How to Make Your DIY Water Droplet Studio

A Guest Post by Brian Pearson.

This tutorial will focus on how to create a homemade Water Droplet Studio to get those great macro shots of a water drop splashing against still water, creating an explosion of colors.

Materials Needed:

A cup of Water (your choice of color)
A Ziploc-like plastic bag filled with water
A roll of tape
An external flash
A Pencil
A razor (or any sharp pointed object)
Multiple sheets of paper (your choice of color)
A towel (for cleaning up)
And of course a Smile!!!!

Step 1: Location

Find a place that has san overhang such as a desk with a cabinet pulled out or really anywhere that you can hang a small plastic bag filled with water.

Step 2: Colors Colors Colors

Fill a cup with water. It can be any color any shape. In my case I used a Blue cup with a wave-like design to it . place 2 sheets of paper( again your choice of color) directly under your overhang area.

Step 3: Tape Fixes Everything

Place a sheet of paper vertical behind the cup of water. You can do this by taping it against another vertical surface or leaning it against something.

Step 4: Hang a Water-Bag?

Fill a third of a small plastic Ziploc-like bag with water. Hang the plastic bag above the paper on your overhang using the tape.

Step 5: Just Focus

Adjust the cup and plastic bag so that they will align neatly. Using a razor or a sharp pointed object poke a small hole in the plastic bag so that it drips neatly into the cup. Take a pencil or pen and place it in the location in the cup where the water droplets are splashing then use your camera to auto-focus onto it. From there on you can keep the camera in manual focus.

Step 6: Creativity is Key

Set up your external flash on its lowest setting and point it at the cup. Place your camera on Time Value mode or TV at 1/250. Throughout this photo shoot your lens may get wet, so it’s always smart to keep a cloth or towel nearby. Take lots and lots of pictures. Mess around with shots, BE CREATIVE!

Check out more of Brian Pearson’s work at www.brian-pearson.com.

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25 Responses to “How to Make Your DIY Water Droplet Studio” - Add Yours

Jen at Cabin Fever Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 12:17 am

This is very cool! I did something very similar to this trying to catch a water droplet in a puddle. I just positioned myself near where the droplets were consistently falling off the fender of my car and waited for the right “plop”. Don’t forget ample light and a fast shutter speed!

Cabin Fever in Vermont

NEK Photography Blog
J.B.C. Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 12:45 am

Thanks for the article … Here is my result of doing this sort of thing (I just used my filled kitchen sink set to a slow drip and some blue gels).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fusionmonger/4485256755/
Mark Donnelly Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 1:39 am

Coincidentally, I just did the same thing two days ago, following this YouTube tutorial. It had a couple of other interesting ideas, like playing with the white balance and changing the background coloring.
Andy Merrett Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 2:22 am

Would be fun to try this in the dark, maybe LED lit, also how would it look using a slightly slower shutter speed? Gonna have to try this soon.
Andrew Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 2:44 am

I like playing with the white balance, and backdrop material. Try using slightly crumpled aluminum foil; it bounces the light very interestingly.

My best three from when I played with this:

http://naturesmugshots.blogspot.com/2010/06/more-fun-with-speedlite.html
Monique Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 2:59 am

Here’s a storyboard with some of the shots I’ve gotten.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moniquephotography/4625576183/
Caroline Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 3:15 am

I’m sorry, but this article isn’t very convincing. All that work, and those are the best shots you were able to get? No thanks.
scott Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 3:55 am

I like your zip-lock bag idea, but I too am also not elated with the example images you have posted. I have done this before with a cookie-sheet (pan) filled with water, but had a manual drop release (wife). Had some nice shots and I think the limiter here is the rim of the glass. Trying to take shots over that has made your photos mediocre. I have also found that lighting these from under or behind is best.

http://www.lioghtshootedit.com
scott Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 3:55 am

I like your zip-lock bag idea, but I too am also not elated with the example images you have posted. I have done this before with a cookie-sheet (pan) filled with water, but had a manual drop release (wife). Had some nice shots and I think the limiter here is the rim of the glass. Trying to take shots over that has made your photos mediocre. I have also found that lighting these from under or behind is best.

http://www.lightshootedit.com
Sree Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 4:06 am

I took these a long time ago…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vathsav/sets/72157622984620040/
drop’ url=’http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/4212675120_414aca9094.jpg’]
Nick Rains Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 1:17 pm

Here are a few ways to take this type of image a bit further:

1. Shallow trays make better drop bounce-backs. Different depths affect the results.
2. Black plastic bin liner is very effective inside a cat litter tray or better still a very shallow baking tray.
3. The bigger the tray the better, to avoid getting the edge in frame.
4. A lit white background reflecting in the water can be coloured either with gels or in post.
5. Point the strobes at the background not the drops.
6. Extension tubes on a 85mm or 135mm lens give a nice narrow field of view to avoid the tray edges.

