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This image shows just a small part of Pistyll Rhaeadr, at 80m the highest waterfall in the UK.
Why take pictures of just a small part of this massive drop and not all of it?
Well, with my photography, rather than just provide documentary evidence of how a place looks on a particular day, I try to convey something of the emotions and feelings that being there has stirred up in me.
On this occasion I was first of all awestruck by the power of the water falling from such a height so I took this photo to try and show that, with the water striking a rock and being broken and deflected with the force.
The other image from Pistyll Rhaeadr, 'Waterfall #10', was taken at the foot of the falls in much calmer conditions, where I was struck by the glowing colours of the stones in the plunge pool. The waterfall was blasting away in the background but I placed more emphasis on the foreground, engendering a feeling of calm and beauty rather than raw power.
Filename - waterfall 08.jpg
Camera - Canon 5D
Lens - 100-400mm zoom @ 300mm
Exposure - 1/6sec @ f8, ISO400
Location - Pistyll Rhaeadr, Snowdonia
This image - 533x800px JPEG
Conversion - ACR & PS-CS2
Comments - Slow shutter speed used to blur water. Tripod, mirror lockup and cable release used to prevent camera movement.
All content copyright © Howard Litherland 2009-2026 unless otherwise stated.