1. Look in waterfalls, rivers, and misty places
Sunbeams appear when sunlight is reflected by particles in the air. These particles can be dust, sand, smoke, or moisture, which is why rivers, waterfalls, and other wet or foggy places are good places to look! If you are visiting a river or wetland, your chances of seeing sunbeams increase on sunny days right after a wet spell due to more moisture in the air.
It’s even better if the place is surrounded by trees. For one, sunbeams are more obvious against darkness. For another, light passing through trees and foliage is especially photogenic.
Tip: You will be shooting into backlight, so set your settings accordingly. Make sure your lenses are clean to reduce unwanted flaring and artefacts.
Preconditions for beautiful sunbeams
Where?
- Foggy or misty places (near water bodies like rivers!)
- Waterfalls and places with water spray
- Ideally surrounded by trees
When?
- On a fine day (sunbeams will appear as backlight)
- (For rivers etc.) On hot, sunny days after the rain
- Times of the year where there are large temperature changes.
2. Use a slow shutter speed: 1/4 seconds or slower
EOS R5/ RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM/ FL: 74mm/ Manual exposure (f/8, 1/4 sec)/ ISO 500/ WB: 4,900K
Mist, fog, and waterfall spray are always moving. If your shutter speed is too fast, the sunbeams will look thinner, uneven, or less defined as there is insufficient time for the water particles to catch the light. Use a slower shutter speed for better results. I recommend starting with 1/4 seconds and adjusting from there.
Tip: Remember to bring an ND filter— you never know when you need it for longer exposures!
3. The more waterfall spray, the denser the sunbeams
Failed shot
EOS R5/ RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM/ FL: 29mm/ Manual exposure (f/11, 1/4 sec)/ ISO 100/ WB: 4,900K
Look out for parts of the waterfall where the spray is stronger. More water vapour in the air means more particles to reflect the sunlight, which translates to denser sunbeams. In the above image, you can barely see any sunbeams at the waterfall. That’s because there isn’t much spray.
However, don’t give up on your favourite waterfall even if it has a seemingly weak water flow. That could change especially after heavy rainfall!
Find out how a black umbrella could help your sunbeam photos in:
2 Everyday Items That Could Transform Your Photos
Also see:
3-minute Post-Processing: Sunbeams at a Waterfall
More tips for shooting and post-processing dreamy pictures of nature in:
Landscape Colours: The Subtle Beauty of a Waterfall in Blue & White
Composition Tips for Making Mist Pop
Camera Settings for Photographing Misty Streams and Rivers
