As promised, here is the tutorial for what I call “underwater” product photography (not sure what the right name for this). We shoot several products, from fruits to a shampoo bottles, and now I am glad to show you the result.
Gold gel, one more light on the background
This is the most enjoyable photo-shot I had for last few month: not only the most technically challenging but the end result is the most eye-catching and outstanding. The idea was to use a water as a ultimate background to emphasize the product: water can be transparent or 100% reflective (well, not a water itself, but the water-to air boundary), the effect called total internal reflection. Long story short: when we see the water surface at relatively sharp angle, it become almost 100% reflective, acting as a mirror. Now, if we’ll disturb the water surface so it will form a waves, some part of the wave will be a mirror-like (due to an angle) , and some will be transparent, allowing light to be transmitted.
Continue reading: Water in still life and advertisement photography
June 4th, 2010 | 
Loading ...
Indeed your images are fantastic.
[Reply]
This was great, you do wonderful work! Very informative and great video, I am excited to try this. Whoo Hoo, a new project! Look forward to Episode Two. There is going to be an episode two.
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Vicki,
Thank you.
Yes, there will be an episode two, I promise:-)
[Reply]
Looks great!
[Reply]
I had always wondered how these type of shoots were done i thank you for sharing this
wonderful video just cant wait to try this
[Reply]
Wow.. this is an awesome video Alex!
I tried shooting some water droplets a few times and could never get it right.. gonna have to try it again when I get spare time..
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
@Jay Hoque,
Man, you have amazing wedding photos! Really like your style:-)
Post here the resul of your try, curious to see it.
Thanks, Alex
[Reply]
Man, the shot look fantastic, my only grip is with your English. Please take no offense, but sometimes is getting really hard to can follow you words. The way you pronounce it, it sounds like you are shooting with R&B strobe lights, but in the video I can see the AlienBees.
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
I know, my friend, I know… I am far from good speaker.
This is why my every video has a corresponded blog post, where I share all the technical information along with how-to stuff.
I always prefer to write rater than to talk ;)
So, just turn sound off, enjoy the video and read the article :-)
[Reply]
Thank you for sharing this with us. Great job!
Thanks :-)
[Reply]
This is great information, just like many people, we always wonder how they did it. I did similarity thing with a 4×5 slide film but never got it right.
Thanks for sharing.
Regarding about the masterclass that I would love to attend but I guess that will be in your hometown in Atlanta, hmmm, I have to think about that one.
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
June 11th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Thank you, Jose.
As for a masterclass, I think I’ll do it online: webinar-like style, where you can see everything on a live broadcast and ask me questions through a chat-like interface.
I’ll find the way to make it work for us:-)
[Reply]
Excellent shots and tutorial Alex. Very clever with the water pour to get the bubbles. Btw, I find your English is quite understandable. It probably help that I have an Ukranian friend :-).
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:25 am
Thank you!
My biggest problem with English that iI write much more than I talk, so knowing how to write the word does not help me it to pronounce it right.. Like that “sine” :-)
[Reply]
Beautiful work and an awesome tutorial! Thank you for sharing this!
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Thank you, Bill!
BTW, you’ve got an amazing 360 work!
[Reply]
Hi
Great shots and greeeeat tutorial, i am a hobbist and have to test shoot a soap for a prospective client, your water photography tutorial is just great will try and recreate the magic
Cheers
Puneet
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Puneet,
Cool, hope it will help you.
Good luck with the shot!
[Reply]
Wow! Great tutorial! Learned a lot already with your first installment. Looking forward to seeing the others. Thank you very much for all the efforts your team put into this!
[Reply]
Hi Alex,
I am glad that I found your blog and this tutorial (By chance from a youtube search). I am your old fan and have been shooting splash shots inspired by YOU and posting on flickr. (http://bit.ly/amxaNX)
I really appreciate this tutorial.
Kind Regards
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 3:10 am
Muhammad,
Thank you, my friend! I glad you found thing I do useful. Thios is probably most important feedback I receive…
You do a great photography, I wish you good luck! Just keep going! :-)
~Alex
[Reply]
Hello Alex, I am learning a lot from you. Thank you for all the effort you put into the blog entries and videos. I have a question for you. How did you choose gel for the background that matches the gold on the bottle so perfectly? And the same for the green gel you chose to match the label on the bottle of soda. I have a great deal of difficulty gettingmy background color to match something on the subject. Thank you.
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 21st, 2010 at 11:37 am
Richard,
Thanks, appreciate your feedback.
