Weekly Assignment #66: Liquid Surface

NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
edited March 5, 2008 in Assignments
This week's task is to photograph another interesting object: a surface of a liquid. As you know, depending on the angle you can get either refraction or reflection. You images should contain only surface, nothing else, however what is reflected/refracted is your choice.
You can use macro lens and small vessels, or regular lens and some large surfaces (doesn't have to be deep - baking pan could be a good starting point.
And yes, we're not interested in oceans or lakes, mini-scale only.
Don't forget to play with your polarizer!
Let's get liquid!
"May the f/stop be with you!"
«1

Comments

  • OffTopicOffTopic Registered Users Posts: 521 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2008
    Guess we're all a little slow getting started on this one.

    I hope this counts as mini-scale enough - I gave up and used my pool after my lack of a macro lens and a sufficient level of creativity really frustrated me in trying to do this "in studio" (which means my kitchen). I had so little creativity that I couldn't even find an interesting subject - I just threw some silk flowers in a vase. At least it's not a lake or an ocean, but I just wanted to show that I'm working on the assignment. :D

    This was in the corner with the last remaining light:

    250979696-S.jpg

    This was in the shade:

    250979710-S.jpg

    And yes, I rotated them 180 degrees! nod.gif


    Now to go bang my head some more and try to figure out how to get a decent surface reflection indoors. Maybe I'll try for refraction...headscratch.gif
    Lori
    My Photos
    My Blog
    On Google+
    On DrivingLine
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2008
    OffTopic wrote:
    Guess we're all a little slow getting started on this one.
    This is a reflection? Pretty cool! Thanks!
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2008
    Yaaaa!
    I get to play..whooohooo!

    Bomb Drop

    249603200-L.jpg

    The Power of Red

    249603191-L.jpg
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • OffTopicOffTopic Registered Users Posts: 521 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2008
    rolleyes1.gifHere's a wider shot showing the edge of the pool, the vase was just out of frame. I have a blackbottomed pool - perfect for reflections thumb.gif and no wind today since the rain finally ended for a little while.

    251011699-S.jpg
    Lori
    My Photos
    My Blog
    On Google+
    On DrivingLine
  • OffTopicOffTopic Registered Users Posts: 521 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2008
    Swartzy wrote:
    I get to play..whooohooo!

    Bomb Drop

    249603200-L.jpg

    The Power of Red

    249603191-L.jpg


    I have got to get a macro lens! Love the drops, I really want to try them.
    Lori
    My Photos
    My Blog
    On Google+
    On DrivingLine
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2008
    Swartzy wrote:
    I get to play..whooohooo!
    Bomb Drop
    The Power of Red
    Nice ones, David, thank you! thumb.gif
    Did you use some gizmo to trigger, or you just used a lot of frames?
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2008
    Nikolai wrote:
    Nice ones, David, thank you! thumb.gif
    Did you use some gizmo to trigger, or you just used a lot of frames?

    Heh, yea, the gizmo was my thumb on the cable release....the eye dropper in the other hand.....timing was a bit tricky but managed to get some keepers mwink.gif
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • spb13spb13 Registered Users Posts: 133 Major grins
    edited February 6, 2008
    I just join dgrin last week or so, but I saw this assignment and wanted to give it a try.

    I spent a couple hours playing around with this last night and wasn't able to come up with anything I liked. So I tried to find some hints for taking this kind of shot and came up with nothing. Finally I found an example of someone's setup for taking shots of water drips. The setup was a lot simpler than what I was trying to do, so tonight I simplified and found some food coloring.

    251678679-M.jpg

    I rotated 180 because my brain couldn't process it "upside down".

    When I was importing the shots into PS I noticed one of the "bad" shots that gave me an idea for something more abstract. That idea resulted in this shot...

    251678514-M.jpg

    The reflections are a lot more subtle, but I think it is way more interesting.

