It’s fast getting to the stage where if I don’t get out of the house, with a camera, in something approaching daylight, then my image-a-day plan may well founder. We were going to go out yesterday, but the weather was atrocious (and we had too many other things to do anyway), so yet again I ended up having to find something to take.
Following my bubbles in water shot from the other day I thought I’d have another go – but this time I attempted to capture dripping rather than running water. And having attempted this shot my admiration for studio photographers has increased dramatically. I must have taken around 200 shots in an hour, of which I saved around 50, of which about two or three are semi-reasonable. The major problem I had with this shot was of my own engineering; I lined a bowl with silver foil (and a few bits of red foil), but I really should have used something much less reflective – not least because I’ve had great difficultly in getting the overall level of the background sorted out. My attempts have either led to an overly grey/flat background, or one that’s ridiculously blown out.
The major problem with this sort of shot, as I see it, is that they stand or fall on their technical merit; i.e. if you don't get it spot on then it really doesn&rsquot amount to much. By way of comparison, one of Jon’s latest shots (over at ground glass) is truly wonderful. Technically it has some problems – aspects of the foreground are over-exposed, there’s quite a lot of colour noise in the background – but it’s a great shot nonetheless, because its subject is engaging, the shot is beautifully composed, and it immediately grabs your attention.
Dripping water, on the other hand, isn’t quite so inherently interesting ... I really must get out more ;-)
camera capture date aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO focal length image quality white balance optical filter
Canon G5
11.49pm on 14/3/04
f3.0
1/250
shutter speed priority
-1/3
center-weighted average
50
28.8mm
RAW
auto
B+W UV 010
comment byHouser at 02:18 PM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
While I agree this is being 'done' a lot recently (see here) - which doesn't mean I might not have a go at it myself - don't kid yourself. This is a very provoking and stunning shot. I'd love to have it as a desktop.
Well done, bud!
comment by p23e at 02:44 PM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
I agree with Houser...
very____"PROVOKING & STUNNING"____ shot!
comment byPhilip Dhingra at 05:51 PM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
woah.
comment byKeith at 06:15 PM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
Eh, going outside is overrated, I wish I have the space to at my shoebox of an apartment to do some studio shoots. This is a very beautiful shot, I love the colors.
This shot is absolutely beautiful. I personally like this a lot better than mine!:) colors are extremely vibrant and I love the crispness of it. great photo.
comment bynariman at 07:35 PM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
The fact that some types of photo are done quite frequently doesn't mean anything. I love to experience fast-shutter-speed-water-drops and I hope that I can come any close to your two recent captures. well done...
comment byhearth at 10:51 PM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
I sat looking at this for a while trying to figure out exactly what it was. Very nice.
comment bydeceptive at 10:58 PM (GMT) on 15 March, 2004
Just after impact.... Good work.
I like the high key, nice and clean.
comment by click at 12:03 AM (GMT) on 16 March, 2004
"Clean" and in a way "Red Ripples" are both so vibrant. Thats particularly interesting since its winter in the UK and I think that a lot of photographers (at my level) often get caught up in their environment...pictures of flowers in the spring...beaches if they're near the sea...babies if one is passing by. I think that around now, all pictures I took in the UK would be black and white :). Whereas your creativity comes from a different place or is led by different things...cool.
Thanks Dave, the shot is actually even noisier if you see the full-size version. Blame that on my forgetting to take it of ISO800 before taking the shot. I normally abhor using the on-camera flash on the coolpix, but for that case the scene was just too cool to pass up -- overblown highlights or not. ;)
But you're definately right -- some shots can hold up to a lot less "technical perfection" than others. Unlike mine, this is one of those shots where precision can make or break it like you said. I'd definately say this one made it.
Taking a photograph is capturing a moment in time. What's really cool about high-speed shots like this (and for me, it never gets old! ;)), is just how in your face that very fact is.
comment byRichard at 02:42 AM (GMT) on 16 March, 2004
Very nice!
comment by Tom B at 05:19 AM (GMT) on 16 March, 2004
Although you seem to not really like your own shot I can honestly say that I think it has a unique look to it as well as you continue to show imagination and determination to produce a photo every day.
That is something to be commended.
Tom
comment by djn1 at 08:02 AM (GMT) on 16 March, 2004
As always, thanks everyone.
Keith: this was shot on our dining room table, so you only need a couple of square feet for macro work like this. The bowl of water was placed on a low stool, with the tripod right next to it, and the only light source was my Speedlite 420EX (on-camera, but with a Lumiquest Ultrabounce fitted).
Tom: I do like it, I just found it a rather exasperating image to work with; i.e. it isn't quite what I was after. I'd hoped for a bit more detail in the upper parts of the image, but I think that I probably got all I could out of the shot so, on the whole, I am happy with it.
comment byemarquetti at 12:59 PM (GMT) on 16 March, 2004
Hmmmm! Fast finger eh?! ;-)
comment bybrandon at 12:55 AM (GMT) on 17 March, 2004
Even though the "clean" contest is coming up with many photos resembling this style - I give you credit for taking it to a new level.
I'm glad that my entry wasn't taking the same approach because I doubt I would have been able to compete with this photo - great job.
comment bytomo at 08:44 AM (GMT) on 17 March, 2004
so beautiful. great capture!
comment byemarquetti at 11:40 AM (GMT) on 17 March, 2004
Hmmmm.. the same what I did here with ( Lighting Bolt )
Thatīs more than 50 shots to "one kill"... I guess Iīd get best results trying more, but was a experience.
comment byJasmin at 02:03 AM (GMT) on 18 March, 2004
I must tell you, this IS interesting. To me, at least. It makes the viewer think about the abstract composition, and then smile widely at the point of realisation.
