Nature Dew Drop In - 8 Pix

Dew Drop In - 8 Pix · **2 Likes**

Sorry, I couldn't resist that title.

Last week was very rainy here, and I love shooting in the rain. The landscape was saturated, and droplets of water were everywhere. Here are a few of the many shots I took...

Shades of Gray

After Cutting

An Infinity of Drops

Mullien

Silvery Grass

Tiny World

Twinned

Pine Droplets

Paleo Pete · 11-13-2010, 07:36 AM

Excellent. How do you do this? I've tried dewdrops at least 30 times, nothing worth showing off. I got some nice shots, but just everyday pictures, and nothing where you can really tell the water drop is the subject. These are just excellent. I'm not sure even my binocular lens rig can do this. I"ll have to try it again, but last time it just didn't give me what I wanted. Might get to try today, it's looking like rain right now...

KarenH · 11-13-2010, 07:42 AM

You did this with the kit lens? Wow, impressive.

slowpez · 11-13-2010, 08:22 AM

I love them all Tamia but that first one keeps bringing me back. It is simply gorgeous.

Paleo Pete · 11-13-2010, 08:30 AM

If that's a kit lens now I'm really jealous...

I hope you don't mind me tagging one on here, but this is to show what I meant earlier. This shot was taken a few months ago with the 50mm lens. Decent, but not even close to what you're getting. I wasn't going to show this one actually, but thought I'd give you an idea what my earlier comment was about. This is the best I've been able to capture so far, not even close to what I see above in your shots...yours stand out, this is just another snapshot...I just wish I could figure out what I'm missing...

Click image to view larger size.

Again I hope you don't mind, but then this shot will make yours look that much better anyway...

Oh and yes, I know I should have pushed the contrast a bit more, and this was taken before I got the on camera settings tweaked so I don't have to do any editing.

**Sailor** · 11-13-2010, 09:40 AM

These are truly elegant shots -- every one of 'em is outstanding technically and compositionally. Really impressive.

Jer

**Tamia** · 11-13-2010, 10:04 AM

Thank you all very much for your compliments. I've found the kit lens to be quite capable under some conditions, and wish people would give it a bit more of a try. Pete, no, I don't mind your posting the picture at all. I like it and see why you shot it, but I would probably have moved in closer if possible. I like the colors in the background, though.

I've been trying for two years to get decent droplet shots but only in the last few months did I begin to hit on it. I prefer to shoot on overcast days or in shade. I underexpose by as much as -2EV, bracketing to be sure. I usually pre-focus with MF, getting in as tight as I can to the drops, and when I hit the right spot, I gently squeeze the release while holding my breath (like with any close-up). I'm using aperture mode most often, with f8 being my typical choice. Oh, if applicable, I try to have a contrasting background, which means moving around till I can have a dark background to really show off the droplets.

When I get back to the computer, I often crop the images down to emphasize most on the best portions of the photo. PP includes the usual curves, contrast, and saturation, and sometimes I clone out distractions. If the sharpness isn't just right, I might use the unsharp mask, but you've got to be careful with it.

**Rense** · 11-13-2010, 10:06 AM

Tamia, these are outstanding!!
Nr. 2 and the mosses have that wow-factor!!

Siekierus_pl · 11-13-2010, 04:01 PM

This is just more than amazing! You should be paid by Pentax to advertise their kit lenses

And............... you've just made me pick up my kit from a shelf and put it back into my photo bag

Can't wait to see more of your shots!

jolepp · 11-13-2010, 04:32 PM

Ooo ... brilliant pictures :-)

**eaglem** · 11-13-2010, 04:37 PM

An excellent example of shots "scene through a drop" which are sharp and clear. Well done.

jimH · 11-13-2010, 06:28 PM

These shots are natural "Jewels", great job, I love them!

JLou · 11-13-2010, 07:37 PM

Wow, these are fantastic.

It has been pretty wet here too, and I need to take photos for my photography class tomorrow.
You have made me want to go and see what water is 'hanging' around

MikeS · 11-13-2010, 08:31 PM - **1 Like**

On more than one of these, I said, audibly, "Wow." Great shots, thanks for sharing! I want to try it now!

e-bar · 11-13-2010, 08:35 PM - **1 Like**

Nr. 2 really has "it". Color, contrast and composition look really good to me. The greener leaf on the two paler ones and the tiny branch under it slightly disturb the harmony in the picture, though I can't say if it's a good or a bad thing.

