April 5, 2010

3

Using water-droplets to improve flower photos – DIY

This is a really simple way to make good looking flower photographs without spending hours on Photoshop or finding the perfect flower just to make your photograph stand out from the rest. Flowers have been photographed too many times before, so we need to make it more interesting, simple by adding water-droplets!

Pink Rose with water-droplets

Pink Rose with water-droplets

You’ll need:

  • Camera – any really!
  • Spray Bottle, with water!
https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/using-water-droplets-to-impove-flower-photos/using-water-droplets-to-improve-flower-photos-1.jpg

Cheap Spray Bottle

1. Spray Technique

  • Firstly find the flower you want to photograph:
  • Spray a small amount of water on the petals (make sure you have it on the right nozzle)
  • No closer than 10 cm otherwise the droplets will form larger ones:
using-water-droplets-to-improve-flower-photos-2.jpg

Spray a couple of times...

2. Experiment with camera techniques!

  • Experiment with angles (low, high, middle to the petals)
  • Macro lenses are preferable, but not necessary, you could use a telephoto lens – great for D.O.F
  • Here are some examples of mine, these are the raw shots – you could add a warming filter, etc
https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/using-water-droplets-to-impove-flower-photos/using-water-droplets-to-improve-flower-photos-4.jpg

Low Angle

https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/using-water-droplets-to-impove-flower-photos/using-water-droplets-to-improve-flower-photos-5.jpg

Neutral

using-water-droplets-to-improve-flower-photos-6.jpg

High Angle

3. Wide-Angle

  • If close-ups of flowers aren’t that interesting you could try something similar to this:
  • Spray upwards towards the light source:
https://www.images.scottphotographics.com/using-water-droplets-to-impove-flower-photos/using-water-droplets-to-improve-flower-photos-3.jpg

Spray across over the light source

The result:

Hoping the Heavens Open

Hoping the Heavens Open

Camera: DSLR-A350
Exposure: 1/320
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 30 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: Auto, Did not fire

This shot below was taken at dawn, and the daisies had small dew droplets on their petals. Dew is ideal!

Dormant Daisies

Dormant Daisies

Camera: DSLR-A350
Exposure: 1/125
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 70 mm
Exposure Bias: -2 EV
ISO Speed: 100
Flash: Off
Droplets on Spider's web

Droplets on Spider's web

Camera: DSLR-A350
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 70 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/10 EV
ISO Speed: 125
Flash: Flash did not fire, auto mode

If you’d like to use these photographs please Contact Me!

Please comment below if you have any questions and I’ll answer them ASAP!

All images on this site are copyrighted© – All Rights Reserved.

Written by Mike


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Michael Scott is the publisher and photographer behind Scott Photographics! He is very passionate about his photography and enjoys sharing the best of his experiences for others to enjoy too! Contact Mike via email!
Read more from DIY, Photography, Tutorials
3 Comments Post a comment

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  1. Maria
    Oct 2 2012

    Wow! That is amazing! Mike, your tutorials are some of the best photography tutorials!


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  3. Lazarus
    Dec 12 2010

    Whoah, that Heavens photo looks stunning! I’m going through your website, looking for posts on ISO, DOF, shutter speed, aperture, and how they relate and everything (as I don’t really understand how to use them), and I stumbled upon this.

    Back to my original search…


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  5. Jun 29 2010

    Your post was focused and easy to read. How refreshing! Thanks!

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