This is a second episode (the first one is here) from the “Water in product and advertisement photography” series. This time we used the same tank and mix of distilled and sparkling water.
The idea was simple: pouring objects into a water and shooting through the water tank, positioning camera strictly horizontal. Because we have used carbonated water, the tank must be 100% clean inside: every little piece of dirt on the glass will attract bubbles build-up.
The camera was perpendicular to the subject, meaning we did not need very deep DOF, aperture was set to F10. It was enough to have full object in a focus while blurring tank walls enough to hide occasional bubbles on it. For the same reason was used 180mm Macro lens: longer focus helped us separate the object from a tank walls.
Water in advertisement photography: the pepper and CO2 water.
water photography tutorial episode-2
Speaking ob CO2 bubbles, quite important how much soda we’ll use: have it too much, and bubbles will grow too fast and become too big, leaving you no time for a shooting, the object will loose bubbles too fast.
The ideal (for our needs) mix was 70% distilled water and 30% of soda water (no sugar, please:-). With such ratio we were getting very nice slow bubble buildup on the object. It starts from a mist-like tiny bubbles covering all the object, growing for about 5 minutes before they will start to popping-up.
Now, the lighting setup:
Continue reading: Water in product and advertisement
July 2nd, 2010 | 
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What a great presentation. Thank you very much. Can you tell us what table you are using to sit your tank on? It looks like it might be adjustable for height and possibly able to be dismantled.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who would like to see a live presentation for number three. I prefer to have the session where I can stop and start as I need, so the current method is better for me.
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Dan,
This is the table:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/222195-REG/Manfrotto_220_Large_Still_Life_Shooting.html
It does not have any adjustments other than back (vertical) panel.
The whole photoshoot will be recorded and will be available for a view, same as the previous.
the reason I’d like to have it real-time is to be able to communicate with you during the shoot : would love to have some feedback on how to improve the whole process…
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Awesome tutorial and amazing shots! I’d love to see a live broadcast too!
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Chris, thank you.
I’ll send you a note when I’ll have all ready for the third one.
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Great video.
I do mainly studio photograpy of artwork… but seeing its boiling hot these days i am considering doing some things with water too.
I have a few projects that are in post production before my vacation but after a well deserved holiday… who knows.
i may make a photo/video blog in my native language seeing there aren’t many around in dutch
keep up the great videos
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Bart,
Go for it! I am sure you’ll have a lot of joy playing with water:-)
Let me know when you’ll get something to look at!
Thank you
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Thanks for the details for producing these great shots – I’ll be trying it out myself soon!
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Thank you, Lloyd! BTW, you have nice portfolio:-)
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Awesome and very inspiring Alex. Thanks for your hard work! Might I suggest a wireless lapel mic setup for you when narrating your video? Make it easier for us to hear/ understand you and adds another layer of production value to your videos. Azden makes a very inexpensive model – find them at B&H.
Either way, thanks again for sharing your technique. :-)
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Peter,
I really like idea: wireless mic will help a lot, especially if I want to go LIVE.
Thank you a lot!
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This was an amazing presentation. Really out of box thinking for water product photography.
I have already registered for the Live Broadcast.
All the best
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Manisha,
Glad you liked it. Thank you!
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Very cool. I LOVE doing wild stuff like that.
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Thanks Alex,
I am shooting some new samples because of your video.
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Hello!!!
We saw your underwater tutorial and we work on it, and this was the result, we appreciate if you can feedback to us.
Thanks,
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Chris,
Thanks for showing the results here. Very well done! I like that green thing the most (do not know the name of that thing:-). It has most blurred background, which work the best, IMO.
I ma thinking to update my original post with the results of the followers, it may be cool to see all of them in one place:-)
Wish you good luck!
~Alex
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Great technique and very well presented..I am so grateful to you for sharing..Love your work.
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Thank you for your lessons. there are so fantastic.
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Hi Alex brilliant techniques thank you for sharing this video. I just have a question how long is water bubble will last?
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Rodel,
They last for up to 20 minutes. But the problem that they grow, joining with each other, so after about 5-7 minutes you have much less and much bigger bubbles. the best time is about 2-3 min after the water is set.: bubbles not too large, not too small.
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rodel Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
@Alex Koloskov, Cool thank you for the information you given. You are brilliant photographer i hope someday you releasing your own books for product photography lighting techniques. As I live here in Melbourne Australia I couldn’t find any the best books. I’m big fun of yours photography techniques. All the best for you.
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Hi Alex,
Where did you go about getting the plastic or acrylic tank you used for this shot? I’m having trouble finding large enough acrylic boxes. Do you think a glass fish tank would work just as well?
Thanks,
Greg
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Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Greg,
I use DIY glass tanks (aquarium was my hobby since 15:-), ready-to-buy fish tanks did not work for me as they have black plastic frame on top, but I need a clear glass: reflection from the frame did not look good on the water/products.
But if you paint it white, it may work;-)
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