Water drops. How can I improve?

CaveDweller

CaveDweller

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Paul
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Basically as the title says. The pictures below is from my first attempt. I shot it by bouncing the off camera flash off a bit of paper instead of another I saw by using a glass bowl, mainly because I don't have a glass bowl lol. I'd like to know a few things on how I could go about it differently if someone could help me out with what they use, and just improve in general.

1: How could I go about having more colours in the image? I would use food dye but I only have gel food colouring and it doesn't mix with water that well just by dripping it (the gel dye is quite thick).
2: What sort of containers do people use to catch the drops? Do some effect the drops more than others?
3: What can I use to release the drops without spending a fortune on fancy electronic gear and timers. Are there any simple DIY builds? I just used a nappy bag full of water and poked a hole in, but I want something with a bit more control over the drops.

Any other tips would be appreciated. I will work on my composition better next time but I'm still pleased with my first attempt. I'm keen to learn, practice makes perfect right?



 
Hi, I'm new to this too. I've been using a glass lid from a Pyrex dish. I've also got an off camera flash and been putting coloured cellophane over the front to change colours. Milk works quite well for this.
I'm still using a plastic bag suspended on a tripod over the sink, like you a bit more control over the drops would be good, will be interested to read any replies.
Good pictures Paul for a first go.
 
I think the simplest (and maybe cheapest too) way to control the drops is probably using a burette.

The simplest ones used a clamp on a rubber connection tube to regulate the flow and these would be fiddly to operate for water droplet photography. The better ones have a tap which can be set in any position and as I recall from my A level Chemistry days can be made to provide a steady stream of drops. As the amount of liquid in the burette reduces over time the drop rate does reduce but I don't think that will be a problem.

There are a few burettes for sale on Ebay.

Dave
 
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This is the set up I have recently built. It consists of a thin brass tube soldered into an old fruit can. The silicon tube and plastic valve came courtesy of the local aquatic suppliers and the tray is an oil drain tray from Halfords. It is very easy to control the speed of the drops with the valve and by inserting different diameters of brass tube at the nozzle, I can control the drop size.
 
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I do it very similar to above using gear from the local pet shop and a paint roller tray, I've had a few collisions with having a constant stream of drop liquid then throttling it back a little, holding a jug under the flow pre focusing the camera having it in mirror lock-up mode and as I move the jug hit the shutter (miss loads and hit 1) I also use 2 X SB-900's on 1/32 power.

I hope this makes sense. (plenty video's on youtube)
 
Cheers. It's mainly the kits I'm interested in as I want to start having more of a change of getting a few collisions. Tonight I spent 3hours at it and not one, plenty other nice shots but no collisions lol. I'll have a look out for that valve as I have plenty containers and piping.
 
Yellowbelly said:
View attachment 1360 View attachment 1361

This is the set up I have recently built. It consists of a thin brass tube soldered into an old fruit can. The silicon tube and plastic valve came courtesy of the local aquatic suppliers and the tray is an oil drain tray from Halfords. It is very easy to control the speed of the drops with the valve and by inserting different diameters of brass tube at the nozzle, I can control the drop size.
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Where would I be able to get those brass nozzles you use? and what are they actually called so I know what to ask for? lol ta
 
Hi

They look good to me heres my Heath Robinson set upshallow dishes produce crowns deeper water/liquid for the rest


Milk Crown Splash by Just Daves Photos, on Flickr

End shot by John


Water Droplets by EOS 400D, on Flickr

Set Up Heath Robinson Style :lol:

4097970184_e22cc41550_o.jpg


4097970124_12e39d595d_o.jpg


4097212723_4b9ff31879_o.jpg


Dave
 
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CaveDweller said:
Where would I be able to get those brass nozzles you use? and what are they actually called so I know what to ask for? lol ta
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The "nozzles" are just short pieces of varying diameters of brass tube. To achieve smaller openings, I have just soldered smaller diameters into larger diameters. You can buy tubing such as this from model supply shops.
 
Yellowbelly said:
The "nozzles" are just short pieces of varying diameters of brass tube. To achieve smaller openings, I have just soldered smaller diameters into larger diameters. You can buy tubing such as this from model supply shops.
Click to expand...

Ahh ok, cheers. Going to have a hunt around the shops tomorrow.
 
Vikingblue said:
Great pic! How did you set the focus on the camera as you seem to have the whole drop in focus? I've had issues in the past where part of the drop (on a crown shape) has been in focus but others parts aren't.
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Cheers. I just focused where the drop was hitting the water and hoped for the best lol. I think because it is only a drop and it's small that it stayed within the DOF, but as you can see by the crown below because it is wider it's not quite all in focus. Going to have another go at it tonight. I tried it last night and the collisions I did get were out of focus even with aperture set to f/22. I read somewhere this morning to focus slightly in front of where the drop hits the water, so I am going to try that instead tonight and see what happens. I don't have a proper macro lens, I just used my 55-250mm kit lens with a 2x close up filter screwed on the front. Even on low apertures the DOF is really small with it so I'm finding it a bit tricky. I want a proper macro lens at some point.
 
1: How could I go about having more colours in the image?
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White Balance set to Tungsten will make your image blue (but you've managed a great blue already). The other thing I've used is putting different colour clothes in front of the card I'm bouncing the flash off, so e.g. a red tea towel in front of the card creates purple, if you're on tungsten wb etc.
 
Vikingblue said:
White Balance set to Tungsten will make your image blue (but you've managed a great blue already). The other thing I've used is putting different colour clothes in front of the card I'm bouncing the flash off, so e.g. a red tea towel in front of the card creates purple, if you're on tungsten wb etc.
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It was set to Tungsten for those two pictures:thumbs: Since those pictures I now have Magic Lantern on my 550D and I could sit here all day customising the WB to different colours. I'm after a number of different colours in the one image, I'll have a hunt around the house for different stuff to use. I know I have a tie die t-shirt somewhere lol.
 
You've started me off again Paul, today I have found some old fish tank tubing and that's now hanging out of the bottom of a plastic drink bottle. I know I have some clamps for the pipe somewhere, more hunting for them later :)
 
boolean said:
You've started me off again Paul, today I have found some old fish tank tubing and that's now hanging out of the bottom of a plastic drink bottle. I know I have some clamps for the pipe somewhere, more hunting for them later :)
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:thumbs: I've ordered some tubing and clamps off ebay for less than £5. Going to make a wooden frame like above whilst I have some scrap wood laying around, and before the wifes moans for me to bin it...
 
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