Water Drops Thread

[Clix Pix]

No tears, though! It didn't hurt all that much, thank goodness!

Yep, I'm getting there with this stuff, but it is taking me longer than I would have expected. I like a good challenge, even though I do sometimes get really frustrated, too!

 

[iamdlewis]

A setup suggestion. Can you flip the tripod center column so that the camera is setup between the legs? This should make shooting straight down over the drop easier. If you think that you will do more of this sort of thing something like a "SLIK Creator’s Series: Sliding Arm" would be good to pick up. I only got one after I took greater interest in doing more of this type of thing and it has simplified setting stuff up.

Yes watch those edges, I've cut the joints on the cheapo glass I have a few times.

 

[Deleted Member 5003]

A setup suggestion. Can you flip the tripod center column so that the camera is setup between the legs? This should make shooting straight down over the drop easier. If you think that you will do more of this sort of thing something like a "SLIK Creator’s Series: Sliding Arm" would be good to pick up. I only got one after I took greater interest in doing more of this type of thing and it has simplified setting stuff up.

Yes watch those edges, I've cut the joints on the cheapo glass I have a few times.

Yes agree a horizontally extensible arm is best for locating the camera vertically above the platten and bottom image with a remote or cable remote to operate the shutter. Also ensuring there are no aircon or other sources of drafts or vibration around, in a home environment, to avoid shaking the water drops.

 

[Clix Pix]

Thank you! So far I haven't used my tripod at all, I have shot everything handheld, but yes, my faithful Gitzo does have a center post which can be switched around so that the camera can be suspended between the legs. I've never done this, but it does sound like a good approach when shooting this kind of image.

Finger is healing up fine, thank goodness!

 

[iamdlewis]

Been mixing things up a little. Also looking for some better subject objects.

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/4 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 8 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/125 sec
• ISO 250

 

[iamdlewis]

More messing around with seeds, feathers, and water drops. Building some ideas but need to find the right subjects. Will say that I do really like the Origami Paper as slight movements in the light give different color reflections.

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro (SEL50M28)
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/8 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro (SEL50M28)
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/3 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro (SEL50M28)
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/20 sec
• ISO 250

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

very cool!

 

[iamdlewis]

Tried so many drops it was just a glass of water and some soap. Next time I try this going to use a smaller glass which will hopefully provide more light. These look better smaller than zoomed in.

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/30 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/5
• 1/125 sec
• ISO 6400

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/125 sec
• ISO 6400

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/5
• 1/125 sec
• ISO 6400

 

[Clix Pix]

Finally got back to experimenting some more with this stuff; tried a different setup which I think will be safer when it comes to handling the glass and so
on, but am still looking through my photo archives to find images which really are well-suited to this kind of project.

One from yesterday:

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 1/200 sec
• ISO 6400

 

[iamdlewis]

Been a while since I've done any of these and these are also not recent but will probably pick up this again as the days get shorter

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 4 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/11
• 1.6 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro (SEL50M28)
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/8 sec
• ISO 250

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro (SEL50M28)
• 50.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 2 sec
• ISO 250

 

[Clix Pix]

These are terrific, especially the last one!

Like you, I haven't done anything much with water drops over the past couple of months; too many potential photos to look for and capture outdoors! I'm figuring that probably once the weather turns really chilly and the days are shorter, that's when I'll get back to doing more indoors shots.

 

[iamdlewis]

So now that we are into the less enjoyable weather period.

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/13
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 400

This one I need to find a better way to tell what is actually in focus. Next time will give a go without the extension tubes.

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/13
• 1/250 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Clix Pix]

Yep! Was just thinking about this today as we were having a dreary, chilly and rainy day......Winter is really setting in and over the next couple of months I'll be having fun exploring what I can do with the camera and drops of water ...... Your images are inspiring!

 

[iamdlewis]

Water drops with food coloring in oil. Was just messing around to see if I could get the drops to layer in the oil and what different water colors would look like. Will try more of this with maybe different types of oil. Using an image seems to clearly add interest.

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/10 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/14
• 1/2 sec
• ISO 800

 

[iamdlewis]

This is water in an oil base

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/15 sec
• ISO 800

• ILCE-7RM4
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/4
• 1/15 sec
• ISO 800

 

[brphotographycanada]

I was misting my Boston fern this morning and noticed the sun catching the droplets. Perfect for my new macro lens!

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/100 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/100 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-7RM5
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• 90.0 mm
• ƒ/2.8
• 1/100 sec
• ISO 500

 

[iamdlewis]

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/13 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/13 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-7RM4
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
• 400.0 mm
• ƒ/10
• 1/13 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Piranha]

When it comes to using a water-drop to focus a subject, I use the technique shown in my attached photograph. At the apex of the splash, a water drop separates from the column and provides a perfect lens. In this case, because of the geometry of the Saltire (Scottish flag), the water column captured an attractive, symmetrical image of it.