Water & Shadows

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Using a cone of black card to "snoot" the flash and a few "wet runs" (the dry runs were just to get the shadows in the right place) this worked out better than I thought it would. It was done as a try out for something similar that I want to do, so any constructive comments will be appreciated.

Thanks

[Pol]

Re: Water & Shadows

Nice idea and it looks as though you are well on the way to getting what you want.

I like the position of the shadows - excellent the way the shadow of the stream is placed. You've also done a good job in holding back the reflections and achieving a clearly defined stream + glass edges. I'm not sure if it might look better from slighly further back so that the base of the glass isn't quite so tightly cropped -I'm still pondering over that aspect.

The overall imgage strikes me as a rather lacking in life and sparkle, a bit gray and flat. I feel it might 'pop' a bit more if you could bring out more brightness and contrast - but still hold back the potentially reflective highlights.

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Water & Shadows

Great project

I agree with Pol on most counts and wonder if this would look better in colour rather than mono?

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: Water & Shadows

super idea, I wonder if boosting the contrast, or tweaking the levels would give it a little more punch?

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Water & Shadows

Great project

I agree with Pol on most counts and wonder if this would look better in colour rather than mono?

Ian

I was surprised at just how well I had got it so that colour was absent from this test setup. If I posted a "straight from the camera" file the only colour is from defractions in the glass and water as it was posed in a black and white environment. I'm trying to get this setup to work with digital so I can then shoot it with slide film and get the same effect.

Nice idea and it looks as though you are well on the way to getting what you want.

I like the position of the shadows - excellent the way the shadow of the stream is placed. You've also done a good job in holding back the reflections and achieving a clearly defined stream + glass edges. I'm not sure if it might look better from slighly further back so that the base of the glass isn't quite so tightly cropped -I'm still pondering over that aspect.

The overall imgage strikes me as a rather lacking in life and sparkle, a bit gray and flat. I feel it might 'pop' a bit more if you could bring out more brightness and contrast - but still hold back the potentially reflective highlights.

Pol

As often your comments echo my thoughts. I had lots of test shots (thank goodness for digital) to get the snooting of the flash and power settings down to the point where reflections are unobtrusive.

Everything will have to be set up further back to get the size of the shadow to match that of the glass, so next time the 1.4 converter will go on the lens to give a better working distance.

super idea, I wonder if boosting the contrast, or tweaking the levels would give it a little more punch?

Exposure is going to be "dialed in" to try to match that needed for slide film which will have a bit more going for it when projected in a darkened room.

I really appreciate it whenever comments are made as it always adds food for thought, so thanks guys.

[Pol]

Re: Water & Shadows

It's actually very clever imo. The shadows and the dof are superb!

If I ever try anything with water I usually end up making a mess everywhere so I salute you for that stream and shadow - yet no drips or stray droplets running down either the inside or the outside of the glass!

Good luck with it. I feel sure you'll get what you want.

Pol