As for the color for a background, i use that set of gels from Paul C Buff. For the shot you’ve mentioned (green label) it was a perfect color match in that set of gel.
Sometime have to combine several gels together to get desired color. As usual, the last efforts to match the color we do in photoshop:-) Quite often we do several shots of the product w/wo water, backlight, etc. It is easy to combine them later in post-production, adjusting whatever we need in each layer individually.
Hope this will help.
~Alex
[Reply]
Thank you very much for this useful video. Just keep going!
[Reply]
best tutorial I have seen in months
great of you for sharing
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Thank you, James:-)
[Reply]
I AM INTRESTING FOR SHOOTING DIAMOND JEWLLERY & CLOSEUP DIAMOND SO PLEASE RECOMAND ME
I AM USED CANON 5D (24-70 2.8 L) SO WICHE MICRO LENS OR BELLOW SYSTEM SO RECOMAND WICHE BELLOW SYSTEM ALSO
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
September 27th, 2010 at 10:13 am
Sohil,
You can find which equipment I use, the info below each my photoshot-related post.
I can’t recommend anything to you, have no idea about your budget: I use Canon MP-E 65mm lens for micro photography,
here is the related post.
[Reply]
Hi Alex,
I found your tutorial only last week when I was scratching my head trying to do a ‘water-splash’ shot….Your work and technique is simply fabulous, so many thanks for sharing. My (poorer) first effort can be seen here :: http://www.hellofrom80eight.blogspot.com/ but I’ll keep working on it!
Your approach to sharing / mentoring is admirable, it’s something I try and do offline, but this is the first time I’ve found a ‘technique’ on the web which has really impressed me – so thanks again, I’ll be a regular reader from now on.
Cheers,
Philip.
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Philip,
Great results, thanks for posting here. If you do not mind, I’ll add your images to “you made this” gallery: You made this!
Thank you and good luck with you business: you’ve got very nice portfolio!
Alex
[Reply]
Philip Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Hi Alex,
I don’t mind at all – and thanks for your kind words. Good luck to you also.
And if you are ever in Scotland, let me know!
Cheers,
Philip.
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Philip,
I’ve updated You made this! with your images, thank you.
One day I’ll visit Scotland, it is such a beautiful place!
Here, in Georgia (USA), may be not such interesting to travel, but if you ever will, let me know: we’ll be glad to see you in the studio:-)
Alex
Thanks so much – you have some great information on your site – and sharing it is excellent.
I was trying to figure out how you got the bottle to appear as if it were landing upright on top of the water – then realized this final image was flipped upside down, so that the reflection from above was now below! Brilliant, now I have to go try it. :-) I currently don’t have any clients that want this but it’s a great trick to have in the bag for sure and could certainly attract new business!
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
October 24th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Thank you, Karen!
[Reply]
Hello Alex
Incredible work.
I like to ask you about another tutorial here because I could not find a place in the actual stacking tutorial.
On the focus stacking jewelry tutorial, when you move the camera using the macro rail, you also refocus the lens?
In this tutorial I also notice when you reverse the image whatever is written in the label is mirrored, how you fix that?
thanks
Fernando
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Fernando,
For a focus stacking, I do not re-focus the lens: the whole idea is to move camera instead of re-focusing the lens. This way focusing point will move through the subject proportionally to the camera movement. So, lens should be on manual focus.. untouched once we start the sequence.
For the underwater photography: no, the image was not mirrored. Originally water surface was on top, bottle was facing down. Then we simply rotated image 180 degree.. This is it.
Hope this will help. Thank you!
[Reply]
Thanks Alex, been a big help and inspiration
please send me a email with you next master class
thanks again
great work
F
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Fernando,
I’ll be posting next day on the blog. Subscribe to the updates and you won;t miss it:-0
Thank you!
[Reply]
Awesome tutorial, Alex! I will be trying this out tomorrow, I will post if you would like. I have two questions though: 1, did you use any type of polarizing filter to stop the glare coming from the front of the tank? and 2, did you use filtered water or just regular unfiltered tap water? Your water looks very clean and clear.
Thanks, Alex!! Keep up the amazing work!!
-Anthony
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
December 8th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Antony,
No, I did not use a polarizer, as we did not have reflection from the glass It was all dark in front of the tank, nothing really to be reflected). The water suppose to be filtered, gas-free water. I use a regular tap water and we had a very pleasant time cleaning all the bubbles and dust later in photoshop:-) So, better use a good water.
