Water Drops

So, I did my first real attempt at capturing some water drops a few weeks ago. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the results considering its a first try - but I saw some opportunities to improve. Please take a look and let me know what you think I bombed on...I'm going to post three shots each set up and shot differently (but with the same settings). I used a mix of reflective surfaces and gels as well as a variety of flash positions. You will notice some odd distortion at the bottom of 1 and 3, that is actually shot through the rim of the glass container I was using, hence the distortion. You can also see it in the background of 2 and 3. I will be using a different set up next time so that can be easily avoided for future shots. I thought about trying to remove it; but decided to leave it as a reminder to plan better.

All shot with the 18-55 Kit lens and the Canon XSI lit with a Sigma EF 530 DG Super
1/200 ƒ/9.0 55mm ISO 100

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions if it helps.

First:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/53541218@N04/8​008138739/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/53541218@N04/8​014153641/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/53541218@N04/8​014146729/

Nice start Bassun - I like #1 the best and I like the two tone nature of it.


I suggest you don't shoot through the glass if you can help it. If you must, ensure its even. I use a high quality wine glass if I have to or a good quality fish tank. But any non optical glass you put in front of your lens can lower the quality.

I would also remove the stray water drops from the splash - cleaner is always better. This is the same in the water too, where you have reflections and, depending on your container, can contain floaties.

How are you timing the drops - by technology or anticipation?

Pelooyen -- yeah, I will be using a different container next time, lol. I wasn't shooting directly "through" the glass, but the distortion you see at the bottom is the rim which did end up being shot through at the bottom of the shot.

The stray drop removal is a fantastic idea and I don't know why I didn't remove at least most of them... good call.

As for timing, I hung a waterbag and shot using a release and anticipation. Once I got my timing, it wasn't too hard to get interesting splashes.

Bassun wrote in post #15115990
As for timing, I hung a waterbag and shot using a release and anticipation. Once I got my timing, it wasn't too hard to get interesting splashes.

Anticipation is ok (and cheap) but I would love to get the automatic droppers and remote triggers to get Corrie's effects
http://www.LiquidDropA​rt.com/

I like water drops. I set up for it once and spent hours on it. Had fun and learned a few things as well.

Think I'll try it again one day.

I really like the first one.

pelooyen wrote in post #15116033
Anticipation is ok (and cheap) but I would love to get the automatic droppers and remote triggers to get Corrie's effects
http://www.LiquidDropA​rt.com/

Yeah, her work is outstanding. The timing to get not just one splash, but a drop splashing off of a splash is crazy. Lots of time and effort to get the look and timing. But, if you take the time and spend the money ... the shots are there... she and a few others have proven it. But for now, I'm just playing and learning it...maybe one day, lol.

They look well for a first go , mine were awful at first , iv got a uk made version of the time machine coming next month plus 2 more flashes so I can't wait to start getting real good results with proper timing and sizes of multiple drops .

Thanks... It was a learning lesson, that's for sure. I hope to take what I've learned from the shoot, here, and other places and apply them next time. After all, your best shot is always your next shot!