One of the most creative and fun types of photography is photographing water droplets. With a careful approach and patience, you can get simply brilliant pictures, besides, you will learn to understand the interdependence of shutter speed and aperture, and you will acquire useful skills in working with light. In order to photograph a drop of water, you need a good camera and the simplest props.
It is necessary
- - good camera;
- - tripod;
- - a container for water;
- - flash or table lamp;
- - package, plastic cup, water bottle;
- - colored background;
- - patience.
Instructions
Step 1
Choose a location for shooting, a regular table will do. In the background, place a background, preferably a solid color, so that the flash light is reflected better. Place a container on the table for dispensing drips, it can be a glass, a glass (possibly upside down), a saucer or even a basin.
Step 2
Place the flash to the side of the falling drops. The best option would be two professional flashes with a synchronizer, but if this is not possible for you, use powerful table lamps, just move them closer. Change the position of the light sources depending on the captured frames so as to achieve the best effect.
Step 3
Hang and secure a plastic bag, plastic cup, beverage bottle, or other suitable container over the table. Then make a small hole in it so that the water does not flow in a trickle, but drips at the desired speed.
Step 4
Set up the camera at the level of drops falling, and you can use a tripod or other fixation device (you can use the remote control for shooting). Set the camera to manual focus mode. Then place a stationary object, such as a pencil, where the drops fall. Alternatively, place an eraser or chewing gum on the bottom of the container and stick a ball-headed pin or toothpick into it. Aim and lock focus.
Step 5
To increase the depth of field, close the aperture down to F8 – F16, but note that the aperture values depend on the shutter speed, so try different values depending on your results.
Step 6
Set the shutter speed or shutter speed to 1/160, 1/200… 1/1000. The higher the speed, the better the freeze effect will be.
Step 7
If possible, turn on burst mode, and you will get more good shots. Do your best to increase your shooting speed: turn off noise reduction, make mirror lockup, etc.
Step 8
Start shooting the falling drops, while taking the picture at the moment when the drop is flying. Experiment with light, shutter speed, aperture setting. Do not lose patience, you may have to make many attempts before you are satisfied with the result.
