Droplets: Presented in tecnicolour

[randomgrafix]

I posted these on the "macro" forum but was told maybe I'd get better feedback here.

Hi guys these are my first attempts at macro droplets. C&C welcomed.
Only minor sharpening and a little saturation in Photoshop CS2
All shots taken with:
Canon Xti / Canon 70-200 f4L or Canon 70-210 /manual extension tubes / on board flash.

#1
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2029/2225198459_7ba7382466.jpg

#2
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/2225986998_fc166f3f6c.jpg

#3
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2225988492_bf93823997.jpg

#4
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2241/2225198165_5a3ce2f9cc.jpg

#5
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2225989072_8e130ff43b.jpg

#6
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2086/2225987258_1019dc16c7.jpg

#7
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2225197595_7c1cccafa4.jpg

#8
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2043/2225989462_a413d5e13e.jpg

The setup for this was surprisingly simple... Thnx Dalantech for the inspiration.

[Mark_Cohran]

What was your setup?

[NewattheGame]

You managed a magic crown as well - well done, really nice shots.

[randomgrafix]

What was your setup?
Thnx for your interest MC.
It was surprisingly easy.

Materials:
colour paper (for background) / plastic bag of water / glass of water / camera, lens and extension tubes.

1) I printed out full sheets of paper in each colour for background on my puter. (7 colours=7 sheets) Stuck paper on wall behind glass of water.
2) Filled the plastic shopping bag with water. Hung it from a shelf in the kitchen.
3) Pricked a pin sized hole in the bag and let it drip into the glass of water below.
4) Used my XTi with my 70-210 or 70-200 f/4L with manual tubes (#1 & #2)

You can't set Av with manual tubes on so first I set my Av (f/:cool: with the lens (no tubes) then I removed the lens and mounted the tubes, then remounted the lens on the tubes.
Tv 1/200
ISO 100
Flash: on board

Easy stuff using all household items and no macro lens, no extra light setup and no stress:grin:
I'm still gonna buy me a Canon 100mm though...:wink: __________________

[Antz_Marchin]

They look great, was the paper you printed out a solid colour? If so just the motion of the water/the flash made it lighter and darker in areas I guess?

As far as the shooting, just let the bag drip, held the shutter and let it rip in bursts then chose the best timing after???

[randomgrafix]

They look great, was the paper you printed out a solid colour? If so just the motion of the water/the flash made it lighter and darker in areas I guess?
Yes, the paper was just a solid color.

As far as the shooting, just let the bag drip, held the shutter and let it rip in bursts then chose the best timing after???The drip was a pretty consistent rhythm and I didn't use burst mode... the flash wouldn't cycle fast enough for that but the drip was slow enough to prepare myself and time it.
I recommend prick a small hole first then wider if you need a faster drip.

Ziplock bags are great for easy refilling. My next challenge will be various colored milk.

[randomgrafix]

You managed a magic crown as well - well done, really nice shots.
Thnx, I was pleasantly surprised to see I got one.

[randomgrafix]

Thnx everyone for your encouraging comments.

[Sorarse]

Very inspirational. Thanks.

http://www.88qv.com/net/046.jpg

http://www.88qv.com/net/049.jpg

http://www.88qv.com/net/048.jpg

[stargazer77517]

Man...I really like em. Looking forward to the milk shots. I can see i might have another experiment to try. Good job!

[stargazer77517]

Sorarse...Those are pretty good also...but one thing I noticed, The droplets in 1 and 2 you can see the paper hanging on the wall behind. I think it would look better to color the whole drop, but still # 1 has great eye appeal. I like the trail of droplets.

[Sorarse]

I know. The problem was these were taken at work during a quiet spell, and the only item of colour I had was the lid from my sugar and tea containers, which only measures about 4" square.

For #3 I rooted around in the stores cupboard and managed to find an orange safety vest, which worked a lot better.

[randomgrafix]

Very inspirational. Thanks.

Thnx Derek, excellent work with the 40D and tubes.
If you angle just a bit more down all the water gets colored.

How's the flash cycle time on the 40D?... I miss alot of great shots due to the XTi's flash giving a "busy" while it takes it's great time to cycle.

I'll be shooting milk this weekend but it's Carnival time here so won't be in office till Wednesday so I'll post then.

[randomgrafix]

If any one does any more of these you can post it in this thread. If you're posting in your own thread please PM me.
I love to see everyone's versions of these.

[Sorarse]

How's the flash cycle time on the 40D?... I miss alot of great shots due to the XTi's flash giving a "busy" while it takes it's great time to cycle.



I didn't actually use the pop-up but a flash gun sitting in the hotshoe. I didn't even think to try the pop-up. :oops:

Here's one with 'full' colour - I actually added food colouring to the dripping water to help.

http://www.88qv.com/net/045.jpg

[randomgrafix]

That looks verrrrrrrry cool.
I actually bought dye for this but I realized I didn't need it... but I'll add them to the milk shots.

What lens did u use with the tubes?

