How to get this picture or something like it

ro1798 · 15-11-2007 12:42pm #1

need technical help
ok the kit i have is as follows
canon 400d with
70-300mm
28-105mm
18-55mm
xtreme 4gd card
tripod

what do i need settings wise to get the photo of the droplet splash as in the picture

have tried but cant catch it...

thanks for help

CraggyIslander · 15-11-2007 12:53pm

have a look at this:

Coffee & Milk splash give you a little info as to how she does it....... persistence is the key from looks of it

Thirdfox · 15-11-2007 12:54pm

You need a flash...

ro1798 · 15-11-2007 1:17pm

oh yea i have a 420ex forgot about that

Thirdfox · 15-11-2007 2:19pm

In that case - use a high shutter speed and have a nice plain background (to emphasise the droplet) - probably set the camera on a tripod and have it prefocused manually.

And then, practise practise practise!

Care to post examples?

ike · 15-11-2007 2:23pm

Have messed around with this for about 10 mins one evening and the hardest part was getting the timing of the drops right

Thirdfox · 15-11-2007 2:44pm

Set a tap to drip intermittenly (at timed intervals) - now start practising:
take a photo at the moment the drop leaves the tap - picture satisfactory? if not
take a photo at the moment the drop reaches the mid point - pic satisfactory? if not
take a photo at the moment the drop drops even lower etc. etc.

until you find the correct time to take the picture.

Unless of course you have a laser trip/light gate device that will automatically activate the shutter once the droplet passes a set distance. (instantaneous reaction almost).

Stephen · 15-11-2007 3:14pm

Trying this kind of thing never crossed my mind, now I want to get cracking on it as soon as I get home

Fenster · 15-11-2007 3:47pm

I messed with it once and I found having a bright lamp on the water worked out better than a flash. Not to say that everyone will have a similar end.

Marcus · 15-11-2007 4:08pm

I won a photo competition (ages ago) using the following setupand a garden hose:

Create a black black drop (i.e flat and then raises up at 90 degree at the rear)
Mount this on a couple of concrete blocks so that you have it about 30cm off the ground
Mount the camera on a tripod and center up the image
Cur out a hole in the base of the back drop about 40 cm from the rear
Push a garden hose through the hole (ensure it is not visible in the shot) and have the water running at a stready flow (not gushing) so that it flows out to about 10cm high.
Then stamp on the hose with your foot to create a whoosh effect and click the shutter!

You can get some amazing shots of the water as it explodes...

Thirdfox · 15-11-2007 4:14pm

So no flash used then?

ro1798 · 15-11-2007 4:45pm

what i tried was a bowl of water and drop red candle wax into the bowl for a high contrast, could not get it to work

will give the comments a go also

thanks for replies:)

ro

Marcus · 15-11-2007 9:39pm

Thirdfox wrote: »

So no flash used then?

No... it was 400ASA (good old Tri-X BW) in bright daylight.. can't remember what the settings were but I do recall there was a "slight" mix of motion and still in the shot (as the water reaches its peak the natural motion stops due to gravity)