Water droplets

[Albert Street]

So after watching an episode of Time Warp the other day on the Discovery channel, I was inspired to photograph water droplets. I'm not totally pleased with these... trying to trip the shutter, drop the water, and trigger the flashes perfectly led to 95% of the shots being total crap. (Almost all were OOF). But, I did a couple I'm fairly happy with. I plan on doing this again, but with some sort of system set up to consistently drop the water in the same spot.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5605/water1ki1.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/7168/water2hh0.jpg


EDIT: Just realized the EXIF isn't intact for these photos. They were both shot at f/7.1 with a shutter speed of 2.5 sec. at ISO 100. I shot in a dark room to kill the ambient and used the flash durations to freeze the droplets.

[usingthejohn]

^^^^
LOL...i saw that same episode, and got inspired to do the same. I just have to setup some sort of rig to do so.

I like the first one a lot..

[aebrown]

I really think they look amazing! What was your set up for this? Plus, I just like the looks of water droplets :)

[RobNYC]

love the colors...

[Violator]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=460544

That's a VERY old thread that has some of my ideas PLUS some VERY GOOD ideas from others.
I hop some of it helps.

[Violator]

I forgot to admire your shots. SORRY.
I love the colors and the 2 you posted came out very COOL.
Once you find a way to get the drops to fall in the same spot, it gets easier.
.....but the bad news is, there are still going to be FLAT water shots....
,.......but the GOOD news = it's digital - just delete the duds (all the while thinking about how lucky we are to see the results right away - instead of having to wait for the developing)

[Albert Street]

I really think they look amazing! What was your set up for this? Plus, I just like the looks of water droplets :)
Thanks, for the setup I had a Vivitar 285 camera left with a shoot through umbrella set to 1/16th power - and another 285 high camera right shot into a black umbrella, also at 1/16 - I'm not entirely sure if diffusing the light was necessary though.

To get the colors I used a combination of gels and colored paper placed underneath the glass bowl.

I forgot to admire your shots. SORRY.
I love the colors and the 2 you posted came out very COOL.
Once you find a way to get the drops to fall in the same spot, it gets easier.
.....but the bad news is, there are still going to be FLAT water shots....
,.......but the GOOD news = it's digital - just delete the duds (all the while thinking about how lucky we are to see the results right away - instead of having to wait for the developing)
Haha yea there's no way I could have done this if I didn't shoot digital. Due to the massive inconsistencies of my method I had to take almost 500 shots to get two that I was pleased with...

[rrdjserv@earthlink.net]

Nice photos, Albert. I use an eyedropper that is supported by a board with a hole in it. The drops fall in the same place giving me consistant focusing. Thanks for sharing. --Rick

[aebrown]

Thanks for the info! Again, Awesome!

[funk1196]

how did you split the colors down the middle in the first shot? how did they not.. blend together to make a pinkish purple like in the 2nd photo?

[PlayersZ28]

excellent! I like the colors under the water surface.