Gallery: seeing waterfalls in black and white

There is a hidden message in every waterfall. It says, if you are flexible, falling will not hurt you!

Mehmet Murat Ildan

Is there anyone who isn’t awed by a waterfall? Whether it’s the sheer power of the water tumbling over the edge a one of the world’s great falls such as Victoria or Iguazu, or whether it’s the delicate lace and spray of a stream tumbling over rocks, the movement and sound seem always to hold us in their grip.

So for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness theme this week, Flowing Water, I’ve decided to share images of some of the many waterfalls I’ve been fortunate to have seen around the world. From to UK to Chile, and from Iceland to North Korea, they all share that ability to captivate and thrill us.

There are two different techniques to use when photographing a waterfall. You can use a fast shutter speed to freeze the movement of the water, allowing each drop to sparkle. Or you can use a much slower shutter speed which has the effect of blurring the water, emphasising flow rather than detail. Ideally you need a tripod for the latter technique, so that the rest of the scene remains sharp. However I don’t carry a tripod as it’s too much of an encumbrance, especially when travelling. But a handy rock, if reasonably flat, can serve a similar purpose. So you’ll see a mix of each technique in the shots that follow. Which approach do you prefer?

My feature photo is of Wensley Falls in Yorkshire’s Wensleydale, another shot of which appears below. It, like all my other images, was originally shot in colour and edited with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Hardraw Force, Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England

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Lower Aysgarth Falls, Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England

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Wensley Falls, Wensleydale, Yorkshire, England

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In Burgerbukta, Svalbard

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Skógafoss on the South Coast of Iceland

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Seljalandsfoss on the South Coast of Iceland

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Kirkjufell, Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

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Cascada Paine, Torres del Paine National Park, Chilea

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Grizzly Falls, King’s Canyon National Park, California

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Roaring River Falls, King’s Canyon National Park, California

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Ulim Falls, North Korea

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At Ritigala, Sri Lanka

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Devil’s Cataract, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

However you choose to photograph a waterfall, it’s hard to show the full impact of those tumbling waters. So I’ll finish with a short video clip taken at Victoria Falls. Bear in mind that these aren’t the main falls but rather a separate section off to one side known as the Devil’s Cataract. But the power even of this smaller section of falls is nevertheless awe-inspiring.