[Sorarse]

It's an old Tamron 70-210mm f3.8/4.0 that I used to use on my T90. I've only had the 40D for 6weeks, and the only EF lens I have for it is the 17-85mm kit lens, which doesn't give me enough working distance for close up.

[randomgrafix]

It's an old Tamron 70-210mm f3.8/4.0 that I used to use on my T90. I've only had the 40D for 6weeks, and the only EF lens I have for it is the 17-85mm kit lens, which doesn't give me enough working distance for close up.

well it works pretty good... great results.
Is the 40D up to all the hype?

[Sorarse]

well it works pretty good... great results.
Is the 40D up to all the hype?

It's my first DSLR and as I've only had it a short while I am still getting used to it, but so far I have been really pleased with it. I haven't yet found myself wanting to do something that the camera hasn't been able to cope with. If anything it has way more functions and settings than I can easily remember, so I am having to take the instruction book with me to remind me how to set certain things up.

One last droplet for you.

http://www.88qv.com/net/052.jpg

[randomgrafix]

Nice crown, great capture.
have fun with the 40D it's a great machine. I love both my 300D & 400D (XTi).
They're both excellent machines. I love the feel of my 300D... I wish the XTi was better built for my big hands... maybe there'll be a 40D in my future soon.
I hear the 450D (XSi) is a smidge bigger... hopefully it's around the grip for us big handed men.

[daveleeuk]

I'd love to do this, nice work though

[randomgrafix]

I'd love to do this, nice work though
I hope to see some stuff from you soon.

[daveleeuk]

I'm very new to photography (experianced in editing though), but i dont think i have the right lens to do that

I have a 24-78mm L lens also the only lighting i have is a speedlight flash head, did you use extra lighting?

[randomgrafix]

I'm very new to photography (experianced in editing though), but i dont think i have the right lens to do that

I have a 24-78mm L lens also the only lighting i have is a speedlight flash head, did you use extra lighting?
No extra lighting, just the on-board flash but you would need extension tubes or some form of magnification ie macro lens, close-up filter, Raynox 250, etc.
I don't know how close the 24-78 can focus but give it a try... it's all about experimenting and fun.

[daveleeuk]

No extra lighting, just the on-board flash but you would need extension tubes or some form of magnification ie macro lens, close-up filter, Raynox 250, etc.
I don't know how close the 24-78 can focus but give it a try... it's all about experimenting and fun.

I might just do that - thanks!

[and.duncan]

Hi,

This thread has inspired me to have another go at water drops. Got my setup in the bathroom right now, I'm having trouble getting a crisp look like the ones here.

Setup is a 400D (Xti), 70-200 f/4 IS (IS turned off). Using the built-in flash as I have nothing else (yet).

Taking shots a little over 1.2m away, say 1.5m at 200mm. I tried f/4 initially and have now stopped down to f/11 in an effort to make my focusing less important. Shutter on 1/200th. The blur I'm getting really looks like motion blur to me, the base of the drop (impact zone) tends to be in focus, the rebound drop tends to look a little blurry.

I've tried to focus on what looks right in the view finder by waiting for a few drops and getting them to look sharp. I've also tried just fishing around a little.

I'm not taking the shots in *total* darkness. It's daylight and the blinds are closed but there is some light getting through. I really don't think theres enough at 1/200, f/11, ISO100 for the camera to pick up any ambient light though.

Oh, one other thing. I don't have these extension tubes being mentioned here... To my understanding they allow focusing on something closer than normal is that correct? If I'm happy to shoot from a further distance (within my lens' range) then I don't need one?

I'll go get a couple pics to upload. BBS :)

[randomgrafix]

Hi Duncan, That is motion blur so I think you should open the blinds and let more light in to obtain a faster shot. The on-board flash with act as a fill flash for some extra sharpness.
Extension tubes are needed for really close shots like the ones I have here... so maybe you should invest in some. I got my manual tubes on Ebay for $15US.
Your setup is just like mine except for the tubes. (Oh and my 70-200 is not IS... someday it will be... I hope)

[randomgrafix]

I really really like #3, in fact it's my new desktop background (hope you don't mind)!
They're all wonderful though, thanks for sharing!
Hey no probs BrewsterP, on one condition... send me a screen shot of how it looks on your desktop. If you want the full size pic just send me your email.

[randomgrafix]

Great job guys I love the fact you guys are experimenting with this stuff.
I inspires me as well.

[idofotos]

These are great guys, Quite a few years ago a friend did this with so equipment from Radio shack, he used a Rheostat timer & some device that the drop moved through, when it broke the beam the rheostat started the timer & you could adjust it forward & backwards
till it stopped the drop, This was all on film & he got some great results also, thought I would throw this out in case someone wants to try to build one, dont know if he has the plans any more

[randomgrafix]

I think I saw something like that somewhere on the net. Maybe on a Strobist site. The RadioShack thing sounds vaguely familiar.
Thnx for contributing. I'll look into it.