365 Project Day 212: Learning Curve

Canon 5D Mark ll, 100 macro 2.8, 6.3 aperture, 1/160 shutter, 200 ISO, Canon speed light 580EXll off camera at 1/16 power with a red gel bouncing off white card behind water.

I realize this is my second post on water drops in the last week. I wanted to try a different method. Last time I used colored and patterned paper in the background to get the effects I wanted. This time I used colored gels directly on my flash. I also used some food coloring in the water in some of the shots. In the one above, the water dripping in was died yellow, and I used a red filter on my flash.

In the shot below I used milk to increase the viscosity of the water so the drops would sit a bit longer before sinking in. I like the effect I got here.

And here as well…

I hope to always be improving in my craft. I can only start from where I am. If nothing else, this project has been like sending myself to school for a year, to do nothing but play and learn photography techniques. I know it is much more than that though. Sometimes I think it may swallow me whole, while at others I feel I have it sufficiently wrangled to the ground. Either way, the project goes on, and I am always learning something through it, it seems. Not all the posts are deeply meaningful, or emotionally provocative, but that is okay, as long as there is something inspiring here somewhere. I found these lovely drops of water inspiring. Water and light, when intermingled, always carry a note of mystery that draws me in. Beautiful.

Here are a few more from my time playing in the water today.

Always learning!

Proverbs 22:29 ~ “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.”