It seems as if I've been attempting this particular part of my project for weeks and weeks. It's become a personal challenge, and I so love a challenge!
I used a small plastic bag containing water suspended from an old adjustable reading lamp positioned over various containers of water. I've tried using a white bowl (drops don't show up), a black frying pan (this reflected the sky outside the conservatory and the window frames beautifully but not the drops), and a glass dish on a piece of striped tissue paper. Yellow food colouring looked dreadful so I tried blue.
I punctured the plastic bag with a small pair of nail scissors - disastrous move, water gushed everywhere. I then tried a needle which was much more successful. Unfortunately on several occasions the plastic bag took a nose dive into the container of water all on its own and made a real mess.
These pics are not razor sharp despite my best efforts at focusing the camera where I hoped the drop would fall. But I am so pleased with them - I had to put them up as I am like a dog with two tails, so happy to have nearly got there!
If anyone can please give me any advice on how to achieve the little 'crowns' on the water surface that the drop has disappeared into, I would be very grateful:) Thanks for looking!
You really know how to make a splash! Well done!! I wonder if a slightly thicker liquid might give you the little crowns. I often see them with splashes in milk. For something clear, maybe try mixing a little wall paper paste with water. Can give you some if you don't have any.
Well done! The EXIF data on the photo is missing, as I just wondered what your aperture was set at. My only experience with these things is using manual focus first on an item at exactly the place where the drop will fall (perhaps a ruler?) and a fairly forgiving depth of field (maybe f/8 or something like that) Hope this helps.
@peadar Thanks so much for your reply. I've got a problem with my camera as I can't change the date on it and it's doing some other rather strange things too. I've just checked on the settings. 250/f5.6 Manual focus but with a Macro screw on lens. I let some drops fall and placed a leaf where they'd fallen and tried to focus on that. Am still getting to grips with Manual focus. With the Macro lens you have to be right on top of the subject - perhaps I should have just used a normal kit lens? Thanks very much for your input, I will be trying again (and again) ...
Oh, well done.. the triptych is especially effective, with each section being different to the next.. i think it's very good.. i like the colours too..
will have to try this, one day..
@jorlam Thanks so much! I just felt that I was finally getting somewhere with this. Such a learning curve. Because I spent so long on it trying to get it just so, the water colour was getting deeper and deeper due to the amount of drops of blue added to the container ...
Fantastic. I tried your fruit dropping in a fish tank photos and you're right you do get very wet. I got a few usable shots, but usually I just missed- too soon or too late, so I'm in awe of yours.
@cmsch52 Thanks, and am so pleased you gave it a go. I missed loads of times. That's why some days I can just press the Burst button and take a few hundred shots. 1-2 per cent hopefully come out ok:)
Well done for persevering with this. I think you have done a great job. It's something that I would like to have a go at, but not really sure where to start. Thanks for your narrative on how you managed it
Well, I think you are smarter and more skilled than I am with this- I'd never have thought of that set-up and I get very frustrated with these types of shots, so I think your efforts here are great!!
Really cool collage. It is indeed a patience game and hundreds of pictures. It's been a long time since I played with water crowns and drops. I know that my first crown was achieved using a bridge camera (hence only auto focus) and shallow water. I was playing around using a spoon (March 2012).
@salza Thanks very much indeed Sally for your suggestions. I would never have thought of a spoon. I have had a few attempts and semi achieved the effect I was after but am nowhere near where I want to be. Will save this one for another day now!! Thanks again though, really appreciate your tips. Felicity
It's a long time since I've done a water droplet shot. I did manage to get some crowns once upon a time but then they eluded me again. The way I managed to get a crisp shot was with a high shutter speed, focusing on an object that you then take away, use a tripod and I think I also used the flash. Good luck with trying but you're definitely getting there xx
July 9th, 2017
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will have to try this, one day..
@peadar Thanks very much for your advice:)
@pyrrhula Thank you! I just don't like being beaten:)
Oh, the burst button, why didn't I think of that?