Macro Water Drop Photography Tips

To freeze a water drop in a photo you need a mix of macro photography and timing.

Macro water drop photography is the process of photographing a drop of water hitting a solid or liquid surface using a camera's macro setting or a macro lens. While this is a relatively easy technique for more advanced art photographers, even beginners can master macro water drop photography. The most important part is knowing the capabilities of your camera and your equipment, so you should study your camera and equipment's manuals thoroughly before beginning. The rest can be learned with some tips that guide you through the process.

Prepare for Macro

The first step to this project is getting your camera ready for taking macro photos. Unscrew the regular lens from your camera and replace it with the macro lens. If you don't have a macro lens turn on your camera's Macro Mode.

Set Up the Shot

Once your camera is ready for taking macro photos, you can set up the shot. Find a shallow metal pan, place it on a waist-high table or counter, and fill it with water. Attach your camera to a tripod and position it in front of the pan. The end of the lens should be no farther than six inches from the pan. Prop a white piece of cardboard or a glass cutting board three inches behind the pan as a backdrop. Position an external flash behind the pan and another on the right side of the pan.

Adjust Camera Settings

Your camera's setting can make or break the photo. You will need to change your camera to 100 ISO, f10.0 or f14.0, Burst Mode and 1/250 exposure. Once the settings are taken care of, focus your camera on the center of the pan and set the external flashes to go off when the shutter opens. These settings will help make the drop look like it is frozen in time in the finished image.

Take the Shot

Finally, you are to the point where you can actually take the shot. Set your camera's timer to 30 seconds. Hold an eyedropper or turkey baster full of water over the pan. Make sure that your hand is high enough that it isn't in the camera frame. When your camera indicates that it is just about to take the picture, release one drop of water. You will probably need to practice your timing, since this part of the project isn't an exact science. If you have a digital camera, check the image to see if you got the shot. If not, try again.

References

• DIY Photography: The Comprehensive Water Drop Photography Guide
• Photos By Kev: Water Droplet Photography

Resources

• Digital Photography School: An Introduction to External Flashes