If you don’t yet have one, we suggest the Godox TT600. Any standard flash or speedlight with a radio trigger will do it. You will need an off-camera flash you can trigger remotely for this project. Step 3: Set up the Flash Gun(s) and Choose Camera Settings And again, make sure you protect your device from splashes. So check that your camera and tripod are stable.Īnd ensure you can comfortably reach everything in the setup. When you position your camera, keep in mind that you will be dropping water for a while. In the photo below, Josh used a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro lens. This creates a more dramatic effect.Ĭhoose a longer focal length for the same reason as above. If you want to go closer and get a tighter frame of the drops, use a macro lens. Distracting background elements won’t be included.Īlternatively, you can choose a telephoto lens for even more subject distance to avoid splashing the lens. With a tight field of view, you can photograph only the part where your water drops arrive. You’ll need plenty of space above to capture droplets in their flying state.Īs for lenses, you can do water drop photography with a basic 18-55mm kit lens. Position your camera on the tripod and find the ideal angle to capture drops.Īim it so the spot where the drops land is in the lower part of the frame. Step 2: Position Your Camera and Choose Your Lens It helps avoid background distractions, like the bowl. This way, you capture only the water and drop itself in the frame.

When dropping the liquid, aim for the closest part of the bowl to the camera. Also, with a tap, your hands can be free, allowing you to concentrate on shooting. You can use a medicine dropper or a glass jar with a tap on it to drop the liquid. Read our article about color contrast if you need help selecting colors. Once you’re done with the setup, you can use different colors for the water in your bowl and the dropped liquid. Don’t add anything to the water you’ll drop… yet. But the additives are optional.Īfter the milk, add some food dye to the bowl to create a unique, colorful background. Guar gum is great for thickening the water but might leave lumps in the liquid.Īnd you get better results with xanthan gum. You can also add some guar gum or xanthan gum to improve the consistency of the water. They won’t be distracted by a messy background. The viewer’s eyes will inadvertently jump to the droplets. Second, an opaque liquid will provide a more uniform, pleasing background. This allows you to use your flash on a low power setting and only light up your water drop. There are two reasons for this.įirst, milky water absorbs light better than clear water. Add a few drops of milk to cloud the water. So a place you can easily clean up will make this shoot more fun.įill the mixing bowl with water almost completely.

You can’t avoid one or two splashes of water ending up outside the bowl. Step 1: Get the Scene Ready for Water Drop Photographyįind a location for your creative photography. 5 Steps to Create Water Drop Photographyįollow these five steps to create your own water drop photography. The essential factors are setting up your gear and lots of practice. Remember, you don’t need the most expensive equipment to start the creative process. Medicine dropper, glass jar with a tap, or another tool to drop water.A telephoto lens, optionally a macro lens.Buy from Unavailable What You Need for Water Drop Photography

Macro photography water