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Water droplets, an exercise in frustration...

© Elaine Hessler

Water droplets, an exercise in frustration...

Uploaded: January 26, 2014

Description

ISO 100, 60mm, f/22, 1/200, off camera flash

Exif: F Number: 25, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/200 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 100, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 60.00 mm, Model: NIKON D5100

Comments

Elaine Hessler January 26, 2014

Hi-I gave this a try today. I ended up manually dropping the water (or soap) into the glass. The baggie didn't work well because the drops were too many and too little.

So here's a question for you all. The sync speed on my camera with flash is 1/200 sec. Can't go any faster than that or you see the curtain. Any ideas how I can get this sharper? Maybe I should have increased my flash (it was turned down). I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this for some reason.

Here are four more-we dropped dishwashing soap in some of them-this gave some cool shapes. The green drop was food coloring. How do those people get the "crown" shapes?

I am surprised I didn't burn out my flash... #1561106

Jeff E Jensen January 26, 2014

Actually, the key is to trick your camera. Shoot at a slower shutter speed, I was using 1/100, and turn your flash to manual and turn the power down as low as it will go. Should be something like 1/64 or 1/128 power. #10956811

Jeff E Jensen January 26, 2014

Also, a little Jet Dry in the water changes the consistency and slows down the drops. Milk is also a good option. It's thicker, so the drops are slowed down as well. #10956813

Dale Hardin January 26, 2014

I actually like the first image with it's "volcano" look. The swirly designs on the backdrop are distracting, though, but easily fixed. Also, You could probably open the aperture so the low flash output would provide more light. #10956872

Rita K. Connell level-classic January 27, 2014

nice job Elaine I think they are all very interesting my favorite is the green drop the only thing I think it needs a level adjustment lighting it up. #10957426

Peter W. Marks January 27, 2014

All very interesting and I have to say you guys have waaaaay more patience than I have in trying all this cool stuff. The technical responses are most informative too. #10957462

Teresa H. Hunt January 27, 2014

I love the red vortex in the original post. And the green drop is cool.

I'd like to try water drops someday . . . when I have time . . . Ha ha ha! #10957936

Sherran Andersen level-classic January 27, 2014

These are cool... I tried this... not an easy thing to do. Think I got one out of about 50 I was happy with. #10957945

Peter W. Marks January 28, 2014

Sherran, "....got one out of about 50". that highlights my other problem besides impatience. I am still stuck in the '60s and and every time I press the shutter I think I have just blown another expensive frame on the roll of Extachrome and haven't even sent it off for developing yet! What's that? You can delete digital images and don't have to buy a new card every time it is filled?
#10958229

Kristin Duff January 28, 2014

I like the volcano look and I appreciate all the advise on how to do this! I want to try it one afternoon when life slows down a little. good one you for tackling it Elaine #10958357

Elaine Hessler January 28, 2014

Thanks everyone. I am going to give this another try, so right now, I don't think I'll clean these up. I was trying a colored background because if you do it right, the colors show through the water. I didn't have things positioned right, so it is what it is.

Jeff, I think I'll try again using the bottom of the glass-I am wondering if I'll get the crowns that way. I'll also try the Jet dry too. And I have a syringe now too.

So I am still confused why the green drop is not sharp. Jeff, you mentioned turning down the flash and slow the shutter speed. I understand that the flash will freeze the water, but why would slowing the shutter speed help? I also noticed that one of your images had a shutter speed of 1/4000 sec. Why did you do this?

I'd appreciate any input-I don't know why I don't understand this concept. #10958785

Beth Spencer January 28, 2014

Elaine, I like these they are so difficult to do. I like the colors in the green one. I used some IV tubing the day I did mine. I spent a whole afternoon outside and only got a couple I liked. I do like the advise that you are getting and I hope I can remember some of it.
#10958814

Debbie E. Payne January 28, 2014

I think the volcano-looking one is AWESOME. I think you are on your way with this technique. I haven't even started. #10958948

Anthony L. Mancuso January 29, 2014

Nice job Elaine..I like the original vortex post..

I haven't done water drop shots in awhile but I would guess that I would use max sync speed to reduce ambient light exposure, small aperture for the same reason and for more DOF, and as much flash power as it takes to get proper exposure at f22.

The green drop may blurred from camera shake because the rest of the image is not all that sharp either..were you using a tripod or handholding? Or it could be do too slow shutter speed. #10959498

Elaine Hessler January 29, 2014

That's what I would have thought about the settings, but Jeff is saying to slow down the shutter speed and decrease the flash output. I'd like to understand that reasoning...

Yes, I did notice that about the green drop. The camera was on a tripod and I used a remote to trigger the shutter. Weird how the rest of the water is sharp. #10959737

Dale Hardin January 29, 2014

Elaine, decreasing the flash output works because the lower output means the flash is on for a shorter time. And if the flash is the only light that the camera captures, it will stop the action.

I don't know why Jeff suggested a slower shutter speed, because it would have no effect other then letting in more ambient light, which you don't want for stop action.

As far as how much light you get, remember that the flash is very much affected by the inverse square law. #10959776

Elaine Hessler January 29, 2014

I completely understand everything you stated. I'll try the lower flash output next time.

Jeff-pls explain the slower shutter speed when you have a minute. Thx! #10959833

Jeff E Jensen January 29, 2014

Dale is right about the flash settings.

There's not going to be a huge difference between 1/200 and 1/100 and like Dale said, the biggest difference would be the ambient light. #10959947


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