Dahlia and Fern Drops
Dahlia image refraction on a false staghorn fern
Dahlia image refraction on a false staghorn fern
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Aug, 2015Views
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Maui-Up-Close
August 16, 2015
thanks again, Terry!! i'm new to this site, still testing the waters...i'll be uploading more soon so stay tuned!!!!
pedronunoferreira
August 27, 2015
Excellent detail, sharpness, light play, colour ... a masterpiece. Voted for extreme detail photo challenge
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
Indoor shot, taken after everyone was asleep. Just the dogs walking or a subtle blowing of the wind into the house can vibrate the water drops to ruin the clarity of the shot. All of my water drop refraction images are done either in my yard or in my home. If I did this in public they'd suit me up in those funny jackets that tie in the back.Time
This was an indoor shot and at night. It just requires absolute stillness. This is a hard feat to accomplish given the critters that live with me!! (Three dogs that each are compelled to be my favorite over the other, one gigantic tortoise who goes in an out of the house as he pleases, two monster-foul mouthed parrots who fly around the house and terrorize everyone in it and two gentile cockatiels who unfortunately can't stand anyone else in the house.) So I must do this while everyone else is asleep.Lighting
I actually prefer natural lighting but sometimes resort to indoor shots. I don't have a professional set up by any means. Two goose neck lamps are my soft boxes. Yeah, one would be bewildered at my 'photo studio set up'. Direct lighting on my background and bouncing light to get the overall lighting. If I had a professional set up I'd probably do the same. Angling the lighting helps to maximize the features since there are so many depths and heights within each photo.Equipment
Tripod is an absolute must. I would never dream of a shot like this freehand. Done with my prime lens and a speedlight in addition to my goose neck lamps. I also use sheer fabric to diffuse the light from the lamps. Greenery used as a back drop also adds character and variety within the water drop refraction.Inspiration
It's just my version of a parallel universe. I really enjoy looking inward rather than outward. It is addicting. Once you do it you'll want to do it all the time. You'll want to share it but others don't get as excited about it. THEN...I will hear others (to whom I explain it to) become experts in explaining it to other people. I chuckle. They don't seem as impressed when I explain it to them yet they bask in the marvel others express to them when they explain it. Mainly the reason I continued this style of photography was no one else I knew (personally) was doing it. I mean, I live in Maui. We have gorgeous beaches, scenery, sunrises and sunsets. Everyone takes those photos and are quite good at it. Not me, I mean I do landscape shots but not as good as them. So I just dared to be different and it stuck. Even seeing these water drop refraction images on the internet I just wanted to kick it up a notch and still not do the same old plumeria and daisy shots. I just want to be different.Editing
Reposition, cropping, tweaks by increases to the saturation and sharpening, brighten or contrast adjustments. Otherwise it is what it is. People think it's not an actual image but ask my SD card after I make the shot. It purely is.In my camera bag
This photo was taken with a (novice) Nikon D3100. Not at all a 'big gun' by professional standards. I've done very similar shots with a P&S but you can broaden the adjustments with a DSLR. Nikon Speedlight and a tripod I picked up from Craigslist. Those are my trio of mainstays that I must have. Oh yeah, my microfiber lens cloth is a must too. So make that four items in my bag.Feedback
These shots are very personal and take a lot of patience. That being said I prefer to have absolute solitude from any human interaction. Mostly because the sound of another human voice IRRITATES ME!! It's obvious that the one not taking the photo has no clue what you're seeing through the camera viewer yet they still want to give advice. Hate that!! Getting these shots requiring me getting into ridiculous positions so taking it in the confines of my yard or inside my home preserves my dignity! Patience, practice and a closed mind to outside interference. Those would be the primary pieces of advice. Then it would be to be different with your set up. Have an open mind and just try it. The worst thing that could happen is that you create something different? Lastly, do NOT attempt this in a public place. Not only will you have interference by the movement of the world, you'll just look plain ridiculous...unless you don't mind. I won't if you don't! Happy shooting...ALWAYS!!
