Day 30 - Up, Up and AWAY!

On this final day of my September 30-Day Challenge, I had already picked out a name for my entry, and had to come up with an idea for a photo that would fit the picture.  I think that's a little backwards, but that's just what happened.

My camera will be thanking me, since it took over 480 shots today to get this image.  Each time you add another drop to the image, you have to figure out, in milliseconds, the size of the drop, the delay between drops, and the flash delay to capture the collision at the optimum time.  Since one drop (the green one today) comes up from below, there is also an additional need to keep the pressure up on the sprayer, as well as figure out the delay necessary to sync the upward drop to pass through the downward drops, so those variables also come into play in figuring out timing and drop sizes.

I am delighted that I was able to figure out programming to capture the upward jet after it had completely left the nozzle, and still get the falling drops to collide with it.  It gives a fabulous feeling of satisfaction to know that I managed to do it!

So, after a month of many, many shots to get the 30 I have posted, I can say that am very pleased with my photos and I have learned much and hopefully opened up some new neural synapses to stave off brain atrophy.   :)

Thanks for following me on this adventure.  I hope you have enjoyed the variety of splashes I was able to capture that show so much of what takes place without our ever seeing it, without the assistance of a camera to stop the action.

** Again, apologies for the darkness of the picture in the blog.  It can be seen on Flickr and Worth1000 in its proper color.

Day 29 - Dress Up

This actually reminded me of a lady from the 1800's or so, dressed up in her fancy skirt and petticoats, wearing a wide brimmed hat.  Sort of like Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke, walking down the boardwalk of Dodge City, Kansas.  

I'm enjoying the shooting up from a different valve, but having to rethink numbers and delays and sync times, while good for brain exercise, is getting tiring!  Not for once in awhile, but on a daily basis, I find myself talking aloud to myself to make sure I'm understanding what I need to do to realign numbers. 

And let's not even talk about eyestrain from hours of trying to focus on small water collisions, both for camera focusing and at the monitor later, to discern the best out of many, many shots taken at each session.

Enough of a pity party.  It hasn't been all bad, by a longshot, and I'm certainly coming away with a much better understanding of the secret life of water drops (thanks go to EssjayNZ for this wonderful description) and how to capture them.  :)  

***Again, this image, despite much tweaking of the original, which shows up fine in the thumbnail and at Worth, is still dark and splotchy at this site, and I don't know why.  My apologies.

Day 28 - Bubble Up!

Well, I seem to be getting better with the bubbles!   No errant bubbles bursting all over my basin, table or external flashes!   I wasn't sure how the bubble would handle the upward jet, so I tried for a simple collision, and once I got the numbers straightened out to get the collision in the right place (no small task), I got this image on the first shot I took after blowing the bubble onto the basin!   Wow!   No late night for me today!

This is fun, but I am really ready for the 30 days to be over.  This has taken way more effort than I thought it would, but on the other hand, I'm very pleased with what I have learned and the images I have captured.

***Again, apologies for the dark and banded picture.  Blogspot has done that the last 3 days on pics I've uploaded to Worth and Flickr with no problems.  I'm too tired to try to figure it out!

Day 27 - Gussied Up

For some reason I had more trouble getting this shoot-from-below collision than I did on my first attempt at this technique yesterday!  With more water in the basin, which isn't particularly rigid, the nozzle ended up further below water level, causing difficulty getting the upward jet to go high enough, and smooth enough.  Along with the other "regular" issues of variables, it took me awhile to figure out what the problem was.  By that time, I was frustrated and tired!

So, the shot, while fun, isn't what I'd planned to try to achieve.  But I'm happy to have succeeded both yesterday and today in capturing longer cylinders without having the splash collapse, something I've not been able to do from dropping from above.  So there is a consolation!

Oh and thanks to MadamMtnLion, who decided this splash looks like a Western hat's brim and a fringed skirt below!  I now have a title for the image!

** I do not know why the main images yesterday and today came out so much darker than they appear in the thumbnail, which is the truer color.  Both were taken from the same image with no alteration.  I don't know why the larger pictures have gotten so dark when I've uploaded them here, but remain the correct colors on Worth and/or Flickr.

Day 26 - Onward and Upward!

