Hi, Asher,
So why can't some people take a different tack than giving us this same look of water. How has it become a standard to show water so very burred to give this standardized impression of motion?
I also am largely in agreement with Roger's explanation. However, I have a few additional comments:
Firstly, I think that split-second waterfall/cascade pictures with the instant frozen sharply in time are also common. I think the notion that there aren't some people taking this tack is, in part, selective perception.
Consciously created photographs involve awareness and participation on the photographer's part, to include the elements the photographer wants, the way the photographer wants them. (I know you are already all aware of this; I am just making reference to this, to build my argument.) Different photographic waterfall compositions are chosen, when possible, based upon the intent of the photographer for the individual photo. Each case is unique, and thus, the reasons behind different choices of how to represent moving water vary.
Here's an example of a conscious choice to photograph a waterfall's moving water with a fast shutter speed, along with an explanation of the reasoning, below:
In this picture, among other aspects I was trying to communicate, I wanted to show the awesome size, power, and grandeur of the waterfall. I juxtaposed the waterfall against large pine trees, which look insignificantly small by comparison, so as to give the waterfall a sense of gigantic scale. I chose a time of day and position which created a lighting situation of luminous intensity and stark contrast. And in this picture, I wanted a very brief shutter speed, to separately show the individual torrents coming down, because I felt this increased the appearance of thunderous power, which would be missing if the waterfall looked like a blurred, white cone.
I must also note that the shutter speed decisions of how to photograph waterfalls are often made for primarily technical reasons. If the waterfall or cascade is in deep shadow, as is often the case, then there may be little choice but to use a long shutter speed. On the other hand, if you want to photograph a waterfall/cascade with a substantial rainbow, you are likely to be forced to use a very short shutter speed (because you will probably need to be in the middle of
heavy mist, and you will only have a split-second of facing the waterfall before your lens is coated with droplets.)
Mike
www.mikespinak.com