Using a home brewed Ardunio and old netbook, and a long stem rose that cost a whooping $4.52, this is about the best I could get from about 350 takes.
Thank you for your votes and comments. Very much appreciated. I continue to struggle to get “in tune” with the very talented photographers here. But I’m getting closer, improving and shooting more, which were my goals in joining the site in the first place.
This is a typical water drop capture of whatever is behind the drop. Here, an upside down rose is just in front of a white 8.5x14 paper. One flash was positioned behind the paper and was fired via an ardunio microcontroller. Using a computer as a serial monitor and input device, precision control of the size of the drop and the time delay before firing the flash is easily obtained. (send me a PM if you would like a copy of the sketch or have questions) Four slave flashes at 1/128 power, two were on the rose within 4 inches and two above facing straight down at 18 inches. Camera on bulb, turn off the lights, open shutter, hit return, drop drops, flashes fire, close shutter, lights on, review image, adjust settings including focus and repeat over and over and over. Recharge all the batteries and try again tomorrow night. Guaranteed to produce images like this, eventually.
But try high speed photography only at your own risk. You might find yourself in divorce and lose half your equipment, or commit suicide out of shear frustration.
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Yes Jeff, that was part of the reason for a red rose. But she was not impressed when I gave it to her four days later. Perhaps I should not have said "I'm done with this god dam thing."
Yes Jeff, that was part of the reason for a red rose. But she was not impressed when I gave it to her four days later. Perhaps I should not have said "I'm done with this god dam thing."
Congratulations on the Red Ribbon and for achieving a personal best score. Well deserved on both counts.
Thanks also for your explanation. As for your warning: "But try high speed photography only at your own risk. You might find yourself in divorce and lose half your equipment"... You can mitigate the chance of divorce by giving your wife the red rose when you are through. That is why a red rose is used, isn't it?
Woohoo! I love me photogs who actually post their setup/shoot notes so others can learn how they did it. The fact that you're also a Canuckistanian helps too ;-)
Beautifully done and very hard to do!
Thanks for the explanation.
I spent a month or so on this technique with far less equipment, and
fmanaged images I liked (not anywhere as good as this).
Kitchen was knee-deep in colored water by the end of the experiment.
In any event, yours is spectacular and a delight to look at.
Gorgeous image, John. It looks like a rose standing in a vase. Amazing. Huge congrats on your ribbon.
Isn't it amazing how 'waterproof' camera equipment can be these days ;-))
A Rose By Any Other Name
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