My favorite water drop mentor, Peter (N7000) from Switzerland, visited me again today and brought me a 'kit' he had assembled with nozzles and pressurized sprayer, which now allows me to divert one of my valves and shoot a water jet upward.  All of my photos so far have been of collisions created by dropping a drop from above, and waiting for it to rebound back up so it could collide with another later-released drop.   Now, I have the option of shooting a jet upward, and simultaneously, or almost so, releasing a drop (or several) from above.  With proper timing and alignment, a collision will occur.    

Setting up and coordinating the new  was easy.  Peter did it!  Figuring out all the new math (numbers in milliseconds to determine size of drops, delays between drops, when the flashes would go off, etc., etc.) was a bit harder, as was "locating" the collision zone in a place that would be attractive and visible in the camera's field of view.  Not too low, not too high.  Plus all the other variables that come into play also made us put on our thinking caps.

We got a few basic collisions after working on it for awhile, then it was time for a quick lunch and back to the airport for Peter, who returns back to Switzerland tonight!

What a great friend, and a wonderful inspiration and mentor!   Thank you, Peter!  

Day 25 - Molten!

This is a homage to the volcano now erupting in Iceland.  One of our guides from our trip last year has been posting the most awesome night images of the molten lava , so I decided to give those colors a try!   This is a 2-valve shot.  One dropped the milky white liquid, the other dropped a clear red liquid.  The first drop, the white, fell into the basin which originally had clear yellow water, until many failed splashes of both the red and white drops created a milky orange liquid.  As the white drop fell into the basin and rebounded, it brought the original yellow color back up with it, through the orange top layer.  Capturing the splash a bit earlier would have allowed the column to remain intact (yellow on bottom, white on top), but the red splash with attached bucket didn't show up as nicely.  So it was a trade off!   So many options!

Day 24 - Necklace

Another day, another adventure in recipe-making.  I have three different additives in this mixture, along with some surfactant to try to make it 'fly' out a bit more.  I had some fun results today, but I liked the stateliness and almost perfect symmetry of this splash the best.

And because I love the idea of "finding hidden images" in the splashes, here is a bonus.  I couldn't help but think of Mary Poppins when I saw this splash during my shoot.

Bonus Splash:  Mary Poppins

Day 23 - Conehead!

I'm beginning to think that the addition of milk is causing some breakdown in the elasticity of the additive-enhanced water I'm using.  Or maybe the additive water is getting old, though it still remains viscous.  I will probably make a new batch up tonight for tomorrow's shots to see if it makes any difference.   Nonetheless, I was able to get a nicely-shaped, symmetrical three-drop collision, and still have the splash transparent enough to allow us to see the top of the column and flyaway drop inside the splashes.  Reminds me of an x-ray, under blacklight!  And the opaque liquid reminds me of smoke as it is drawn up the column of the splash jet formed by the first drop rebounding.

Day 22 - Holey Splash, Batman!

After yesterday's thick liquid, I decided to try changing my recipe.  Instead of adding half-and-half to the liquid to make it opaque, I tried some regular milk.  I also changed the additive in the water.  The collisions varied, some remaining fairly 'condensed' (no pun intended), but this one was one of several that actually splashed out, and formed holes in the solid plate.  I've been trying to achieve this texture for awhile and have gotten some holes, but not in a large plate splash before.  So there was some measure of victory, but I'm not sure if it had to do with the additive water, or using milk instead of half-and-half for the opacity.  Whatever.  It worked!

Day 21 - Hula Hoop

Changing over to dropping liquid into a basin with a black background is more complicated than I expected.  Flashes need to be moved to the front and side, and liquids have to be made opaque or else they will not show up against the black background.  The same was true for the crowns earlier this month, but they were being dropped onto a piece of plexiglass, and here, the water must be illuminated at least a little.  The drops were made opaque white using a bit of cream, but the basin water remained clear, but with food coloring.   The white drops fall into the basin and the ensuing jet/column that rises brings with it some of the basin water and some of the drop water, so you see a mix of the two colors, and luckily some streaks of the basin water show through.  Timing is also altered since the liquids are thicker and behave differently than without the cream.   Because of the added thickness, it's also harder to get a wide spread on the collisions.  Time to put on my thinking cap to see what I can do to 'grow' the splashes.

