A Delicate Waterdrop Umbrella

This is our entry in Lens-Artists Weekly Photo Challenge #46 – Delicate.

Colliding waterdrops create a delicate umbrella — here for a brief instant, then gone forever.   The photo below was created using our tripod-mounted Canon 50D and an ancient 100 mm macro lens in front of a paper background. The shutter was opened for two seconds while two drops of water were released into a martini glass filled with water. A flash, perpendicular to the camera, was triggered when the waterdrops collided. It illuminated the scene for 1/8000 of a second.  In the “umbrella” shape seen in the photo, the “shaft” is created as the first drop plunges into the water in the glass and then rebounds into the air. The “canopy” is created when the second drop collides with the rebounding first drop. (Technical note: It doesn’t really matter how long the shutter remains open as long as an image taken without the flash is black).

Waterdrop Umbrella

This photo was taken on March 29, 2017. Specs are:

Canon 50D, ISO 100, f/22, 2.0 sec, 100 mm.

 

20 thoughts on “A Delicate Waterdrop Umbrella”

    1. Thank you. There are several different types of images based on the viscosity of the liquid and timing between drops. The umbrella, however, is our favorite.

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