More water/paint droplet shots

[Swaffs]

After reading the info ot the Strobist site
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-photograph-water-drops-with-one.html
I had to have a play...

First, setup:

#1
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/Droplet_1838.jpg
I used a simple length of fishtank hose pipe and syphoned it out of a pint glass, and clamped it to control the drip speed.

The flash was fired by pocket wizard onto some coloured card, and I placed other coloured card around the ares to give different reflections.

I had the 5d tethered to the laptop so the kids could trigger the camera and see exactly what was being captured. we didn't use any clever triggers, just pushed the button when we thought it would hit.
It was very addictive!

First session was done with just water dripping into water...
#2
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/Droplet_0194.jpg

#3
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/Droplet_0105.jpg

#4
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/Droplet_0153.jpg

The next session was with white paint mixed into the water, and we dropped food colouring into the paint! This produced some stunning effects!
#5
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/IMG_0034.jpg

#6
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/Droplet_0005.jpg

#7
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/IMG_9778.jpg

We tried dropping a cherry into it, that was damn hard to time.. and also started getting messy!

#8
http://www.swaffs.co.uk/images/2009/RS9Droplet050609/Droplet_0062.jpg

As ever.. love to hear your thoughts / Critique.

[Sp00ks]

Very nice series. It makes me want to break all that stuff out again. I really like the orange and the next to last shot. Good job.

[benny g]

man... the orange is off the chart!!!!

awesome photo. i did some the other weekend... great fun..

[CamDiver]

What a great way to get the kids into it too.....

Shots are amazing, well done.
Cheers,
Mark.

[mattograph]

Very nicely done. Great contribution!

[mattograph]

Where did you get the siphon?

[ATP]

amazing shots. how do you set it up to your lap top? I wanna get that set up so cause its a pain aways doing it from the cam

[Swaffs]

Thanks for all your comments. My personal favourites are #3 #5 #7

Siphon was me sucking down the tube!

I just used the Canon EOS utility and selected remote camera operation. (I wasn't using live view)

[CamDiver]

amazing shots. how do you set it up to your lap top? I wanna get that set up so cause its a pain aways doing it from the camWell I guess you must be using a Canon, as per the name of the Forums :)

With the camera when you buy it you get the CD with the associated software. The EOS Utility will allow you to run your camera from your laptop. Connect via USB, open the program et voila.

You can then also open Image Browser, on the same disc, and use the control panel to really set critical focus.

All cool applications.

Cheers,
Mark.

[CronoDL]

Very cool. I love the idea with the white paint and food coloring. #5 and 6 have some great colors.

[john123]

Outstanding shots .I love #6 and #7.
For a relatively simple setup you got great results.
How did you manage to get three colors in there.

[Swaffs]

Thanks for all the comments.


Outstanding shots .I love #6 and #7.
For a relatively simple setup you got great results.
How did you manage to get three colors in there.

If you mean the blue/red/white

It's a blue card backgroud with flash bouncing off it. White paint with a red drop landing in it.
I think I may have had a ungelled flash coming in from the right on that one.

[woodsj6]

WOW, those are absolutely awesome!

[Swaffs]

WOW, those are absolutely awesome!

Thanks, I really enjoyed taking them.

[KenVP]

This was a great set and a great idea. I think I may have to give this a go........

[LITTLEL]

think there fantastic.. # 2,3, 4 and 5 for me.. love it.

[john123]

Thanks for all the comments.




If you mean the blue/red/white

It's a blue card backgroud with flash bouncing off it. White paint with a red drop landing in it.
I think I may have had a ungelled flash coming in from the right on that one.

Yea ,that is what i was asking.
Thanks for the explaination.

[palaima]

very nice series, how do you get the focus so exellent?? Do you use a large f-number?

[jgrussell]

Great series, and especially helpful in seeing your setup.

[Swaffs]

very nice series, how do you get the focus so exellent?? Do you use a large f-number?

I used manual focus, and held a straw where the drop was falling. Live view was handy for this.

I then used about f/18 to try and keep everything in focus.

[Swaffs]

Great series, and especially helpful in seeing your setup.

Glad to be able to offer something back to this great forum.

[palaima]

I thought so, large f-number. I like to use f4.5-8, to get the best isolation :) but it is tricky to get the focus just spot on :)

[DRamsay7S]

Well I guess you must be using a Canon, as per the name of the Forums :)

With the camera when you buy it you get the CD with the associated software. The EOS Utility will allow you to run your camera from your laptop. Connect via USB, open the program et voila.

You can then also open Image Browser, on the same disc, and use the control panel to really set critical focus.

All cool applications.

Cheers,
Mark.


Very useful to know!! However, I bought mine second hand from my mother in law and it didn't have CD with it :( any idea what the software is called? I have looked online and there are SO many things I could download!! Do you know which is it? Thank you! :)

[Swaffs]

http://software.canon-europe.com/search.asp

try here.
I think it's called EOS capture

[DRamsay7S]

Thank you :D

[Swaffs]

I thought so, large f-number. I like to use f4.5-8, to get the best isolation :) but it is tricky to get the focus just spot on :)

As the background is clear, isolation/bokeh was less important, subject focus was critical.

Of course that meant the flash needed higher power as well.

[Cyclop]

Exceptional stunning series, well done. Quite an elaborate setup to obtain captures.

[DaveH76]

#5 would make an excellent desktop wallpaper :)
V. nice shots.

[cgatto]

Perfectly executed waterdrops. Looks fantastic!

[jdfotos]

Great shots, any chance you can post your settings / lens info etc for a noob ? Cheers