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11-13-2010, 07:36 AM	#2
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880	Excellent. How do you do this? I've tried dewdrops at least 30 times, nothing worth showing off. I got some nice shots, but just everyday pictures, and nothing where you can really tell the water drop is the subject. These are just excellent. I'm not sure even my binocular lens rig can do this. I"ll have to try it again, but last time it just didn't give me what I wanted. Might get to try today, it's looking like rain right now...

11-13-2010, 07:42 AM	#3
KarenH Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Berkel en Rodenrijs Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 828	You did this with the kit lens? Wow, impressive.

11-13-2010, 08:22 AM	#4
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462	I love them all Tamia but that first one keeps bringing me back. It is simply gorgeous.

11-13-2010, 08:30 AM	#5
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880	If that's a kit lens now I'm really jealous... I hope you don't mind me tagging one on here, but this is to show what I meant earlier. This shot was taken a few months ago with the 50mm lens. Decent, but not even close to what you're getting. I wasn't going to show this one actually, but thought I'd give you an idea what my earlier comment was about. This is the best I've been able to capture so far, not even close to what I see above in your shots...yours stand out, this is just another snapshot...I just wish I could figure out what I'm missing... Click image to view larger size. Again I hope you don't mind, but then this shot will make yours look that much better anyway... Oh and yes, I know I should have pushed the contrast a bit more, and this was taken before I got the on camera settings tweaked so I don't have to do any editing.

11-13-2010, 09:40 AM	#6
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	These are truly elegant shots -- every one of 'em is outstanding technically and compositionally. Really impressive. Jer

11-13-2010, 10:04 AM	#7
Tamia Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,384 Original Poster	Thank you all very much for your compliments. I've found the kit lens to be quite capable under some conditions, and wish people would give it a bit more of a try. Pete, no, I don't mind your posting the picture at all. I like it and see why you shot it, but I would probably have moved in closer if possible. I like the colors in the background, though. I've been trying for two years to get decent droplet shots but only in the last few months did I begin to hit on it. I prefer to shoot on overcast days or in shade. I underexpose by as much as -2EV, bracketing to be sure. I usually pre-focus with MF, getting in as tight as I can to the drops, and when I hit the right spot, I gently squeeze the release while holding my breath (like with any close-up). I'm using aperture mode most often, with f8 being my typical choice. Oh, if applicable, I try to have a contrasting background, which means moving around till I can have a dark background to really show off the droplets. When I get back to the computer, I often crop the images down to emphasize most on the best portions of the photo. PP includes the usual curves, contrast, and saturation, and sometimes I clone out distractions. If the sharpness isn't just right, I might use the unsharp mask, but you've got to be careful with it.

11-13-2010, 10:06 AM	#8
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Tamia, these are outstanding!! Nr. 2 and the mosses have that wow-factor!!

11-13-2010, 04:01 PM	#9
Siekierus_pl Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 29	This is just more than amazing! You should be paid by Pentax to advertise their kit lenses And............... you've just made me pick up my kit from a shelf and put it back into my photo bag Can't wait to see more of your shots!

11-13-2010, 04:32 PM	#10
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	Ooo ... brilliant pictures :-)

11-13-2010, 04:37 PM	#11
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,145	An excellent example of shots "scene through a drop" which are sharp and clear. Well done.

11-13-2010, 06:28 PM	#12
jimH Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Central Nebraska - USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,771	These shots are natural "Jewels", great job, I love them!

11-13-2010, 07:37 PM	#13
JLou Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gippsland, Victoria, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 71	Wow, these are fantastic. It has been pretty wet here too, and I need to take photos for my photography class tomorrow. You have made me want to go and see what water is 'hanging' around

11-13-2010, 08:31 PM - 1 Like	#14
MikeS Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NC Photos: Albums Posts: 322	On more than one of these, I said, audibly, "Wow." Great shots, thanks for sharing! I want to try it now!

11-13-2010, 08:35 PM - 1 Like	#15
e-bar Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 35	Nr. 2 really has "it". Color, contrast and composition look really good to me. The greener leaf on the two paler ones and the tiny branch under it slightly disturb the harmony in the picture, though I can't say if it's a good or a bad thing.