Wish you good luck, post your result here or on you made this post.
[Reply]
Very inspiring!
Awesome shots! I only just found that I can ramp up to 1/8000 with my SB900 and even the shots of water from the tap look great. Will be trying variations of your ideas in the coming weeks.
Thanks for taking the time to do (and publish) your tutorial
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
January 9th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Doug,
Great, Sb900 will work in hi-speed mode, but it will loose most of it’s power for that multi-flash at 1/2000-1/8000 range. You may get better results if you’ll use 1/3-1/6 of flash power and shoot with your x-sync speed. Strobe will have a very short duration, and it will freeze the splash.
Good luck :-)
[Reply]
Akel -
Great job. I liked your recommendation for using pure water to minimize the bubbles. I especially liked the post production changes.
However, I’m wondering what boom / light stand you used to hold the Alien Bee? It looks stronger than what I have. Where did you get it?
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 11:52 am
Steve,
This is an very old no-name boom from ebay. still working :-)
P.S you can call me Alex, AKEL is the company name:-)
[Reply]
Alex,
I keep coming back to this page over and over — a great resource and inspiration.
Thanks for your generosity in sharing this information. Here is a shot from my second water drop session (the first was a miserable failure – ha).
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Howard,
Wow. Man, you’ve got it:-)) Very cool picture. Wondering.. was it the water?
Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Hi again Alex,
You said, “Wondering.. was it the water?”
If you really are asking about the liquid used, yes it was only water. The key light was a snooted speedlight shot into a sheet of white foamcore placed behind the water. The camera was positioned so it saw the foamcore fully reflected on the surface of the water (and that reflection filled the viewfinder).
It was really fun and almost addictive. :)
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
February 9th, 2011 at 12:16 am
Ha-ha… I know, it is addictive.
You had so many little bubbles around that I thought may be it was a glycerin.. You can use a distilled water, images should come up much more cleaner…
Nice shot.
[Reply]
Excellent tutorial!
I just purchased my first set of Einsteins and I’m looking forward to trying this out sometime!
Thank you so much for sharing your expertise, not just how to setup the shots, but details on what equipment you used to.
Awesome!
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
February 14th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Ivan,
Cool;-) But I see they are still on backorder, so you may wait for a few.. month? hope you’ll get them sooner.
I still debating myself whihc way to go: to buy additional 3-4 Einsteins I need or used Profoto 7A powerpack:-)
Thank you.
[Reply]
Thanks Alex!
I had ordered my Einsteins back in July, just before the price increase. Since I don’t shoot full time, I could afford to wait. I pleased to say, I just received my units. I have not fully tested them yet, but so far, they’re amazing and I feel lucky to have them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/puggle1/sets/72157625972117260/
Ivan
[Reply]
What type of external viewing system are you using in the studio to monitor your photography results?
[Reply]
MilAD Reply:
June 12th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
@Donald,
Wanna know 2?
[Reply]
Thanks Alex for this wonderful tutorial. In fact I have been glued to my PC since the time I have discovered your blog and I thank my luck that I came across this. I must Confess That I have begun to admire you a lot for the generosity you have shown in explaining various nuances of product photography for people like us. I am a commercial photographer from India. I can’t post the link to my website in this comment section but i would love you to visit it and tell me your thoughts. I have only started following this blog since the last 2 days but Must admit that it is a great resource. thanks once again for all the effort that you put in for all of us. God bless you.
A big fan!
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
July 31st, 2011 at 11:47 am
Thank you, Pradeep.
Glad you found stuff I share here to be useful.
Alex
[Reply]
This is great, love the video tutorial and look forward to more in the future. Great to see how much work goes into one shot, which explains why they come out so AMAZING. Thanks for sharing with us, seeing this is a great learning experience.
Cheers,
Jerry
[Reply]
Hi Alex,
What is your water tank made of? thanks
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 12:00 am
Rob,
Its DIY from glass: I cut it and glue together:-)
[Reply]
HI Alex
Can i ask you about the light ratio’s you use in your setup, I know you mentioned shooting the subject at f16 or even f18, but how many stops under or over this are you metering the other lights in the setup ? Love the water & splash tutorials, thanks you for posting them for all to see.
Thanks
Niall
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:47 am
Hi Nail,
I do not meter, meaning i do not use light meter at all. i shoot tethered, and judge by looking at histogram and my monitor.
Sorry, have to info for you.
[Reply]
Excellent job! Your english is just fine.
[Reply]