think of them straight on so this was a good idea. Thank you!

[@MarkDenneyPhoto]

What an incredible location! Great video Mads!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Mark!

[@michael-gs6kh]

Great 👍 photos! I am surrounded by dozens of waterfalls in the French Pyrenees, and spend a lot of time photographing them so I enjoyed your work a lot!

[@gregorybell4365]

Breathtaking images Thank you for sharing them. I am learning so much from you

[@maik723]

Thank you. Great point about the small waterfalls. Thanks again.

[@smashexentertainment676]

for tip #5 you're welcome to visit Bergen) The snow here melts instantly and you never run out of rain) For more waterfalls and super awesome landscapes I recommend visiting Odda) Great images btw!

[@speel1959]

Outstanding as always Mads, you never fail to invoke more interest for me in experimenting with a different approach to the photographs I take, I thank you !

[@MadsPeterIversen]

You're very welcome, Stephen! :)

[@dwelker3778]

I enjoy photographing waterfalls, so I found your suggestions helpful.

[@desertgecko4549]

Tip #10: Bracket your shutter speed. Take several shots at 1/4s, 1/3s, 1/2s, and maybe even at 1 second. (If there is any breeze that might make your background move, try to get a few shots at a higher speed of at least 1/60, too.) Tip #11: If you cannot get a very low shutter speed, it's okay. Without moving the camera, take several shots at the slowest shutter speed you can. Then blend these together in Photoshop to get movement in the water, creating the same effect that you would have gotten with a slower shutter. Nice video, Mads, with good tips. Thanks!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Two great tips :)

[@edwinscox]

Wow, what a wonderful tutorial. I Love how you can create something so dramatic from something so small. Also, the music played behind the final images was amazing. Thank you.

[@jenjen4658]

Awesome thanks for the tips and showing your wonderful photos

[@avikmajumdar1791]

Love the way you breakdown your process!!! It so in-depth and precise!!! Keep up the great content!! 😊

[@pjf7943]

While I admire your video productions and fine photography, your mention of "Never Composite" draws to mind an European photo award given to a photographer of a composite to include an over the top colorful Milky Way (my words) over Death Valley, California... If my memory serves me, the receiver of that award was you..!! LOL!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

It was irony when I mentioned that ;)

[@PMCN53]

Great advice Mads, love the unique perspective to generate the illusion that the waterfall is bigger. Cheers.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Phil :)

[@davidmontague6109]

Great video! Thank you for making the maps. I bought the one for Iceland and it made all the difference in the world.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

You're welome, David and thank you so much! :D

[@jimcooke5590]

brilliant mads, loved the way you created the drama from something so small

[@davidhall2133]

That was very interesting you given me a lot of information about waterfall photography thank you dave

[@robertfleckenstein5031]

What an eye, what a pleasure to view such masterful compositions.

[@arielalejandrogarma3672]

hello Mads excellent video with great tips and great photos congratulations

[@paullachapelle7477]

My prefered photo is the third one at approx 14 minutes. Superb

[@valk-photography]

Like your search for compositions in this video. Even when conditions are not optimal you keep finding great compositions resulting in amazing photos. Thanks Mads for sharing your experience and thoughts !

[@janicepayne1077]

I am always disappointed with my waterfall images and so found this really useful, some good tips about isolating smaller parts of the scene instead of just a picture showing it all. Thank you 😀

[@MadsPeterIversen]

You're very welcome, Janice :)

[@williamdesevo2089]

Making lemonade with lemons. Nice job.

[@lindseydeckard1567]

I stumbled upon your multitude of You Tube videos in planning for my first trip to Iceland this coming May. Every video of yours that I've watched is incredibly beautiful, and has been awe-inspiring. Your voice is delightful to listen to and you are an outstanding teacher... I'm just learning how to operate a very basic camera, but look forward to advancing to the point where I can emulate many of your techniques. I just wanted to say that I truly appreciate your artistry. Kind regards, Lindsey Deckard from Alabama, USA

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hi Lindsay, thanks a lot for the kind words! I truly appreciate such comments. Good luck in iceland, you're in for a treat :)

[@lindseydeckard1567]

Thanks, I'm excited and looking forward to it very much.