"Beautiful" is a word I often use, but now I don't really have a word for this. It's just amazing, the colours and all.
comment byRobin at 06:26 PM (GMT) on 18 March, 2004
It’s fast getting to the stage where if I don’t get out of the house, with a camera, in something approaching daylight, then my image-a-day plan may well founder. We were going to go out yesterday, but the weather was atrocious (and we had too many other things to do anyway), so yet again I ended up having to find something to take.
Following my bubbles in water shot from the other day I thought I’d have another go – but this time I attempted to capture dripping rather than running water. And having attempted this shot my admiration for studio photographers has increased dramatically. I must have taken around 200 shots in an hour, of which I saved around 50, of which about two or three are semi-reasonable. The major problem I had with this shot was of my own engineering; I lined a bowl with silver foil (and a few bits of red foil), but I really should have used something much less reflective – not least because I’ve had great difficultly in getting the overall level of the background sorted out. My attempts have either led to an overly grey/flat background, or one that’s ridiculously blown out.
The major problem with this sort of shot, as I see it, is that they stand or fall on their technical merit; i.e. if you don't get it spot on then it really doesn&rsquot amount to much. By way of comparison, one of Jon’s latest shots (over at ground glass) is truly wonderful. Technically it has some problems – aspects of the foreground are over-exposed, there’s quite a lot of colour noise in the background – but it’s a great shot nonetheless, because its subject is engaging, the shot is beautifully composed, and it immediately grabs your attention.
Dripping water, on the other hand, isn’t quite so inherently interesting ... I really must get out more ;-)
capture date
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
focal length
image quality
white balance
optical filter
11.49pm on 14/3/04
f3.0
1/250
shutter speed priority
-1/3
center-weighted average
50
28.8mm
RAW
auto
B+W UV 010
While I agree this is being 'done' a lot recently (see here) - which doesn't mean I might not have a go at it myself - don't kid yourself. This is a very provoking and stunning shot. I'd love to have it as a desktop.
Well done, bud!
I agree with Houser...
very____"PROVOKING & STUNNING"____ shot!
woah.
Eh, going outside is overrated, I wish I have the space to at my shoebox of an apartment to do some studio shoots. This is a very beautiful shot, I love the colors.
This shot is absolutely beautiful. I personally like this a lot better than mine!:) colors are extremely vibrant and I love the crispness of it. great photo.
The fact that some types of photo are done quite frequently doesn't mean anything. I love to experience fast-shutter-speed-water-drops and I hope that I can come any close to your two recent captures. well done...
I sat looking at this for a while trying to figure out exactly what it was. Very nice.
Just after impact.... Good work.
I like the high key, nice and clean.
"Clean" and in a way "Red Ripples" are both so vibrant. Thats particularly interesting since its winter in the UK and I think that a lot of photographers (at my level) often get caught up in their environment...pictures of flowers in the spring...beaches if they're near the sea...babies if one is passing by. I think that around now, all pictures I took in the UK would be black and white :). Whereas your creativity comes from a different place or is led by different things...cool.
Thanks Dave, the shot is actually even noisier if you see the full-size version. Blame that on my forgetting to take it of ISO800 before taking the shot. I normally abhor using the on-camera flash on the coolpix, but for that case the scene was just too cool to pass up -- overblown highlights or not. ;)
But you're definately right -- some shots can hold up to a lot less "technical perfection" than others. Unlike mine, this is one of those shots where precision can make or break it like you said. I'd definately say this one made it.
Taking a photograph is capturing a moment in time. What's really cool about high-speed shots like this (and for me, it never gets old! ;)), is just how in your face that very fact is.
Very nice!
Although you seem to not really like your own shot I can honestly say that I think it has a unique look to it as well as you continue to show imagination and determination to produce a photo every day.
That is something to be commended.
Tom
As always, thanks everyone.
Keith: this was shot on our dining room table, so you only need a couple of square feet for macro work like this. The bowl of water was placed on a low stool, with the tripod right next to it, and the only light source was my Speedlite 420EX (on-camera, but with a Lumiquest Ultrabounce fitted).
Tom: I do like it, I just found it a rather exasperating image to work with; i.e. it isn't quite what I was after. I'd hoped for a bit more detail in the upper parts of the image, but I think that I probably got all I could out of the shot so, on the whole, I am happy with it.
Hmmmm! Fast finger eh?! ;-)
Even though the "clean" contest is coming up with many photos resembling this style - I give you credit for taking it to a new level.
I'm glad that my entry wasn't taking the same approach because I doubt I would have been able to compete with this photo - great job.
so beautiful. great capture!
Hmmmm.. the same what I did here with ( Lighting Bolt )
Thatīs more than 50 shots to "one kill"... I guess Iīd get best results trying more, but was a experience.
I must tell you, this IS interesting. To me, at least. It makes the viewer think about the abstract composition, and then smile widely at the point of realisation.
"Beautiful" is a word I often use, but now I don't really have a word for this. It's just amazing, the colours and all.
Wow, I really like this...Great work
Super... I admire photographs who are able to take shots like this. It might be a question of patience, but also of great skill.