Waterfalls

Interested in learning how to photograph waterfalls?  From essential gear to exposure settings and composition tips, my Blog walks through the techniques I use to create fine art waterfall images.  See how these approaches can transform your waterfall photography.

Where to Chase Waterfalls (Northeast Waterfall Photo Spots)

If you’re inspired to chase waterfalls in the northeast United States, here are a few of my favorite destinations - each offering multiple unique falls, visually dense scenery, varied terrain, and great opportunities for long-exposure waterfall photography.

Enders Falls - Granby, Connecticut

• Enders Falls is a compact but rich waterfall destination:  within roughly a half-mile you’ll find a series of 5–6 distinct cascades, slides, and plunges, making it one of the densest waterfall groupings in Connecticut
• Because the falls vary from modest cascades to plunges, it’s a great place to experiment with different shutter speeds and compositions in one outing - perfect for capturing the variety of moods water can have
• The easy access and close proximity of multiple falls make Enders ideal for a quick photo trip, or for returning repeatedly to test different techniques under changing light and water flow

Ricketts Glen State Park - Pennsylvania

• Ricketts Glen features more than 20 named waterfalls cascading through dense woodland of hemlock, pine, and hardwoods — a paradise of plunges, cascades, and forest textures all in one compact trail system
• The main trail is a loop hike along two separate creeks, allowing you to see many of the waterfalls in a single outing while enjoying varied terrain and viewpoints
• The diversity of falls and terrain offers abundant opportunities to experiment with composition, shutter speed, and creative angles, making every visit a chance to refine your waterfall photography skills
• If you’re inspired to explore further, the adjacent State Game Lands 13 area is full of additional waterfalls and cascades, perfect for more adventurous photographers who want to get off-trail on public land

Taughannock Falls State Park - New York

• Taughannock Falls plunges roughly 215 feet into a deep gorge - a height you wouldn’t expect from a waterfall in the Northeast - creating a dramatic subject for long-exposure photography
• The waterfall can be viewed from a terrace at the Visitor Center or from its base following a short, nearly flat hike
• A small waterfall at the entrance to the gorge and another further upstream add variety and additional photographic opportunities beyond the main falls
• The gorge and cliff walls provide natural framing, offering opportunities to capture both the scale and the mood of the falls

Watkins Glen State Park - New York

• The gorge at Watkins Glen was carved over thousands of years through layers of shale, creating dramatic rock walls and unique formations that make for visually striking compositions
• Walking along the gorge trail, with waterfalls cascading over the shale cliffs, you feel completely removed from the world around you - a sense of immersion that’s perfect for photography
• The detail in the rock walls combined with the flowing water encourages experimentation with angles, shutter speeds, and perspectives
• The trail allows for both close-up shots of cascading water and wider images that capture the full grandeur of the gorge