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View Full Version : Water droplet photography without flash.

Brypan
27th of June 2009 (Sat), 16:02
Anybody have an idea on how to take pictures of water droplets without an off camera flash? I can't afford a camera flash right now, but is there any other way? I am trying to bounce strong lights off a white sheet of paper, but it does not seem to work. The picture is always really underexposed, and I can't lower the shutter speed because the water drops move to fast, and can't lower the aperture because then I would lose the whole droplet in focus (and opening the lens wide open still dosen't get it light enough). ISO is already at 1600. Any suggestions?
Hinson
1st of July 2009 (Wed), 14:11
Get a big spot light from your local dyi store and try that. You need a lot of light to be able to shoot at high speed, low ISO and small aperture.
Brypan
2nd of July 2009 (Thu), 22:18
I have a big halogen light from my lightbox, but it make the water too bright on one side if I aim it at the water, and if I aim it a white piece of paper to reflect into the water, nothing happens really. Its as if the light bounces everywhere except where I want it too. Maybe if I shoot is a clear glass container with a bright flishlight on the ground, pointing into the glass to light up all the water, not just a side.
JWitmer
19th of August 2009 (Wed), 17:04
I made a 3'x3' cardboard box with an open face, placed a tray of water, and dropped water from a hole in the top of the box from a water bottle with a tack hole in it and just used my on-camera flash. I dont even think I used flash on some, just sunlight. They aren't too great, but I think had decent results:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/jwrm315/DropSplash.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/jwrm315/WaterDroplet.jpg
Joseph Garza
21st of August 2009 (Fri), 10:58
Just off the top of my head.

Find a spot with plenty of light. The simple fact is that you obviously need more light. Grab a piece of cardboard (maybe tore from a box) wrap it in aluminum foil. Prop it up and reflect light onto your modeled subject. Create your own lighting within your work space by any means you can image. This is a very realistic make shift for someone without the money to go purchase equipment out of the budget. I have been there before I know!

"Your only limitation is your own imagination!" -I dont know but I use it often-