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First of all, I have to admit that I was rather surprised by the numerous positive reactions I have received on this shot, and a fortiori by the fact that it came out the winner of this competition. Though perhaps the shot is technically well achieved (hum hum), it is not one of my favourites. The shot lacks emotion and warmth; it is a rather 'clinical' shot. This should not be surprising, as it has been realised under strict studio conditions and after a careful set up. It was the fruit of a long process that started already weeks before.
The origin of the idea goes back on an earlier series of shots which I did on a drop falling out of a water tap. I was really fascinated by this series of pictures I took, but I wanted something more controlled. The idea then dawned upon me to have a shot of a drop that was ready to fall of a leaf or of a stem. But as it wasn't easy to grasp such a scene in real nature, and as I don't see myself getting up early in the morning to look for such a scene, or go out after the rain with my equipment, I had to simulate it in a studio. Once this decision taken, I sat myself sketching the scene on a piece of paper, trying out different compositions, until finally the one presented in 'Study of a drop' came out of my pencil.
The problem then arose how to stick the drop to the stem in a way that would allow me to have, not an 'accidental' shot, but a well prepared one. After trying out different substances, I found that the substance used by children to blow bubbles gave the best results: I put some of this substance on the end of the stem and with an eyedropper tool I let some drops of plain water fall on it. Bingo! The drop held long enough to allow me to work properly.
But then: what about the reflections and the lighting?
Some time before, I had acquired a small studio tent in white to practice my passion of product and still life photography. This would proof to be very useful also in this condition.
So, one afternoon, I reserved 3 to 4 hours to finally realise it. I collected two leaves that were suitable (many thanks to my wife to allow me to attack our plants) and put them together in a way that would allow for sufficient DOF as I was to use my Canon 100 mm macro (camera used : Canon D60, fixed firmly on a Gitzo carbon fibre tripod). At both sides of my tent, I installed quartz lamps of 500 W each (no, no expensive studio lights, just lamps that are used in the construction industry, for sale at only 5 euros a piece). Behind the scene, I put a plain piece of black paper, the type that my daughter of 5 uses in school.
Even if I prepared the shot well, it still took me more than 2 hours and more than 60 shots to get the precise DOF and to have the form of a drop that I liked.
Only one or two shots came out to my entire satisfaction, allowing me to process the final image in Photoshop after conversion from Raw, using CaptureOne. Some curve handling was needed to intensify the black background, and I had to do some retouching to eliminate some small reflection in the drop, but there it was.....
Thanks to you all who have voted for the image. It really encourages me to go on with my one and only passion: photography.
[Inspiring Digital Photography Articles]
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