I like how the hula hoop is formed by the start of the disintegration of the 'plate' that formed when the drop collided with the column.  Just a hint of daylight shows through around the column.  And don't you know that hula hoopers now require safety helmets!

Day 20 - Worm with Microphone!

My final abstract for this challenge turned out to be staring me in the face!   I looked at this and immediately saw a perplexed worm with a microphone suspended from his headphone.
Or wait..... is it a frog?   Either way, it looks as though its trapped in a device which has a fanny pack and microphone for him to speak into.  Maybe needs to call for help...

Day 19 - Picasso Lady

In trying to keep with the more abstract collisions this "row" I came up with this.  Using two valves and three colors, I was able to create a collision involving yellow and blue drops meeting the red drop flying away from the splash column.  Looking at the combined multi-drop, I see what looks like the head of a Picasso lady wearing a Carmen Miranda-like headscarf with banana sticking up.

What do you see?

Day 18 - Ornamental Wall Fountain

I'm still using my non-splashy additive, but with a bit of other stuff thrown in for variety.  I like how this shot came out looking like an ornamental wall fountain, complete with hanging hole!   The mixture is thick enough that you can see the colors mixing in both the column and in the back wall of the fountain.  

Day 17 - Wishbone

I'm still using the mostly non-splashing mix I made up yesterday looking mostly for abstract patterns created by the falling drops.  I thought this collision over the center column was interesting, especially since the colliding blue and yellow falling drops created a strong green center area.  All in all, this came out looking like a floating wishbone to me.  

Day 16 - Multicolored Abstract

I changed my liquids today, and since each one behaves differently, I need to figure out what kind of drop collisions I will aim for.  Since this liquid tends not to splash a lot, I likely won't get many flying tendrils.  So I decided to try for abstract art forms instead of the more traditional symmetrical shapes.

I used two valves on this, with a different color in each, and a 3rd color in the basin.  As the drops collided, their colors merged, so I ended up with 5 colors instead of the 3 I started with.   I loved the intricacy of the water patterns in the top collision, and even got a kick out of the yin-yang droplet that hasn't quite collided yet.  I also liked the juxtaposition of the curves and rounded shapes next to the tall fairly straight column.  Just an interesting abstract liquid sculpture!

Day 15 - Bubble Resistance

These soap bubbles are very resistant to breakage!  It certainly doesn't seem that way when I'm trying to keep them intact and NOT breaking!  I have a whole tabletop of dried bubble mix that I now have to clean up from all the bubbles I blew that did not land in the water so today's job will be cleaning my work area.  I'm sure all the dried soap mix will re-hydrate and once again become slimy.  Yuck!

I loved this capture.  I had to re-figure out all of my numbers on the trigger because I swapped out cameras and am using my old 40D for awhile, since I'm accumulating an incredible amount of shutter actuations this month.  I thought I'd spread the wealth, as it were.  So with recalculating numbers, I figured I'd try for something simple.  But, it's elegant in its own way!

Enjoy!

Day 14 - Free At Last!

If you take enough shots, you will finally capture a bubble bursting!   And, lucky for me that shot also contained a decent collision splash shape.  Actually, this splash reminds me of a figure facing me, right hand up in victory at its accomplishment.   Or..... for the more jaded, a rude arm gesture.  Either one would work with the idea of breaking free of the prison of the bubble.  :)

Day 13 Crown in Bubble with Reflection

I was able to get a sharp reflection by using a piece of white acrylic as my base instead of dropping into a basin of water.  Aligning the bubble again proved to be the main challenge, after getting it to stick without popping.  Now to work on the lighting.  Since I only have two external flashes and one was behind the back acrylic, my lighting was very uneven.  More obvious in this larger subject and smooth base than with rippled water.  But I was pleased with the result.  Sort of reminds me of a snow globe.

Day 12 - Ghost on a Stick

This didn't come out as I had planned, but I do like the almost symmetrical drop collision partially in and partially out of the bubble.  It's sort of like a ghost-on-a-stick peering out of the bubble.    Do you see something else?

Day 11 - Breaking Free!