    Thanks for the assignment. I look forward to playing with this idea some more.
    Sean

    http://spbdesigns.com
    http://gallery.spbdesigns.com
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 6, 2008
    spb13 wrote:
    I just join dgrin last week or so, but I saw this assignment and wanted to give it a try.

    I spent a couple hours playing around with this last night and wasn't able to come up with anything I liked. So I tried to find some hints for taking this kind of shot and came up with nothing. Finally I found an example of someone's setup for taking shots of water drips. The setup was a lot simpler than what I was trying to do, so tonight I simplified and found some food coloring.



    I rotated 180 because my brain couldn't process it "upside down".

    When I was importing the shots into PS I noticed one of the "bad" shots that gave me an idea for something more abstract. That idea resulted in this shot...



    The reflections are a lot more subtle, but I think it is way more interesting.

    Thanks for the assignment. I look forward to playing with this idea some more.

    Sean,
    welcome to Dgrin and to the Class! clap.gif
    Nice reflections. I also like the 2d one better, since it shows more of a surface:-)
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • spb13spb13 Registered Users Posts: 133 Major grins
    edited February 7, 2008
    Nikolai wrote:
    Sean,
    welcome to Dgrin and to the Class! clap.gif
    Nice reflections. I also like the 2d one better, since it shows more of a surface:-)

    Thanks for the welcome.

    The pics from last night didn't quite click with some of my regular "critiques", so I wanted to try the assignment again integrating their suggestions. The problem seemed to be with context. For example someone said "I like the first one but it is kind of hazy." She had trouble placing it as a reflection because there was no point of reference.

    So keeping that in mind I made a few changes. I grabbed a different bowl from the cabinet and started with the same basic setup as last night with a bit different composition. Then I realized I had an Asian bowl and remembered that today is Chinese New Year, so I figured it would be fun to play with that a bit. This is what I came up with...

    251998884-M.jpg
    Sean

    http://spbdesigns.com
    http://gallery.spbdesigns.com
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 7, 2008
    spb13 wrote:
    Thanks for the welcome.

    The pics from last night didn't quite click with some of my regular "critiques", so I wanted to try the assignment again integrating their suggestions. The problem seemed to be with context. For example someone said "I like the first one but it is kind of hazy." She had trouble placing it as a reflection because there was no point of reference.

    So keeping that in mind I made a few changes. I grabbed a different bowl from the cabinet and started with the same basic setup as last night with a bit different composition. Then I realized I had an Asian bowl and remembered that today is Chinese New Year, so I figured it would be fun to play with that a bit. This is what I came up with...

    Thanks for the info, Sean!
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • Antonio CorreiaAntonio Correia Registered Users Posts: 6,241 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    252192955_3p4g9-M.jpg252190125_sMsbh-M.jpg
    All the best ! ... António Correia - Facebook
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Antonio Correia wrote:
    water in the glass
    Thank you!
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • dmmattixdmmattix Registered Users Posts: 341 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    I might as well play also
    This was taken at College Fjord in SE Alaska. We were on a ship and I noticed the neat reflection in the ship's wake.

    252229203_AmBR9-M.jpg
    _________________________________________________________

    Mike Mattix
    Tulsa, OK

    "There are always three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth" - Unknown
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    dmmattix wrote:
    This was taken at College Fjord in SE Alaska. We were on a ship and I noticed the neat reflection in the ship's wake.
    Nice image! thumb.gif
    Is it fresh?
    Also, the requirement was to show just he surface, nothing else...mwink.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • dmmattixdmmattix Registered Users Posts: 341 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    Nikolai wrote:
    Nice image! thumb.gif
    Is it fresh?
    Also, the requirement was to show just he surface, nothing else...mwink.gif

    No it is not fresh. I thought about that on the way to dinner tonight.


    Sorry.

