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Tips for Creative Splash Photography
Janine van der Kooij - Vink
10 tips for creating a creative splash photo
Would you like to create a creative splash photo? We are happy to help you get started! Get to work well prepared thanks to our tips and an exclusive bonus tip from Pim Hendriksen!
Do these tips sound familiar? That could be right! We shared these tips for the first home assignment of Het Perfecte Plaatje 2022. Will you take on the challenge once again?
Tip 1: Think about where you are going to make a splash
Splash photography, as you can imagine, involves quite a lot of splashing. Therefore, think carefully in advance about where you want to take your photos and whether that location (and everything around it) can handle water. Although outdoors may seem like the better choice at first, you usually have less control over the incoming light there. In addition, it is more difficult to leave a setup in place for the next day. That is why it is recommended to start indoors. Simply cover the floor and any furniture with some plastic bags.
Tip 2: Stage your photo first
There are many creative opportunities in nature to create a cool splash photo. Think, for example, of a puddle after a rain shower or a small lake in the woods. This can produce great photos, but it is still recommended to start with a staged photo at home. Here, you have (almost) all the elements under control. By creating a splash yourself, you can perfect capturing splashing droplets. In addition, you can experiment with the settings and the light. Once you have mastered this, you can confidently go in search of spontaneous situations in nature.
Tip 3: Prepare your photo well and have all your props ready
A tripod is essential when creating a splash photo. It allows you to position your camera exactly as needed to create your perfect composition. Lighting is also important to illuminate the splashing droplets beautifully and isolate them from the background. This can be done with one or more lights placed on either side of your subject. A window with daylight can also work perfectly. If you want to create a splash photo indoors, it is useful to have a glass or bowl of water ready and choose an object that you can drop into it.
Tip 4: Choose a background that suits your idea
Although you can already isolate the droplets with the right depth of field, this effect is enhanced by a neutral and uniform background. For example, a bare wall in your home. If that is difficult, you can create your own background by hanging up a cloth and using it as a backdrop. A dark background with well-lit droplets can also create a very beautiful effect. Do not make the frame too tight; you can always crop later.
Tip 5: Choose a fast shutter speed
Although it is not a fixed rule, with your first splash photos you will probably want to “freeze” the splashing droplets so that they appear suspended in the air. This requires a fast shutter speed. You can start with settings between 1/250 and 1/1000 as a starting point and experiment from there to see what gives you the best results. It takes some practice before you achieve the desired result, so do not give up too quickly if it does not work immediately.
Tip 6: Increase your chances
Not every splash looks equally beautiful or dramatic, and often you need to press the shutter at exactly the right moment to capture the splash properly. Therefore, it is useful to set your camera to burst mode. This is the mode in which it takes as many photos as possible in succession. The more photos you can take, the greater the chance that the right one is among them. Is your camera not very fast? Then switch from RAW mode to JPEG; this allows the camera to take more photos per second.
Tip 7: Play with your settings
1/250 to 1/1000 is a good shutter speed range to start with. If you combine this with an aperture of F4 to F8, you can capture the droplets sharply. A lower aperture may result in not all droplets being in focus, while an aperture that is too high may reveal too much detail in the background. Also, try different focal lengths to determine what gives you the most pleasing result.
Tip 8: Set your focus and then switch to manual
Focusing is easiest by taking a pre-focus on the edge of the glass or bowl of water and then locking it in manual focus. This ensures that your focus is set correctly, and with the previously mentioned aperture settings, you will also capture droplets that splash slightly in front of and behind the glass.
Tip 9: Use a remote
Even if the camera is mounted on a heavy tripod, there is always a slight movement when you press the button. You can prevent this by using a remote control, also known as a remote shutter release. The most common option is the built-in timer on your camera, but you can also use an external remote. Some cameras can even do this through an app connected to the camera. Make sure that you also use burst mode in this setup.
Tip 10: Remove unwanted droplets in post-processing
Even when you have created a beautiful setup, there is still a chance that things will appear in the photo that you would rather not see. Photo editing software such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop can help remove unwanted droplets or distracting elements in the background. If you have a fast camera that can also shoot in RAW, this is preferable because it gives you more options during post-processing. If you are not yet familiar with this software, you can find our free basic course here.
Bonus tip from guest jury member Pim Hendriksen: ‘Play with the light’
Pim: "Does the action look great, but the light on the action does not? Then change the direction of the light. If it is sunlight, change the position from which you are photographing. Is it external light that you have set up yourself? Then place this external light source somewhere else. You will be amazed by the difference!"
Website: www.pimhendriksen.nl
Instagram: @pimhendriksen
Share your result
Have you created a beautiful splash photo? Then share your photos with us on Instagram! Use the hashtag #KameraExpress or tag Kamera Express in your post. And don't forget to follow us for plenty of inspiration.
