Curve_in Loc: Virginia

This is my fourth session with liquid pictures. After doing a bunch of reading, I made a few changes:

1. Wireless flash so I could fire at the background behind the drip/splash
2. Camera angle closer to the level of the pooled liquid
3. Colored background
4. Textured background
5. Drip from bottle rather than the faucet or straw
6. Setup on a table rather than in the sink

I was pleasantly surprise at how little water I needed for the shots. I hung the bottle from a lamp arm which got the bottle over the center of the table. I used foam floor mats for the background. I think the bumpy texture made the reflections more interesting.
The drip was the hardest part. I put a hole in the bottle using a needle, but the first very thin bottle wouldn't drip consistently. I switched to a empty orange juice bottle and that was much better. I think a IV drip bag would be perfect for next time.
I use one flash for most of the pictures. I had it off to the side which made the left side of the image a bit dark. Then I added a second flash with a diffuser and that was just right.

Nikon D7000
Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 AIS
SB600 @ 1/64 power
SB28 @ 1/32 power
Yongnuo RF-603 wireless triggers
Tripod

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Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

Fantastic shots, Kervin, and thank so much for sharing your technique!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

To follow the progress -
Catching liquid drops http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-271261-1.html
Splash progress second session http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-275507-1.html
Drips and splashes third session http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-275887-1.html
and this post

Curve_in Loc: Virginia

Thanks for posting the links!

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St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Thanks for posting your progress. S-

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Fascinating, Kervin. Your results are good & thanks for sharing the information. :D :D

Haveago Loc: Swindon, Wiltshire. UK.

Well done on yr technique & the shots. Thanks for sharing.

Baz

Curve_in Loc: Virginia

On timing the shots

For me, a steady, constant drip got me 20% crowns, 20% misses and the rest were mildly interesting to rather boring ripples, mid air drops and upward columns. I timed pressing the shutter around the sound of the drip. When the flash goes off, I could see a glimpse of the shot. From that, I made adjustment of pressing the button. The first three sessions, I used a wired release. This time, I used my finger on the shutter button.

pjhinde Loc: Euless Tx

Thank you for the shots and the details! Need to try this sometime.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

:thumbup:

Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.

great job....I have found also that less water or should I say shallow water seems to make for a better splash.....keep it up , only can get better and better.....Tom

larryzplace Loc: Elk Grove Village Illinois

Very nice Kevin.... I have been experimenting with the same type of photos... The IV bag definitely helps... They are available from Ebay for about $15 or so... They have adjustments for flow that helps you time your drops... I have a Nero lightning detector that will fire a flash when you use it with a laser pointer as the light source and allow the drip to pass thru and trigger the flash.... The nero lets you set the delay and can produce some nice shots... Best of luck and keep playing :-D :-D

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Well done, Kervin!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

As a side -
diy water drop photography http://www.google.com/#q=diy+water+drop+photography
diy water drop photography kit http://www.google.com/#q=diy+water+drop+photography+kit

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Love the drop shots, Kervin. And all the info. I haven't tried this in quite a while -- you have inspired me to give it another go!