[@antonbest]

Very helpful technical guidance!

[@zakstone9821]

Great tips and beautiful shots.

[@crystalcastro4209]

Beautiful and informative. thank you.

[@johnpalmer3618]

Simply...Bravo!

[@JaypeaFoto]

Thanks for your tips. I’m going to a couple of water falls next month.

[@fannyandersson3330]

Lovely photos, even the ones without clouds!

[@galpiper9129]

Excellent tutorial as ever

[@richardwood6121]

Thanks for the video Mads. Some great tips and possibly best of all it's inspired me to plan a waterfall shoot in the NW Highlands of Scotland next weekend.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

That sounds fantastic! Good luck up there. It's so beautiful in Scotland!

[@robd2467]

Lovely video - enhanced by the terrific drone B-roll. I find waterfalls addictive though - once you start taking them you are always on the lookout for more! Excellent - thank you.

[@CsendesMark]

Lofoten is high on my list! I love Scandinavia and the Nordics! :)

[@tiebrerick]

Thank you so much for sharing ! Its amazing how you find the right composition !

[@Bbabcockok]

Great suggestions and concepts. Thank-you.

[@silverbreezeRn]

Beautiful photos!

[@daven1599]

i only wanted to say: thank you for your great photos, videos and your motivation... especially your passion is visible and catching me every time.. i want to go out .. now :-) greetings from northern germany..👏🏽👍

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot! :)

[@ivangallardomartinez8375]

Great compositions, thanks

[@parrishcolman9615]

Absolutely superb.... such a genuine video. Bravo

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Parrish :)

[@regbaker56]

Inspiring - One day I will get there from down under!

[@nikhilbalakrishnan7027]

What a wonderful video Mads, your photographs are astounding and you inspire me to take landscape photographs that captures the soul of the moment! Amazing work!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Nikhil :)

[@carljarvinen1189]

One of my favorite things to photograph are waterfalls, thanks for the tips. Especially getting so low with a mini tripod.The sky in the last two images really make them stand out. Hard to pick which one I like the best, the bright yellow oranges (some photoshopping?) or the puffy gray sky of the last one. Maybe the “moodiness” of the last one?

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Yeah, I replaced the sky in both of them. The original was just too dull :)

[@pellier08]

@@MadsPeterIversen I was just going to ask the same question whether the sky had been photosopped since in the video the sky looks very different. I was a little confused because at the beginning of this video you say 'never photoshop the sky, never'.

[@garrymurphy1553]

I forgot to say that it was a very informative video and thank you

[@vishnus679]

Like the way you explain things and the way you make videos. Ofcourse, fan of your photographs too...

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Vishnu!

[@jaburchfield7194]

Thanks so much for your beautiful and informative videos!! Again, amazing photography!!

[@BryanDillonPhotography]

Great video once again Mads... getting in close worked beautifully!! 🙏🏼

[@josepmbernaus]

Fantastic video Mads! Would it be asking for too much if you could give for each picture the parameters (aperture, speed, ISO...). I know you mention that in some of the pictures, but it might help a lot to beginners like me to know what kind of parameters you used for each one. I also know this is extra work, it is just an idea. But regardless of that, I love your channel!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hi Josep. The exif data takes too much away from the photos and as you said I mention them in the videos :) I share exif data in all my old videos, but it often led to confusion and very specific questions because people didn't account for the lighting of the scene.

[@josepmbernaus]

Mads Peter Iversen Thanks for your reply Mads. I fully understand, I just thought it could help me somehow, but as you said, you already mentioned it in the video, so I can test the parameters. Cheers!

[@herlingwowor1896]

thank you for this clip very inspritional.

