| Water droplets are a fascinating photography | | | | opposite the flash. I found that not doing this |
| subject but some people say that it has become | | | | resulted in under exposed images. |
| a little cliched, but I for one totally disagree. Each | | | | - Camera - set this to manual mode and a |
| image can be unique and there are countless | | | | shutter speed of roughly 180. this isn't too |
| variations that can be tried for some amazing | | | | important as with these kind of shots the flash |
| effects. So, if your itching to do something | | | | duration is now your effective shutter speed. For |
| different with your camera indoors when the | | | | focusing, place the plastic ruler where the drops |
| weather is not agreeable outside, then read on | | | | will fall into the container of water and focus on |
| for some tips on how to take these kind of | | | | this. The aperture setting really depends on the |
| shots. | | | | type of lens you are using but basically you want |
| Capturing water droplets is not as hard as you | | | | the water drops and splashes to be in sharp |
| may think. you don't need modified flashes or | | | | focus with the background out of focus to blur |
| timing equipment and you certainly don't need to | | | | out any potentially distracting objects. For larger |
| take several hundred shots to get a few | | | | macro lenses of 100mm (which I use) I set the |
| acceptable ones. If you do a bit of pre-planning | | | | aperture to f16. this gives me sharpness a couple |
| and setup carefully there is no reason why you | | | | of centimeters just in front to a couple of |
| can't get some stunning shots with that "wow!" | | | | centimeters just behind the point of focus. Focus |
| factor. | | | | on the plastic ruler and use aperture preview to |
| The Equipment you will need | | | | get an idea of the depth of field, if it's not to your |
| - Tripod - This is really essentiaI and if you don't | | | | liking adjust it and recheck. |
| have one I suggest you go and buy one! | | | | Taking the Shots |
| - Cable or remote release - This is pretty much | | | | Once everything is setup and ready to go, |
| essential too as it will be very difficult to control | | | | practice dropping some water drops where the |
| the droplets and have another hand on the | | | | plastic ruler was. Once your happy you can hit the |
| camera shutter at the same time. Cable releases | | | | right spot keep the cable release in one hand and |
| are so cheap and useful in all kinds of | | | | the dropper in the other. Startdropping water |
| photography that I highly recommend getting one. | | | | drops into the container and fire off a few shots |
| - External flash - Preferably off camera to control | | | | before the drop hits the water and after it hits |
| the direction of light. | | | | the water. If you have a high speed shutter |
| - Reflector - To stop under exposure. A piece of | | | | mode on your camera then enable this and fire |
| white card is fine. | | | | the shutter repeatedly in bursts as the drops fall. |
| - Macro or telephoto lens - To allow you to fill the | | | | Using this method you will be suprised at how |
| frame but stay a safe distance from water | | | | many good shots you actually get. |
| splashes | | | | Variations |
| You will also need a large plastic tub or container | | | | Other things to try are food dyes to colour the |
| for the water and a small dropper or small plastic | | | | water and water drops, dropping pieces of ice |
| bottle with a fine nozzle. | | | | into the water and small pebbles. you could also |
| Setting up the Equipment | | | | have a picture in the background behind the |
| - External flash - Set this to manual mode and set | | | | container which will then be reflected in the drops |
| the output to 1/32 or lower. The output setting | | | | as they fall! The list of what you can try is really |
| doesn't affect the amount of light from the flash | | | | endless! |
| but rather the flash duration which allows you to | | | | I highly recommend that you give this technique a |
| freeze the motion. | | | | go, it's great fun and with some imagination you |
| - Reflector - Use a reflector or white card placed | | | | will get some really stunning images. |