Water drop photography is a fascinating genre of photography. Most creative photographers want to shoot water drops and splashes. Capturing these kinds of photographs is a very satisfying experience for a photographer.
Previously it was very tough to shoot such photographs, and only a handful of photographers could achieve good results. But now we have high-speed triggers like MIOPS Smart and MIOPS Splash that make our job easy, and because of these remote control triggers, every photographer can shoot splash photographs and add those masterpieces to their portfolio.
This article will discuss some creative ideas for water drop and splash photography. So without further ado, let's get started.
- Refraction: When light passes from air into water, it slows down and changes its direction, and we can create a beautiful picture by using this property of light. You need some images printed on paper or transparent sheets for this photography. We'll click the refraction of these images inside a water drop.
For water drops, you can use an IV Set (commonly referred to as a drip), or if you want more control, you can use MIOPS Splash, which controls the size and timing of drops with great precision and control your camera too. You need to put the image behind the water drop upside down. For lighting, you need to use flashes. If you are using a transparent sheet, you need to fire the flashes from the back, and if you are using paper print, you can fire it from the front.
For background photographs, you can use an image of the Universe or planets, colorful abstract images, or even images of your loved one.
- Water Drop Collision: Water drop photography is most popular among creative photographers. The best thing about this photography is that you can create hundreds of different photographs once the setup is done by changing the size and timing of drops, light, and background. Even small changes in the size and timing of drops give you different results.
Again MIOPS Splash is the best remote control water drop kit for this photography. It'll control the size and delay between the two drops and also control your camera so that you can focus on other creative tasks like background, lighting, and various settings to create hundreds of different pieces of art.
- Milk Figures: This photography is similar to water drop photography. The only difference is that we use milk instead of water. Since the milk is opaque and has different densities, it creates different shapes. When you use bigger drops, you may also get human and other animal figures. You may use different color gels on flash to make the shots more interesting.
If you are using MIOPS Splash for this shoot, clean it properly with warm water after the shoot.
- Crowns: This photography is also similar to water drop photography, but we use just one drop of watercolors or milk instead of water. When the drop collides with a hard surface, it creates a beautiful crown shape. You can create different shapes by changing the drop's size and the nozzle's height. It's better to use three flashes for this photography, two from both sides and one from the top, so the crown illuminates correctly. If you are using milk, try different color gels with flashes to get different results, watercolors don't need gels. Use a black glass to show the reflection of the crown in the picture.
- Kiwi in Milk: When we drop kiwi or any other fruit in milk, it creates a beautiful splash which is very satisfying to capture. Milk splash photography only has milk, but it adds a different dimension to the photograph when you add fruits to it.
Always choose a colorful fruit that is smaller in size, like strawberry, blackberry, or kiwi. Kiwi has fantastic colors and patterns, so it'll look good when it's sliced.
- Balloon: Balloons are also a good subject for splash photography. When we burst a water-filled balloon, the water creates the shape of the balloon for a millisecond and then falls on the ground. You can capture those unforgettable moments. You may use a black background or use colorful one. You may also fill the balloon with different color water, take the shot and merge in post-processing.
For better results, use props like a hat or sunglasses. Put sunglasses on a balloon, burst it and click the picture. Rotate the image in post-processing, and it'll look like a face. Use darts to burst the balloon.
Always try to use the same color of the balloon as the background, so the remains of the balloon blend with the background and don't show in the final picture.
- Splash with Kids or a Model: This is my favorite kind of splash photography. Burst a water-filled balloon above your kid or a model and when the water makes a shape similar to a hat, click the picture. You may use different props to change the shape of the water.
Another idea is to fill a long balloon with water, wrap it to the head of your kid, and burst it. It'll give you a different result. You may also use colored water or paint for splash photography. When you use colors, make sure that it's skin-friendly and your model's eyes are safe from the paint. You may take the first shot with open eyes and then a splash shot with closed eyes and merge them later.
Use a remote control trigger like MIOPS Smart+ for balloon photography with sound mode. It'll detect the burst sound of the balloon and trigger your camera or flash according to the settings. Using this will have almost zero chances of missing the shots.
For water drop photography, use the MIOPS water splash kit. It's a standalone kit that runs on a battery. It doesn't need an external power source so that you can take it anywhere easily. It can release up to three drops with the set delay time and trigger your camera or flash.
So whatever trigger you have, use it to click some stunning pictures and share your creations with the world.
Blog Credits
Ramakant Sharda is an author, iOS App publisher, passionate photographer and a MIOPS Ambassador based in the beautiful “Pink City” of India, known as Jaipur. His work has been published in various magazines, newspapers, and blogs. He has published three Coffee Table Books, he writes about photography and also teaches photography in his workshops. Check out his website http://ClickManic.com to see the masterpieces created by him or download his free app for iPhone and iPad “30 Days to an Ace Photographer“.