[@andrewmckinney3053]

Thanks, Mads ..... loved the scenery. Very useful tutorial! I live in Tasmania, Australia where there are countless waterfalls; many are inaccessible; many are hidden away in temperate rainforests. Your video challenges me to be more creative :)

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Nice to hear, Andrew! I actually know surprisingly little about Tasmania 🤔

[@andrewmckinney3053]

You'd enjoy the photographic experience!!

[@billbell8800]

Thanks Mads. I enjoyed the video and your shots. I am a big fan of waterfalls, thanks for the tips.......

[@janettebritton5800]

Thank you Mads. I’m off to Lofoten next week and am so excited. Have followed most of your videos.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Awesome! Good luck up there :)

[@mirto5663]

Excellent presentation, Mads! I will take a closer look at smaller waterfalls when I encounter them.

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Mads: I really enjoyed this video. My wife and I were in Lofoten in 2017 for my 60th birthday and we can't wait to go back there again soon. We are going to Norway again this May but unfortunately not as far up as the Lofoten islands. Cheers, Keith

[@DavidCJPhotography]

Everything about this was amazing, love the videos and pictures, so inspirational!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, David!

[@jimtipton8888]

Great video Mads! I always find inspiration here! Cheers my friend from the northern Palouse.

[@greggorter]

Beautiful Mads, amazing mountains and landscapes. Thank you for sharing 🌍

[@pummelu3423]

Jesus those photos are amazing😭

[@prevalain]

These tips are in step with what you recommend in your eBook on Composition. Another fine, instructive video. Thanks Mads.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot! Happy you can see there's some sense to it all ;)

[@garrymurphy1553]

I tried to take a waterfall photo today . I took 1 and then I nearly fell into the River Dodder in Dublin, Ireland ! In doing so I drenched myself but thank God my camera or equip was not damaged . Maybe I should try in better shoes and when the weather is not so damp . Thanks for the advice

[@johnbock3711]

Great job Mads. Have been following your channel for quite sometime now and will be vacationing in Iceland next week. Thanks to your series of Iceland videos it's helped me plan where and what I want to see and photograph. Of course hoping a chance of the northern lights. I've learned a great deal form you videos. Would you consider adding the settings to your photographs, I know it would help me for a starting point and adjust from there. Keep up the great work!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

You're welcome, John. Happy to hear that. I do not add exif anymore because it takes too much away from the photos and people were just confused. I usually tell it in the videos :)

[@fraierom]

Very nice video as always buddy. I Really enjoy watching your videos, especially if they include waterfalls and to top it off with some nice Scandinavian islands. I've looked into your videos but haven't found any review about the Kase filters. Haven't really seen that many reviews of that filter kit, you could do an honest review of it, would be really helpful and highly appreciated. Keep it up, as always.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Check out my gear videos from 2018 and 2019, here I share my thoughts on them.

[@carlreid4161]

Loved that shot near the end of the vlog Mads of the small waterfall 👍

[@soularproject]

When each image is shown, I would love to see the shutter rate on each photo in order to get a handle on the how shutter speed changes the look of the water. Thank you so much for your informative videos.

[@sunilapadhi7714]

Extremely useful tips and spectacular images. Thanks for uploading!

[@mkbuhain]

Wonderful video Mads, i usual I learned something new from you. Keep sharing brother.

[@klinkeok]

Amazing what you can do with small waterfalls

[@100mikeshark]

Thanks great video

[@PaulthomsonphotographyUk]

Great stuff Mads and one of my favourite subjects to shoot awesome location and images . All the best man 😃👍✌

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Paul, to you too!

