So for a few minutes I sat looking at the computer screen. Staring at the words "water drops" and thinking. But by this time it is 8pm and it is to dark outside to shoot the rain.
Hmm or maybe not? There could be something interesting out there in the dark that I could photograph with water dripping on or off of. But then... remembering that I do not have a fancy
TTL flash for the old camera I decided agents venturing out in the dark rain.
So now what?
Hmmmmm More thinking..... Then it hit me. THE KITCHEN SINK! I ran down to the kitchen and grabbed a glass and turned on
the water. After many takes, (many many takes) adjusting the shutter speed in the "shutter priority mode" I finally reached a speed fast enough to freeze the water in movement. The color temp and lighting effect was OK, but too harsh. I used my left hand and bounced the light from my
on camera flash up and off to the left. This diffused the light just enough for my liking.
I must have taken about 140 shots. Yes I am a freak (thank you digital !). I still consider myself in the "learning phase" A place I'll probably be in for quite some time. Because I believe I will always be learn new techniques and these new techniques will take many many shots to master. So taking 140 frames to
capture that one good shot...
isn't to crazy... in my opinion.
Back up to my computer... time to
DL all those images. After a while of flipping through every image, I came up with about 15 that I truly liked. Then narrowed it down to about 7 of my favorites.
The image at the top of this entry I have named the "Dog Head Drop" It's amazing how water looks when you freeze frame it. The next image is obviously a "missed drop" but I fell in love with the colors and how the water looks in the glass, it's kind of calming. The third image down on this page is one of my other favorites. I'm not even upset at the off tilt of the glass, in my opinion it gives it movement, this reaction of the water to the drop is perfect for what I was trying to accomplish.
Now the forth image down actually "hits the nail on the head" in
terms of capturing a "water drop" The colors are now a bit warmer and still soft. Other then the harsh flash reflection on the upper left side of the image, I feel it's a great shot. The drops of water are in focus, the water in the glass is clear and sharp and there is movement.
Now For some fun... because I know, I can't keep myself away from pushing/
tweaking my photos just a bit in
Photoshop. This time I took a totally different approach to the "dripping water". I turned the water on high, overflowing in the glass. With an adjustment to the White Balance, shutter speed, back ground, and angle, I produced a very blue and
chromy like image. VOILA! A completely different photograph.
I captured some great shots for this assignment so far. However... There are some details I wish I could have changed or done differently. If this wasn't a kitchen sink, and I was able to deconstruct the whole "set" This is what I would have done. I would have a smoother taller background,
keeping a mix of the chrome color and reflectiveness properties with the soft off white for bounce and fill. I
definitely would have made a slightly larger space. The faucet would be moved up a little higher to give me more "working space". I felt so trapped in this little frame while shooting. Knowing this would also cause difficult cropping in post production. But needless to say I could not do major construction to the kitchen sink. I had to work with what I had. And that my friend makes you work, and learn. IF you want it bad enough you can figure out a way to get it.
I believe I accomplished what I was looking for on this mini shoot and I thank
Timarra for giving me this first assignment. It's pushing me to work, and I love this kind of work !
"Cheez - it" box :
Spatulas :
Cherry Tomatoes :
"Kisses" :
Lit Candle :
After
the water. After many takes, (many many takes) adjusting the shutter speed in the "shutter priority mode" I finally reached a speed fast enough to freeze the water in movement. The color temp and lighting effect was OK, but too harsh. I used my left hand and bounced the light from my on camera flash up and off to the left. This diffused the light just enough for my liking.
The image at the top of this entry I have named the "Dog Head Drop" It's amazing how water looks when you freeze frame it. The next image is obviously a "missed drop" but I fell in love with the colors and how the water looks in the glass, it's kind of calming. The third image down on this page is one of my other favorites. I'm not even upset at the off tilt of the glass, in my opinion it gives it movement, this reaction of the water to the drop is perfect for what I was trying to accomplish.
terms of capturing a "water drop" The colors are now a bit warmer and still soft. Other then the harsh flash reflection on the upper left side of the image, I feel it's a great shot. The drops of water are in focus, the water in the glass is clear and sharp and there is movement.
It' still a little dark, but if I slow down the shutter speed any more I would need a tripod and well, the do would most likely move. In the photo below I adjusted the color temp, since it came out a bit yellow in the original. I never did adjust the Metering, it was set to Matrix, I wonder if spot metering would have lightened up her dark side of the face?
I've been doing some searching around at other photographers Portrait work. It looks to me that the photographers who do remote shooting don't always have elaborate equipment set ups like I do. It looks like a large bounce board and a good on camera flash, or no flash to that matter. They just use the avaliable light at the location.
them at their house, but there is no room for lighting, or if they want me to photograph them in their yard or at a park. Then what? I can't lug around lights or worst deny work because of this.
perfect as well. It looks like some attach right to an existing flash, like the SB800, and "light up" from that light. I can only imagine how nice and balanced and soft this light would look on a close up portrait.
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