Thanks for showing us your setup. Now if you could just share your inspiration.
author says:
I don't know if it's just me,but when we have new contest themes released,i am in a constant "searching" mode.If the contest theme suits me i look around for anything that i could use or get inspired from (while working,been home,even sleeping). My mind do this with out me even notice it & then it finally hits me...an idea,something unique,out of the box! I try to get inspired from things most people wouldn't notice or just pass by.Anything can become an inspiration,from the simplest think,to the most complicated.
This specific theme"blue" suited me from the begining.So i had this perfume bottle witch was already blue...so i could just stop there. I thought,"a dark blue b/g would add to the whole set up".The bottle it self "screamed" freshness & the weather was soooo hot & i said "water is fresh and cool".What if i try to combine all this three objects/elements in to one photo!
And so it started. Setting up the composition,and literally more than 60 attempts until i get the desirable result. I had to poor the water on the bottle while at the same time trigger the shutter button with my remote control.I own a Nikon D90 so i am limited to 200/1 flash sync speed.I had to have at least f:13-f:20 to keep most of the droplets in focus so it was quite tricky to get the shot.
I try to be creative and not just search my external hard disc drive,to find a photo that "suits" a contest.
I force my self not to follow the "easy way". even if that means 1 photo per contest theme or not participating in all contests.
Trying to notice the "small",simple things,let your self become a "CHILD" again,see the world from a differed perspective helps getting inspired.
Here are me two cents & i honestly want to take a moment here & thank each & every one for supporting my work through all of this years.
I learned so much from all of you guys,from your constructive criticism in my early days in photography.
I hope i never fail you.
Thank you, that explains why you have over 60% of you entries in the top 3%.
I certainly can't improve on your inspiration, but one thing you might try to freeze the water is instead of being in a bright place be in a dark room. The time of the flash is much shorter than 1/200 sec.
author says:
I tried it in a dark room the day before but my problem is the following...
High f number (f:14-f:22) for having the majority of droplets in sharp focus equals external flashes output set to maximum (longer duration).I own a nikon speed light SB 700.Having the external flashlight set to maximum and cameras ability of flash sync speed only 200/1 is just not fast enough for me to use the flash in full power.
Low f number (f:3,5-f:11) shallower depth of field,possibility of having less droplets in focus but flash duration can be shorter.I tried it this way too but the water wasn't sharp enough for my taste.So i just played with the ISO settings a bit (iso 160) which i don't really like because of all the digital noise created.
I believe that my camera is not fast enough for that kind of photography.
Most cameras shoot at 250/1 (flash sync) which is,from what i read fast enough to capture/freeze motion.
Should i go for a Canon instead???
Or i just do something wrong or there is a setting i am not aware of.
I'm certainly no expert, Here are the settings I used for my 'drop' photo last week, taken in a darken room.
Camera: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS 70D
Exposure time: 1/8
Aperture: f/13.0
ISO: 100
From what I have read, the duration of the flash is more important than the length of the exposure for freezing movement.
However I'm no expert on external flashes, Tried to use one today and could not get it right.
On thing I have learnt in the last year, is to not be afraid of noise and higher ISO, there are some brilliant noise reducing programs around. Don't change camera brand, I belong to some sites on Flicker, and look at some of the images there taken a really high ISO on Nikons and wonder If I should change.
Good luck
KAPOW...top notch work here. Sharp, clear as a bell, full of visual impact, technical elements of contrast, tonal ranges, dynamic range is robust. Really nice work.
Professional. Beautifully done
Excellent shot, thanks for showing us your set up in the sbs, looks like you had fun doing this one.
Indeed i had.
The weather was really hot & cold water was just what i needed.
Thank you for the favourite.
When I saw this picture, I immediately thought that we would compete for second place Bravo !
Thanks for showing us your setup. Now if you could just share your inspiration.
I don't know if it's just me,but when we have new contest themes released,i am in a constant "searching" mode.If the contest theme suits me i look around for anything that i could use or get inspired from (while working,been home,even sleeping). My mind do this with out me even notice it & then it finally hits me...an idea,something unique,out of the box! I try to get inspired from things most people wouldn't notice or just pass by.Anything can become an inspiration,from the simplest think,to the most complicated.
This specific theme"blue" suited me from the begining.So i had this perfume bottle witch was already blue...so i could just stop there. I thought,"a dark blue b/g would add to the whole set up".The bottle it self "screamed" freshness & the weather was soooo hot & i said "water is fresh and cool".What if i try to combine all this three objects/elements in to one photo!
And so it started. Setting up the composition,and literally more than 60 attempts until i get the desirable result. I had to poor the water on the bottle while at the same time trigger the shutter button with my remote control.I own a Nikon D90 so i am limited to 200/1 flash sync speed.I had to have at least f:13-f:20 to keep most of the droplets in focus so it was quite tricky to get the shot.
I try to be creative and not just search my external hard disc drive,to find a photo that "suits" a contest.
I force my self not to follow the "easy way". even if that means 1 photo per contest theme or not participating in all contests.
Trying to notice the "small",simple things,let your self become a "CHILD" again,see the world from a differed perspective helps getting inspired.
Here are me two cents & i honestly want to take a moment here & thank each & every one for supporting my work through all of this years.
I learned so much from all of you guys,from your constructive criticism in my early days in photography.
I hope i never fail you.
Thank you, that explains why you have over 60% of you entries in the top 3%.
I certainly can't improve on your inspiration, but one thing you might try to freeze the water is instead of being in a bright place be in a dark room. The time of the flash is much shorter than 1/200 sec.
I tried it in a dark room the day before but my problem is the following...
High f number (f:14-f:22) for having the majority of droplets in sharp focus equals external flashes output set to maximum (longer duration).I own a nikon speed light SB 700.Having the external flashlight set to maximum and cameras ability of flash sync speed only 200/1 is just not fast enough for me to use the flash in full power.
Low f number (f:3,5-f:11) shallower depth of field,possibility of having less droplets in focus but flash duration can be shorter.I tried it this way too but the water wasn't sharp enough for my taste.So i just played with the ISO settings a bit (iso 160) which i don't really like because of all the digital noise created.
I believe that my camera is not fast enough for that kind of photography.
Most cameras shoot at 250/1 (flash sync) which is,from what i read fast enough to capture/freeze motion.
Should i go for a Canon instead???
Or i just do something wrong or there is a setting i am not aware of.
I'm certainly no expert, Here are the settings I used for my 'drop' photo last week, taken in a darken room.
Camera: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS 70D
Exposure time: 1/8
Aperture: f/13.0
ISO: 100
From what I have read, the duration of the flash is more important than the length of the exposure for freezing movement.
However I'm no expert on external flashes, Tried to use one today and could not get it right.
On thing I have learnt in the last year, is to not be afraid of noise and higher ISO, there are some brilliant noise reducing programs around. Don't change camera brand, I belong to some sites on Flicker, and look at some of the images there taken a really high ISO on Nikons and wonder If I should change.
Good luck
KAPOW...top notch work here. Sharp, clear as a bell, full of visual impact, technical elements of contrast, tonal ranges, dynamic range is robust. Really nice work.
Congrats Dimitris, wonderful work
Congratulations, a stunning photo.
Excellent work with Nikon D90. Congrats!
congrats for winning this
Howdie stranger!
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