How to do Water Drop Photography without an external flash - Getting Started

Photo by Joe Dyer
flickr.com

Introduction

Water drop photography is an interesting form of photography. It involves shooting water drops at really high shutter speeds.Most of the breath taking photos that you see on Internet require a really complicated setup and a high lit environment. But today I will be writing about how you can shoot amazing water droplets without a really complicated setup or lighting. I'll be showing you the entire process of shooting it without a external flash.

Remember, it's not easy but its also not difficult to master water drop photography. 

Knowing the basics

Before we actually start shooting, you need to get your basics right. Having a clear understanding of shutter speed , aperture and ISO will definitely help you. 

Digital Photography tips for understanding exposure (Shutterspeed , Iso , apreture) for beginners

Just remember, faster the shutter speed the more likely you are to get a sharper and probably a better photograph. Use shutter speed wisely. A very high shutter speed will under expose your image.

The ISO determine the sensitivity of your camera's sensor to the light.

 Higher ISO = Brighter Image.

Requirements

• You will need a bright environment. You can use a couple of indoor lights or shoot outdoors in the day time.
• A dSLR
• A macro lens(optional)
• A tripod(highly recommended but not compulsory)
• Water/Milk or any other liquid
• A glass/bowl or an other container to pour in the liquid
• A small object to drop into the glass for a splash.I used a pebble
• A fairly simple backdrop using a cloth or some papers.

Set up

• Place the bowl/glass in a bright environment.Use a suitable backdrop.
• Mount your camera on the tripod. 
• Place your tripod at about one foot away from the bowl/glass,assuming that you're using a wide angle lens. 
• Pour some liquid into the container.
• Use some kind of food coloring for a better results.

Camera settings

1. Use manual focus and focus at the center of the container
2. Using Manual mode.
3. Set the shutter speed to 1/250. You will know after a few attempts if you need a faster shutter speed or not.
4. Set the aperture to f/9. This will ensure that a majority of the water drops are in focus.
5. ISO speed - Auto
6. Use a remote release or put your camera on a self timer with continuous/burst mode on.

Method

Once you have a perfect set up,start the camera's self timer. Be ready with your object and drop it only when start hearing your camera's shutter. Don't worry your camera is on the burst mode.

The heavier the object, the more bigger the splash. You may also experiment with the height of dropping the object. Remember, practice and repetition will only get you help you get more better shots. It took me nearly 30 attempts until I got a satisfactory photo. Don't lose hope and most importantly have fun