The hardest part of creating a collision in a bubble is getting the bubble to land in the basin without either blowing off of it, deflating, or popping before it anchors itself to the water. That takes up a good 75% of the time of preparation for the shot, and creates a host of problems of its own - adding soap to the basin from all the popped bubbles which affects the action of the dropping water; causing a delay which often allows the external flashes to go into sleep mode, thereby underexposing the shot when the camera is activated, etc.  But, the minor frustration is worth it when the timing is right and the image shows some real action!

I loved how this mushroom is managing to break free just before the bubble burst!

Day 10 - Crown with Jet Collision

On my previous crown shots, I was asked to try removing the reflection on one, and to see if I could achieve a crown with an inner jet and collision.  Well, I worked at it, and am pleased with the results.  Getting that inner column, with a collision on it (albeit small), was no small feat.  But, SecretAtlantis and MadamMtnLion, here you go!  Your wish is my command.  :)

Day 9 - Delicate Crown

Using a thicker drop mixture created a less splattery pool at the point of impact, which was a good place to add some additional color.  The white sort of melded into the blue from the prior drops, so I added some green.  A single drop of green, over the course of many subsequent drops, is spread into the center by the inward and upward action of the crown splash, and comes up the sides of the crown.    I loved the delicate tendrils coming off the crown in this collision.

Day 8 - Castle Turret

I thought it was only fitting, on this day Will and Kate announced they are expecting their second heir to the throne, to try to create a castle turret-shaped crown.  Because my liquid was so thick in order to try to get those straight sided walls, it was a pain to try to clean up the splatter between each "take", so I decided to go with the flow.  No pun intended.  The drops were green, but a solid green splash wasn't particularly exciting, so I once again -- against my better judgment -- put a few drops of undiluted red food coloring in the pool collected from prior splash failures.  

I ended up liking this splash, because of the green turret tips, the detail in the pool, and the funky-shaped drop coming down.  

Maybe one/some of you science-type people might be able to explain the drop phenomenon.

Day 7 - Ornate Birthday Crown

After a lot of trial and error, mostly error, I managed to achieve this decorative birthday crown in honor of my mother-in-law's 90th birthday today.  You go, girl!  And yes, I will email it to her, so she can see it on her iPad.   

Note to self:  Try not to work with undiluted red food coloring anymore...

Day 6 - Explosion

I worked on my liquid mixture to get some stretchiness, and added some half-and-half to give it some body and opacity.    I love the delicate splash created, but I can tell you that those flying tendrils create more of a mess on my table than the regular drops into a water basin do!

Enjoy!

Day 5 - English Saddle

Well, this was unexpected!  Very different from anything I've captured before, but interesting nonetheless.  It was repeatable, so it wasn't a fluke.  The difference in texture is due to yet a different additive.  

My first thought was that this looked like a side view of a colorful English saddle, or jockey's saddle, because of that blue splash flopping forward over the top of the column.   What do you see?

Day 4 - Umbrella with Hat

Today I switched to a different viscosity additive.  There are various additives which serve to thicken the water and affect its surface tension, and which also affect the action of the drops when they collide.   Each has different advantages and creates different effects.  

No hidden images in this photo!  All I see is an umbrella.   Hmmmmm...... I'm singin' in the rain!  Ah, Gene Kelly.  What a dancer!

Day 3 - Collision on Column with Hat

Splashes vary according to many variables - viscosity and temperatures of the liquid in the drop bottles and catch basin, level in the reservoir bottle, etc.   Yesterday I captured the chalice collision after about 10 minutes of tweaking trigger settings.  Today, this double collision took well over 2 hours!  Viscosity played a major issue and I found myself having to tweak my recipe mid-session.  But it's the journey.  That's what I keep telling myself.

I liked seeing the larger splash slide over the center column and the hat forming by a flyaway drop heading upward through another falling droplet.

I don't see anything special in this collision, other than the Tin Man-style hat in the topmost collision.

Enjoy!

Day 2 - Covered Chalice

Three colors used - a red basin with teal and yellow drops.  I love how the action of colliding has merged colors, so now green and purple have also appeared!

Looks like a chalice to me, with a plate over it, and the formerly familiar "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz" of Alka Seltzer dropping in and bubbling.

Enjoy!

Day 1 - Lizard on a Mushroom

Water drop collisions are like clouds.  We can often "see" things within them or suggested by them.  I see a lizard-like reptile sitting on a mushroom.  What do you see?

Click on the image to see a larger view.  Enjoy the splash!