Make waterfall magic

For a landscape with a twist, Jason Parnell-Brookes shows you how to capture a long-exposure waterfall image with a light trail

Create a long exposure waterfall landscape image that enhances the ethereal nature of smooth water by adding colourful light trails

Waterfalls are the most common subject that people choose when experimenting with long shutter speeds for the first time. Little waterfalls take on a tantalising silky, smooth texture when we use a long exposure to shoot them, giving them an ethereal feel.

There are countless amazing waterfall photos out there already. But this technique gives you an unusual twist to liven up your waterfall shots by enhancing their magical feel. By taking afew glow sticks and setting them loose in the evening from the top of the waterfall, you can capture wonderful light streaks that flow and spin through the water as they cascade over the top and down into the pool below.

To help make your shoot much more manageable, you’ll need a friend to release the glow sticks at the right time so you can concentrate on taking the photo. Grab your waders and get ready for an adventure…