Documenting a beautiful landscape is one thing; conveying emotion via that landscape photograph is another. “For years I wrestled with the technical side of photography—mastering exposure, composition, long-exposure techniques—all while searching for a visual language that could carry emotion in the same way a brushstroke might,” says fine art landscape photographer Jonathan Knight. Inspired by the minimalism and emotional depth of expressionist painter Ad Reinhardt’s black paintings, Knight decided to capture his waterfalls in black and white after sunset using long exposures. “It wasn’t until I began stripping away color and slowing down time that the emotional resonance really started to emerge,” he says.

His process: Knight scouts waterfalls online, using Google Earth to study terrain, light angles, and access points. He arrives at the site one hour before sunset—sometimes hiking miles to reach his destination—and typically makes photos during a 10- to 15-minute window that begins about 45 minutes after sunset, just before the stars appear. “That transitional light is soft, elusive, and essential to the feel of the work,” he says.

The setup: His medium-format camera with standard focal length prime lens is set up on a tripod at eye level to ensure stability during long exposures. Exposures vary, but most are made around f/8 and f/11, he says, with shutter speeds ranging from four to 15 minutes. He enables the camera’s vibration delay mode and monitors its built-in seismograph. He also uses the camera’s viewfinder cover to prevent light leaks. The low light conditions “naturally subdue contrast and allow for gentle tonal transitions,” he says.

“What I love most [about the series] is the stillness it evokes,” he says. “In a world that’s constantly moving, these images feel like a deep breath.”  

Amanda Arnold is a senior editor.