    I guess I can't play...
    _________________________________________________________

    Mike Mattix
    Tulsa, OK

    "There are always three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth" - Unknown
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 8, 2008
    dmmattix wrote:
    No it is not fresh. I thought about that on the way to dinner tonight.
    Sorry.
    I guess I can't play...
    You sure can - just shoot something new! mwink.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • AzzaroAzzaro Registered Users Posts: 5,643 Major grins
    edited February 10, 2008
    Nikolai......Does this work...It is a shot of a reflection of a tree above my horses water barrel.... Weird colors and I'm not sure why.....

    252706998_G58HA-L.jpg
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 10, 2008
    Azzaro wrote:
    Nikolai......Does this work...It is a shot of a reflection of a tree above my horses water barrel.... Weird colors and I'm not sure why.....
    Very cool, thank you! thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • PexiPexi Registered Users Posts: 85 Big grins
    edited February 11, 2008
    I shot this yesterday morning, a vertically flipped reflection from my pool.

    252798308_gRGhX-L.jpg
    Life is pretty straight without motorcycling
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 11, 2008
    Pexi wrote:
    I shot this yesterday morning, a vertically flipped reflection from my pool.
    Pexi, this is great image, thank you very much!thumb.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • cjmchchcjmchch Registered Users Posts: 222 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2008
    A little sun, a puddle on asphalt and an oil leak from a Mercedes
    pf-mcd7.jpg
    Canon - Manfrotto - Pocketwizard - Sekonic - Westcott - Hoya - Singh Ray

    http://chrismckayphotography.com
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2008
    cjmchch wrote:
    puddle
    Very nice shot!thumb.gif
    Too bad some requirements are not met, like "nothing but the surface".
    Remember, we're not going for "relection" (that was a separate class), but specifiucally trying to capture the surface itselfdeal.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • cjmchchcjmchch Registered Users Posts: 222 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2008
    Nikolai wrote:
    Very nice shot!thumb.gif
    Too bad some requirements are not met, like "nothing but the surface".
    Remember, we're not going for "relection" (that was a separate class), but specifiucally trying to capture the surface itselfdeal.gif


    My bad, I thought that given the rest of the asphalt was protruding through the puddle edges it constituted the 'wet surface area'
    Canon - Manfrotto - Pocketwizard - Sekonic - Westcott - Hoya - Singh Ray

    http://chrismckayphotography.com
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 14, 2008
    cjmchch wrote:
    My bad, I thought that given the rest of the asphalt was protruding through the puddle edges it constituted the 'wet surface area'
    well, yeah.... maybe... kinda... sorta...mwink.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • MooreDrivenMooreDriven Registered Users Posts: 260 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2008
    Nikolai wrote:
    Very nice shot!thumb.gif
    Too bad some requirements are not met, like "nothing but the surface".
    Remember, we're not going for "relection" (that was a separate class), but specifiucally trying to capture the surface itselfdeal.gif

    Either way, it's a cool shot. clap.gif
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited February 15, 2008
    In a gutter in Saint Augustine last week in Fla.

    253578431_aQEki-XL.jpg

    I have other reflections, but they all include something in addition to the waters surface so they don't count I guess
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2008
    pathfinder wrote:
    In a gutter in Saint Augustine last week in Fla.

    I have other reflections, but they all include something in addition to the waters surface so they don't count I guess
    Jim, this is lovely! thumb.gif
    The "something in addition" is fine by me, it's not that prominent...
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited February 15, 2008
    Oh Ok. Courtesy Green Cay Wetlands

    253946975_YAbFD-XL.jpg

    A marina on the Indian River I think.

    253489787_3ktN9-XL.jpg

    Water is always worth a second lookthumb.gif
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited February 15, 2008
    pathfinder wrote:
    Oh Ok. Courtesy Green Cay Wetlands

    A marina on the Indian River I think.

    Water is always worth a second lookthumb.gif
    Beautiful images, Jim!thumb.gif
    But I think they more suited for Reflection class (which we also had) than for this one, since they more about the reflection than anything else.
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
Sign In or Register to comment.