Drops with a twist!

Mark Edell

Stuck inside for a few weeks because of bad weather was starting to grind on me. I decided to make the best of it and use the studio (spare bed room) I set up. I have done and seen both still drop shots with flowers in them and drop into water shots but I have never seen both in the same shot. Here is my first attempt. Let me tell you, this is not easy to set up or do and it takes a lot of patience but it sure is fun!

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Thanks for looking!

GoofBckt

WOW!! Those are amazing!! I hate to say, I wouldn't have the patience for that. lol

Mark Edell

Thanks Carrie

BradfordBenn

Very cool. So how did you do these? I really like the flower in the drop.

Mark Edell

Thanks Brad,
I used a large clear bowl for the water and one of my wife's flower arrangements as a backdrop. I took one of the flowers and wrapped the stem with floral wire so I could bend and position the flower in the exact place I wanted it. I then took about 3 feet of aquarium tubing and wrapped the entire length of it with more wire. I tapped the tube to the top of a second tripod and positioned one end over the bowl with the end bent upward so the water would not drain out. I then filled the tub with water and with very little pressure, I blew into the other end until the water dripped out of the tube.

The rest was just minor adjustments and hundreds of pictures until I got it right.

BradfordBenn

Thanks for the info. Did you keep the shutter tripping continuously during the drop fall, or just hope to get the right moment?

Mark Edell

No, I needed the flash. even with three studio lights I could not get it fast enough to stop the drops. Timing, timing, timing..

Model = Canon EOS 40D
Exposure Time = 1/2000"
F Number = F5
Exposure Program = Manual
ISO Speed Ratings = 320
Flash = Flash fired, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 44mm

Lord Vetinari

Worth all the effort- wonderful series.

From the EXIF looks like you used high speed sync flash? - Worth trying just normal flash. The flash duration is often shorter than the burst of flashes you get with HS sync flash.
Brian V.

GOLDENORFE

great series of shots, well done
phil

Mark Edell

Thank you Brian, thank you Phil

rainbow

I am amazed!

Incredible job, analysis, and patience...

NatLightPhoto

Those are AMAZING shots. I love them.

How did you time the drop and the shutter? Just drop and get lucky or did you have trigger? Please share your technique.

Again, FANTASTIC shots!!

Mark Edell

NatLightPhoto wrote:

Those are AMAZING shots. I love them.

How did you time the drop and the shutter? Just drop and get lucky or did you have trigger? Please share your technique.

Again, FANTASTIC shots!!

Thanks,
it's just a trial and error process. I had my remote stutter release in had, that was a must! as for timing: after many attempts I found that the best place for me to snap the shot was right when the drop left the tube. I would catch a drop about 20% of the time. Most of them were not clear or the drop was too high or too low. It took about two hours of setup shooting time and around 400 clicks to get those 6 shots.

I described the setup technique earlier in this thread.

Thanks again for all the comments!

tlee

Very nice! wish I had the patience to try it...maybe someday,

CyberSteak

How'd you set up the focus on this? Did you place something in the general area and lock on? Great looking pictures.

urte

amazing

Mark Edell

CyberSteak wrote:

How'd you set up the focus on this? Did you place something in the general area and lock on? Great looking pictures.

Thanks again everyone!

Yes, since the water droplet hit the water in the same area almost every time, I set the focus on manual. I then placed a pencil lead just over where the drop hit and focused on that.

wandaling

Oh I love these, there like works of art, I wouldn't be able to manage this type of skill, wouldn't even know where to start, perhaps a new camera:D
No, think I'll just enjoy your work.

Wandaling.

Mark Edell

wandaling wrote:

Oh I love these, there like works of art, I wouldn't be able to manage this type of skill, wouldn't even know where to start, perhaps a new camera:D
No, think I'll just enjoy your work.

Wandaling.

Any excuses to buy a new camera is a good one.