Have decided to try micro-stock agencies, like Shutterstock.com and iStock.com. Loaded several photos, mostly water splashes I did a while ago. So far Shutterstock.com is the best, it start producing a revenue from the fist day. Not much, but considering that I have just a few photos there, it looks promising.
So, it appeared that I need to have more water waves, splashes, etc in my portfolio. I do not have hi-speed flashes like Broncolor pulse (yet:-) , so I found a very simple but still very good solution: 3 canon dedicated flash units with remote trigger:
We have shoot hundreds of the photos, hopefully there will be at least 10-15 good ones:-)
However, the result was quite acceptable:
It was a really messy setup:
Lighting setup for water splash photography
Totla 3 canon sppedlites: 2x 580EX, one 430 EX. Camera was set to 1/250 sec shutter speed, f 8.
I found that FP mode gives a longer flash duration comparing to a normal sync: just need to be sure speedlites not working on a full power. ISO 200 did help a little with this…
Few more water splash images the same setup:
water splash, aquarium and hi-speed strobes used
April 5th, 2009 | 
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Hi Alex, how did you achieve the color on these shots? When I try this its all grey. Photoshop?
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Ralph,
You are almost there:-) We change the color in a RAW converter. You can also use gels at some point, but it is easier to change gray to any color we like later in RAW converter.
[Reply]
How do you accomplish movement or waves inside the water tank? What kind of water do you use with these kind of shots? Thanks
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
November 5th, 2010 at 11:50 am
We shake the table, making waves in the water tank. Then, when it goes smooth, we change a direction of that shake waves, and this cause a counter-wave in tank to make a splash when it hits other waves.. We use a regular tap water, stayed overnight so it won’t have bubbles in it.
Alex
[Reply]
Garage Concepts Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
@Alex Koloskov, Thanks for the quick reply alex. I also forgot to ask, what software did you do all your color converting in? How would you recommend doing a twist on a stream of water or liquid pour? Thanks again, keep up the great work!
[Reply]
Thanks for the quick reply alex. I also forgot to ask, what software did you do all your color converting in? How would you recommend doing a twist on a stream of water or liquid pour? Thanks again, keep up the great work!
[Reply]
Alex Koloskov Reply:
November 15th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
@Garage Concepts, We are using Photoshop CS5 to do all the post-production, Lightroom for a tethered shooting. As for the water twist, we use our hand, take a look at the video: http://www.akelstudio.com/blog/first-akelstudio-live-masterclass-water-apple-flash-duration-test-and-one-shot-of-scotch-whiskey/
We just pour the water by hand…
Thank you:-)
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