Refracting Drops - Photoshop Contest

Goal:

For this contest you have to take pictures of a drop that is reflecting an object in it. (Can also be milk or other similar liquid substances). This is a bit of an advanced technique and you might want to read about it: Refracting Dew Droplets.
Some amazing images can come out of it! Give it a try and good luck! ( suggested by: Giulia )

	Most Discussed	Most Votes	Most Favs	Most Views
	15 comments	419 votes	10 favs	2716 views

Prizes: show »

Details: show »

27 Comments: show »

DML: It´s a good and difficult idea, I hope to see very good entry here. Just one thing, the link is broken. (1 year and 337 days ago)

DML: Good luck everybody

(1 year and 337 days ago)

Contest Moderator: DML, what is the url that is not opening for you? (1 year and 337 days ago)

DML: OK, now it works, sorry.

(1 year and 333 days ago)

karaflazz: Required Items: You will need the following items to create these photos: 1st: Camera,2nd: Macro lens...(don't own one) ,3rd (preferably off-camera flash)(don't own one)...lol...Good luck to all of you guys...hehe!!! (1 year and 333 days ago)

maclu2iaf: actually it can be done just with a camera and a tripod, need a good lighting too. just play with the aperture but the camera preferably need 6MP above for cropping. (1 year and 333 days ago)

wiseman: karaflazz who has only photography points and is one of the best agrees with me keep photo manipulation as its own contest (1 year and 333 days ago)

Contest Moderator: wiseman, this is not manipulation, this is close up photography..........please stop with the negative comments here. (1 year and 333 days ago)

adeincyprus: Karaflazz does not agree with you at all, he simply states what he thinks you need for the contest, rightly or wrongly...! (1 year and 333 days ago)

kyricom: apparently you have to take pictures of flowers as well!

But, nothing is blooming around here yet (j/k)

(1 year and 333 days ago)

adeincyprus: lol.......... (1 year and 333 days ago)

maclu2iaf: well it doesn't says 'have to' for flowers, it could be anything (swords, shortguns, zombies etc)...and wiseman, we dont call this 'manipulation' we call it 'technique'. (1 year and 332 days ago)

itsmymoment: Actually, maclu2iaf, is correct, you do not need a dedicated macro lens to get some good macro shots. I used the kit lens from my camera joined with 3 macro extension tubes (cheap plastic ones from Amazon,com for $35 USD). The off camera lighting I used was 3 daylight 25w compact flouresent lights and a tripod. If you use this type of set up you can get some really interesting results without having to invest a small fortune on equipment. You will need the tripod since with the f/stop of about f/16-22 to get good DOF you are making an effective f/stop of about f/45-60 and will result in shutter times of approx 15-20 seconds. use the old "focus one third" into the frame for the hyper-focal distance and you should get a great DOF...also, you will need a cable release to prevent camera shake or if you don't have one use the self-timer on the camera as in this case, the subject isn't going anywhere! I hope this suggestion helps someone out, I hope to see some really creative entries in this contest...GL to All! (1 year and 332 days ago)

kyricom: I don't have a macro lens either. I love the 'ol extension tubes (they're fairly cheap too). Great tips, itsmymoment. Thanks! But... my entry will be later this wek as I have to go find some zombies!

(1 year and 332 days ago)

jawshoewhah: I took a lot of awesome macros with my beat up little canon elph, just the lens it comes with. It's not so much the equipment, rather than the talent of the author. (1 year and 332 days ago)

karaflazz: So...you say that a compact camera of 8.1 mp can beat a D300 with 200 macro lens kit....come on!!You just don't submit an entry & enjoy the wonderful entry's of all the others!It's not only the talent jaws...you must have a "little help" from your equipment too (imho)! (1 year and 332 days ago)

itsmymoment: Yep karaflazz, that's what he's implying and under the right set of conditions, it may be correct. With a bit of injinuity and some talent and practice I believe it could be done also. Case in point...some of these entries we NOT shot with a dedicated macro lens. A simple point and shoot with a little "help" from a correcly placed magnifying glass can be rather effective if you crop out the edge distortion...just saying...creativity goes a long, long way. Even the best equipment in the hands of a simeon would not yeild good results...LOL! (1 year and 332 days ago)

jawshoewhah: Pretty much yes. I don't care how good the camera is, if you don't know what your doing, you're going to get crap. (1 year and 332 days ago)

jawshoewhah: BTW, I've been trying to get my shot for this contest and these are not easy shots to get. I commend all of you who can. (1 year and 332 days ago)

itsmymoment: @ jawshoewhah, you're right, they're not the easiest shots to get and get correctly, some artists can make it look easy, but there is considerable thought and set-up to the best ones. Just like some other's on the site (artists) who make the "out of the dark" lighting and high-contrast shot's look easy...I'm STILL trying like hell to get that type of shot and do it well...everyopne has their special niche, I guess that's what I love best about this site, the friendly competition and the push to be a bit better with each submission. It's a great way to hone skills. (1 year and 332 days ago)

kyricom: I think my "special niche" is losing to all you guys.

(1 year and 332 days ago)

Contest Moderator: there is some excellent discussion here, just as there should be on a site like this............if only there were discussions like this on the forums.....! (1 year and 332 days ago)

jawshoewhah: I'm still working on my "special niche" (1 year and 331 days ago)

jawshoewhah: I can get a very clear macro of a drop. I just can't seem to get anything to reflect in it. All I can do is keep trying I guess. (1 year and 331 days ago)

MaRkSqUiRrEl: Try adjusting the distance between droplet and refration subject to get focus in the water, and keep lighting behind and facing away from droplet. Solid colour backround cloth will help isolate refraction. Hope this helps. (1 year and 330 days ago)

kyricom: You can also have lighting from above or the sides... you just don't want your light source directly in front of the droplet or it will be reflected (1 year and 330 days ago)

jawshoewhah: Thanks guys I'll try that. I still got one day left. I was trying to use sunlight and that might have been my issue. (1 year and 330 days ago)

Participants: show »

Votemedals Earned: show »

27 entries submitted in this contest:

1 2 3 4 5 6 next »

flowers - created by maclu2iaf

(1 year and 331 days ago)

381	2294	5	n/a	yes

1/27	n/a	69.1

9 Comments

Tags:flowers

Morning Dew - created by MaRkSqUiRrEl

Morning dew on blades of grass with crocus and black backround.
If you have time please check full res.
100mm macro, f25. (1 year and 334 days ago)

419	2716	10	n/a	yes

2/27	n/a	67.9

15 Comments

Tags:MorningDew

Spring time - created by maclu2iaf

(1 year and 330 days ago)

388	1607	2	n/a	yes

3/27	n/a	67

6 Comments

Tags:Springtime

tiles - created by momvera

(1 year and 330 days ago)

365	1817	2	n/a	yes

4/27	n/a	66

7 Comments

Tags:tiles

Roses in RePose - created by itsmymoment

(1 year and 333 days ago)

391	1816	3	n/a	yes

5/27	n/a	64.8

6 Comments

Tags:RosesRePose

1 2 3 4 5 6 next »

Refracting Drops - Photoshop Contest

flowers - created by maclu2iaf

Morning Dew - created by MaRkSqUiRrEl

Spring time - created by maclu2iaf

tiles - created by momvera

Roses in RePose - created by itsmymoment

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