With waterfall season around the corner I thought I would post some tips to help you capture those gorgeous waterscapes. In Minnesota the North shore is a great place to view many waterfalls in one area. The months of April and May are peak season for powerful flowing water due to ice break off and melting snow. In summer the lighter flow can be nice for that silky look. 

• Use a slow shutter speed (around 1 second) for lighter flowing water to get that silky look. For a more powerful flow freeze the motion with a faster shutter speed.
• You will need a tripod and remote shutter or self timer when using slow shutter speeds to avoid unwanted blur.
• A polarizing filter is helpful to eliminate unwanted reflections and glare caused from the wet landscape. Also a neutral density filter can help you achieve a slow enough shutter speed when needed.
• Protect your camera and lens from all the moisture. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the lens and use a camera cover to keep things dry.
• The best light for photographing waterfalls is soft light from an overcast sky or when the sun is low in the sky.
• Use foreground elements to help lead the viewer into the scene.
• Avoid including the sky.
• Also remember to get closer for a more abstract look.

Just because the weather is turning bad doesn't mean you should put your camera away. The atmosphere that comes with bad weather can often make a unique and interesting image. This would include fog, mist, rain, snow, wind and storm clouds. Some of these conditions can be tricky for your camera to focus, and you may need to switch to manual focus. Also, make sure to keep yourself and your gear dry and warm. Use a lens hood and microfiber cloth to keep your lens dry, and a rain cover for your camera (create a DIY rain cover with a plastic freezer bag) and/or umbrella.

The fog hides all of the distractions behind this line of trees. You may get a sense of the quiet stillness that I felt when I was there.

I came across these clouds while driving through Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area. I am learning that I am drawn to moody landscapes just as much as the beautiful golden hour scenes. With this scene I wasn't real thrilled about the landscape in front of me (it was mostly marsh) so I crouched down to include just the tall grasses. Sometimes just changing your point of view can yield a better composition.