Just a few suggestions to play with…
oliverignacio Says:
August 5th, 2010 at 1:22 pm

I agree with caroline. The set-up was great but you’ve showed a mediocre output. Moreover, I disagree with this:
“Set up your external flash on its lowest setting and point it at the cup. Place your camera on Time Value mode or TV at 1/250. ”

Do not point the flash at the cup. Point it at the background. And use Manual mode, compensating with the flash’s output.
Mahmoud H. Al-Johani Says:
August 6th, 2010 at 6:40 am

Thank you for this great How-To post.

I have made several shots, and have posted two shots @ my tumblr : http://aljohani.tumblr.com/

Shots ulr:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6p3ym3KWi1qanz2po1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0RYTHV9YYQ4W5Q3HQMG2&Expires=1281127082&Signature=15FGT7a8gfHIh8jd10GXH0JyYhY%3D

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6p293yFG21qanz2po1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0RYTHV9YYQ4W5Q3HQMG2&Expires=1281127112&Signature=ppau4wPKmXfNhLO5wH7GWDmt2NE%3D

All comments are welcome
PhiLOueL Says:
August 6th, 2010 at 8:19 am

Cool tutorial thanks!

I tried it with a chrome bowl and look: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/x2r2jTySTDBMbsglLM9Awg?feat=directlink
darren_c Says:
August 6th, 2010 at 10:14 am

I tried my own water drop shots not too long ago and posted on my blog. I first posted the shots and then followed up with the set-up and how I shot them. I was really pleased for a first time. Leave me a comment on my blog if you like them.

You can check out both posts here:

http://darrenclarkphoto.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-to-do-with-leaky-faucet-water-drop.html

http://darrenclarkphoto.blogspot.com/2010/06/water-drop-set-up.html

Cheers!

DC
skv Says:
August 6th, 2010 at 3:43 pm

Hi,
Is it possible to take droplet pictures at Tv/125 with canon 210 new dig camera ?please give me a fast replay ……
skv
Ryan Says:
August 6th, 2010 at 11:50 pm

Brian = spent all that time writing this article and taking photos of his step-by-step tutorial.

Scott, Caroline, Oliver = rather than be thankful other people are sharing their thoughts and educating us, it sounds like they are complaining douches. It’s a wonder why people still volunteer their time and effort to write articles to only be bombarded by negativity from people such as these.
Martin Says:
August 7th, 2010 at 5:47 am

This was my quick-and-dirty attempt: http://www.flickr.com/photos/endemoniada/4865221927/

No background, just bokeh and natural light from behind. I had a flash set up on a Gorilla Pod to the side of my camera, using E-TTL II. It was shot at 1/1000 with f/5.6. My biggest problem was that keeping the camera as close as I possibly could, my DOF was only just a centimeter wide. With the angle and everything, it was extremely hard to get the whole splash in focus. Anyway, it turned out reasonably well for being a pretty spontaneous shot, I think.
Shannon (Im a guy) Says:
August 7th, 2010 at 6:45 am

Anybody have some explicit instructions on how to take these type photographs. New in photography and like this idea.
Digital Photography Says:
August 7th, 2010 at 11:10 am

Awesome article. Thank you very much Nick for sharing the tips below:

1. Shallow trays make better drop bounce-backs. Different depths affect the results.
2. Black plastic bin liner is very effective inside a cat litter tray or better still a very shallow baking tray.
3. The bigger the tray the better, to avoid getting the edge in frame.
4. A lit white background reflecting in the water can be coloured either with gels or in post.
5. Point the strobes at the background not the drops.
6. Extension tubes on a 85mm or 135mm lens give a nice narrow field of view to avoid the tray edges.

I’d love for some of the photography enthusiasts’ to visit our site. We have many articles on Digital Photography , Business Photography, Camera Reviews, Photography articles
Mathieu Says:
August 8th, 2010 at 5:07 am

Nice article.

I have try too :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/staynervous/4869041971/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staynervous/4869044379/

Cheers.
@Mitchy79 Says:
August 9th, 2010 at 1:36 am

Hello Brian,

thank you very much for your tutorial! It made me curious and finally I tried it on my own last night. And yes, I like my first results!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mitchy79/4872170288/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mitchy79/4870465156/

Cheers,
Michael
Madhuri Says:
August 11th, 2010 at 12:01 am

Thanks for the tutorial on waterdroplets. Here are some I tried

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkbhat/4877111051/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkbhat/4877111057/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkbhat/4877111063/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkbhat/4877117771/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkbhat/4877727580/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkbhat/4877118277/
Michael Jolley Says:
August 23rd, 2010 at 9:20 am

Thank You .. for your tutorial MJ
Alan Foley Says:
September 24th, 2010 at 1:40 pm

I know this is an old thread but here is my attempt at drops, and the last shot is the set up i made to shoot the drops which i’ve modified a bit with the placements of the flash units.