On composition - I like the diagonal line and would suggest the droplet be in the lower 1/3 corner but not at the very edge (rule of thirds) Perhaps applying a filter to the background (e.g. neatimage) to clean out the noise. The color of the leaf is wonderful (thought I'd comment even though you didn't ask for that type of input)
Thanks for you input Theresa, I've not used neatimage before but just downloaded a copy - my first attempt.
Rule of thirds, ah yes I remember now. Now I've moved the drop (nearly there) I think the additions in the top left/right corners add to the picture. I guess thanks to you I've improved the image.
This might break your heart, but most of the outside water drop pictures that have a picture in the waterdrop, have the picture put in with ps. Sorry. That's been my experience anyway.
Nice picture . I like the second crop better.
Thanks for you input Theresa, I've not used neatimage before but just downloaded a copy - my first attempt.
Rule of thirds, ah yes I remember now. Now I've moved the drop (nearly there) I think the additions in the top left/right corners add to the picture. I guess thanks to you I've improved the image.
Boy do I need a new monitor!
I'm tickled that my suggestion worked out (and thanks for trying it). I do like the second one better -- who knew there was more interesting info in the cropped out parts. I've just started working with NeatImage myself and some shots it improves and some it doesn't. You background is even better now - more compatible with the colors in your shot.
Hey, a big thanks again Theresa. I'm really from the 'old' school and (if possible) would prefer to retake the picture, digital cameras are still quite new to me but am quickly learning their potential :)
In my opinion, the first photo is better for a couple of reasons. First, it is simple with no distractions in the background. Second, you can almost feel the drop getting bigger and nearer the edge. It is much more active and this can be critical when no strong center of interest is present.
The rule of thirds is a good beginning, but there are other rules and guides too.
Thanks Dwight, now things start to get complicated! I liked the first image and thats why I posted it, but can see improvements in the second pic as it 'adds' more to the image.
imho I think if the origional was of a better quality then pic 1 is best but I personally prefer the second. I'm beginning to understand the variances in challenge votes/comments.
How does it go? "you can please all of the people........."
I have images in my water drop shot, that were NOT put there in photoshop, my daughter and dog were standing opposite of me but off to the right some and some how they managed to get in the shot, I thought this was very cool, tho oddly I got critisized for it....
p.s. the sunstar was natural too, this shot is hardly post processed at all.
Sorry. I guess I didn't mean to imply all pictures in waterdrops were ps'd. Just all the ones I have seen before now. I was talking about those where you can see something like a perfectly detailed rose within the drop, but even that could be done if you have a nice picture of a rose placed really close to the drop and out of camera view and you used a macro lens.
That's a beautiful picture, btw.
Sorry. I guess I didn't mean to imply all pictures in waterdrops were ps'd. Just all the ones I have seen before now. I was talking about those where you can see something like a perfectly detailed rose within the drop, but even that could be done if you have a nice picture of a rose placed really close to the drop and out of camera view and you used a macro lens.
That's a beautiful picture, btw.
It's not that complicated! See my DOF-entry and the setup shown in the comments
The distance between the drops and the bottle is about 20 cm and it shows fully. Something like a flower would be much easier to capture because one can place it closer.
Larger objects, like people or trees get of course very distorted due to the fish-eye effect and thus it's hard to see them clearly in the drop. Also the focal-lenght of the drop needs to be considered.
Another beautiful picture. But I'd say 600 tries doesn't imply that it is especially easy.;)
I know you were trying for perfection. But if you were outside in the rain, would you try 600 times? That's why I said outside shots before, but then, I admitted it was possible to do.
Thanks for your comments peeps. Jörg love the drops, something I'd like to try - how does being a chemist help with the flow? was it the apparatus or did you 'play' with the water chemisty?