[@3scapePhotos]

Another great video Mads, you're blessed with amazing landscapes to work with. But... "Never composite"? It looks like you added drama to your images in PS (would love to see the before and after), which is totally fine. It's your vision of the scene that you're trying to communicate to your viewers. As an artist, saying never do this or that is just limiting your creative vision! (unless you're a documentary photographer, of course)

[@MadsPeterIversen]

It was sarcastic, Adam ;). This is why it is so hard to make jokes in KZbin videos. Many people do not get them or hear those small semantic nuances. Check out all my old videos, or at least my educational ones (I think it's in my "7 tips video" I made last summer where I talk about it. I do not care what so ever if people composite and that's what I did with the two last photos :)

[@3scapePhotos]

@@MadsPeterIversen 😁 Sorry! Perhaps I didn't catch that nuance. Keep the great photos and videos coming!

[@adriansz9547]

Great job Mads! Another nice video, just came back from Lofoten, still in a mood of the place. I will have to visit this location one day, maybe not in wintertime, autumn looks to be the best season for that. Thanks!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Autumn is gorgeous yes, but winter/summer usually have more optimal light directions on the different locations.

[@verahelfter3542]

Great tips on waterfalls. As always, I enjoyed your video.

[@TheFuzzyskwerl]

Best tip I have for Waterfall photography is to wear a pair of wellies / Wellington boots. Means you can just walk through the water without getting wet rather than dangerously and precariously trying to walk over slippery rocks.

[@danmaynard120]

Here I was thinking I didn’t have a video to watch before bed and you go and upload one. Night made!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hehe you're welcome! :)

[@guppi1]

Epic shots as always, Mads 💪💪

[@paulus0109]

Very entertaining vlog Mads. I liked the photo’s very much. I don’t mind the blue sky in the first photo. I love blue skys! Hhh. But the red sky in the other photo. Was that real? Keep up the good work. Thnx

[@MadsPeterIversen]

The last one was a composite :)

[@deniseneuendorf3577]

Excellent, sir! Thank you for sharing with us!

[@creatorontherise674]

What a great photography video! I love the shots you got out of these and the tips will definitly improve my further hobby as a picturetaker :)

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot :)

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I have another tip you briefly alluded to: don't be afraid to get wet. I have a waterfall image I'm really happy with from 2019 that was only possible because I stood in a foot of water in my Wellies to get the water coming right at me. Chance favors the prepared.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Very true :)

[@CamillaI]

Lovely waterfalls something we are lacking in my part of the UK having no mountains. I do enjoy photographing them when I get to Cumbria and Scotland though. Great video very enjoyable thanks

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot! Yeah, we don't have any in Denmark either.

[@RichPang78]

Beautiful images, Mads 👊🏻. That looks like a great location with plenty of compositions. Quick question; I use the Shimoda Explore, do you think the Action is worth upgrading to? Thanks in advance.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks Rich. As I haven't used the explore I do not know, but I'm happy with this one :)

[@pallipera]

Smukke billeder. Jeg har lært meget af dig. Teknik og hvordan man skal holde ojnene opne. Beityful photos. I hve lernd much from you. Tecnicaly and how to constantly have my eyes open. Tusend tak / Many thanks..

[@bobrutan4735]

Great video!

[@bobwallis1757]

STUNNING!! thank you!

[@andyprime56]

Wow, you did it again!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Andy! :)

[@jhr4008]

Great video again, with lots of usefull tips. You should not be sorry about the sun not lighting the mountain, due to the clouds... I like the colors of the greyish mointain with the the colorerd sky better.

[@domhaughton6809]

Great video as always Mads - and waterfalls are one of my favourite subjects. What time of year was this by the way?

[@MadsPeterIversen]

This was during autumn and thanks a lot :)

[@TorstenPull]

Nice one Mads, really enjoyed it. I always struggle with waterfalls and I believe I picked up a few tricks with this video. Too bad we didn't manage to visit this spot on our trip.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Yes, we passed the last waterfall several times, but there was no water left in it so didn't really make sense.

[@stuartansell4027]

Great video as usual. You need a lego man sized Mads for scale in the mini waterfall shot :)

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Haha! That would be perfect ;)

[@alevans1168]

Thanks for the tips definitely learned a few things 🙂👍🏻