Please view LARGE on black (the small magnifying glass icon above this photo)!
I found a turkey feather today; doubtless dropped by one of the local toms that wander about the property... just what I needed to stoke the idea train!
Materials: feather, glitter, water, off-camera flash, camera, tripod.
Application: sprinkle feather with glitter (in this case, I used red, blue, green), add water drop, take about 50 shots from different angles with different f/stops and different flash angles.
Lighting provided by off-camera flash on rear left (almost pointed directly back at the camera). You can see the shadow cast by the droplet on this side, stretching to the right foreground.)
For those interested, here is a shot of my setup. I kept it VERY simple. I was having some issues with my hot shoe slave; and while I DO have a long pc cable, I didn't want to get it. So, with a 2-second exposure, there was plenty of time to press the "Test" button on the back of my flash while the shutter was open. So I would press the shutter release (it was on a 2-second timer so all camera shake would be gone by the time the shutter opened. I was also in preview mode so the mirror was up, creating even less shake; which is why the image is so clear), then the flash button on the flash. I tried it from many different angles. I keep the camera low as well so I can shorten the dof as much as possible. Give it a go if you like, you might be surprised by the results! http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g349/GrizzlysGhost/setup1of1-1_zpse9be632c.jpg
*Note: no photoshops were harmed in the making of this image, just a little tweak to lighting and a crop. I say this because there may be some out there who think they need "mad PS skillz" but I'm telling you, you do not. :)
I am now selling some of my prints!
http://aaron-aldrich.artistwebsites.com
Born in San Francisco, raised in NW Montana, traveled the world for 23... learn more
This is the most beautiful photograph that I have seen today! It's gorgeous! Pleased to hear that I don't have to learn loads of PS skills as well as how to improve my photography! :0)
@btorrey Thanks Brenda, me too! I had no idea how this would turn out (in fact, my earlier photos are much different), and only thought of it as "Elements" after posting it here :)
Aaron. I don't know what to say. It is stunning. This is ART!
And I so love how you generously tell what you did. But, who but you would have even thought of this!!
It just occurred to me. Could you take a shot of your set up? I am trying to get motivated in the cold here to set up something in the basement where I could experiment.
Wow -- really impressive, and I appreciate the guide to how you did it as well as the picture of the setup. Sounds like a challenging shot but a lot of fun to do.
I love this - the colours are so beautiful. The technicalities of how it was achieved are all greek to me as a complete novice, but I can still appreciate a beautiful shot!
I was about to offer you untold riches if I could have that glass droplet in my coloured glass collection. Problem being I don't have untold riches, and it isn't glass, but I love it anyway! Fav of course. (Should ask Ross if we can have separate fave folders for different 365ers...!)
I love this, and I enjoy your commentary on how you set up the shot. Gives me a little inspiration on finding or creating my own interesting photos at a time of year when some days it seems there are none!
@lynnb Thanks Lynn! I've done water drops on feathers before, but they are rather plain and I've been on a bokeh reflection kick of late, so I thought I'd add glitter and light. What it did inside the water drop was a complete surprise though :)
This is so great! Fav! I missed it somehow... I love the inclusion of the set up photo. The few pics I have done that had a set up, I took a pic so I'd remember what I did. Anyway...you are so creative and loved that end result!
Wow I missed this one Aaron - Awesome!!! I'm embarrased already Fav'ing every one of your shots. (you're gonna think I have a crush on you or something ;)
And I so love how you generously tell what you did. But, who but you would have even thought of this!!
FAV!