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Making the Most of Harsh Light for Waterfall Photography

Writer's picture: Michael RungMichael Rung

My second day in Arkansas had its challenges, but still provided some nice opportunities for midday photography


Paige Falls in northern Arkansas
One advantage of shooting a scene like this in strong, direct light is that the color of the water below the falls really comes to life.

At this first waterfall, there were quite a few people passing through, and a friendly couple sat on a nearby log while I composed my shots and waited to see if the few clouds in the sky would cooperate to help soften the light a bit (they didn't). As a result, I didn't record much to-camera footage, both out of respect for others and due to my crippling fear of recording myself talking the camera like a crazy person while other people are around.


A black and white photo of Paige Falls waterfall in Arkansas
Another perk of working with stronger light and deeper shadows is that it can make for some lovely, dramatic black and white images.

Wrapping up at that waterfall, I headed downstream a bit further to another spot I knew about from the guide book I was referencing (more on that below). Given the lower-than-expected water flow at most locations I'd visited so far in the trip, I wasn't really expecting much... until the gentleman that had been sitting with his wife came back from his own downstream wander and assured me it was worth checking out.


An unnamed waterfall near Paige Falls in Arkansas
As luck would have it, by the time I got down the trail to this waterfall, the clouds I'd been waiting for up above came rolling in... cutting the sun almost too much!

In addition to the clouds finally rolling in, the lay of the land here kept the falls themselves in more shadow at this time of day. Honestly, I would have preferred a bit more light on the scene for the compositions I set up, but it was still an absolutely beautiful spot.


As the afternoon wore on, the clouds grew heavier and I decided to make my way back to camp. Unfortunately, that also meant I opted to skip hiking back to the waterfall I had scouted near my campsite the day before as the light was completely flat by the time I got back.


I can definitely see myself returning to both locations the next time I have a chance to visit Arkansas during waterfall season.



Tim Ernst's Arkansas Waterfall Guide

 

If you're thinking about hitting the road and chasing waterfalls in Arkansas on your own, Tim Ernst's guidebook is an essential tool. Although it doesn't provide guidance on the best time of day to photograph the waterfalls, it does give you everything you need to know, included details around the quality of the roads and the difficulty of the hikes required to visit them all.


Tim Ernst Arkansas Waterfalls guidebook
As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission on any purchases made through the provided link. Doing so is an easy way to help support my work, at no added cost to you.

Join Me Behind the Scenes

 

Thanks to the people that were about, as mentioned above, I didn't record anything about my compositional setups on this day (unlike the first episode). That being said, you'll still want to watch this week's video for a better sense of the locations I visited, and to enjoy a couple more photos that aren't included here.



If you enjoy these looks behind-the-scenes of my photography, you can catch up on all my in-field videos here.


 

Michael Rung

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