Non reef related-high speed flash

[Reef bloke]

Been mucking about with my new flash and thought id post up a few high speed flash macro pics of milk being poured.Just a bit of fun but i found the shapes formed quite interesting so thought id share.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/milk 1.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/milk 2.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/milk 3.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/milk 4.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/milk 5.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/milk 6.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/milk 7.jpg

[jonnyjr]

Excellent pics there even if you are just messing about, pic 3 is my fav. What flash are you using?

[Dave_P]

Brilliant pictures Tony, really like them.

What speed did you capture those at?

[Reef bloke]

hiya jonny,im using a canon 580 ex II flash but i was using it at a low power setting to get a fast flash duration to capture the sploshing.

[Reef bloke]

Hi Dave,the camera was set to its fastest sync setting 1/250.I was using very low ambient light and using the flash to capture the action rather than the camera shutter.Id guess that the flash was capturing at about 1/10,000
cheers peeps.

[~Tony~]

Superb pictures.

It is amazing how such a large 'crown' can form, with no ripples yet in the main surface (pic 2).

[Reef bloke]

Cheers Tony,not sure if its the viscosity of the milk causing that but i was expecting every drop that hit to be chaotic,clearly its not.

[Frogfone]

fantastic:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

number 2 is my favourite,

where you using the flashgun direct or off camera?

i would try it with a diffuser or reflector however as some of the shadows are quite harsh (sorry not criticising just some constructive feedback)

lastly did you know you can manually set the flash duration on the 580? it's a bit complex but you can use it for some cool effects and it can be set to do multiple flashes in one picture so you can get cool effects like humming bird wings in two place's etc.


HTH

Roddy

[Reef bloke]

Hiya Roddy
I was using it off camera with a stofen,i had set the flash power at 1/16 for a very short flash burst. The flash then had to be placed pretty close to get decent light using an aperture of between 8-20 so the flash got caught in the reflection quite a bit:( .I never quite knew where each drop was going to land so had to close the aperture down to get decent DOF.
Must try out the stoboscopic flash,perhaps ill get the wife to run about in the backgarden tomorrow night lol.:D.I best clear up after the dogs first though:D:laugh:

[reefgeek]

can just see them in the tate modern now.

Excellent pics :thumbsup:

[Frogfone]

what about surrounding the area with crumpled tinfoil?. that way you get more light into the shot and rid of the strong shadow.

i have a stofen as well but have to admit i prefer the built in diffuser. i find the stofen adds a weird colour cast to skin tones.


i really must talk less about photography and do more actual taking pictures.


still some really cracking shots for a first effort.

have you had a look at wookie7062 site he's done some cool macro flash stuff.


Roddy

[Rental]

Very cool photos there! Seriously impressive stuff :)

[Reef bloke]

cheers peeps,Roddy may have to try the tin foil,i could also do with a second tripod to get teh flash higher as i had to stand it on the table,just going to track down wookie.

[Stephen G]

thats brilliant, i wish i could choose which 1 my favourite, but they all cool

[jobr]

Nice pics Tone, you must have more new toys than the editor of Stuff magazine, how the other half live eh :whistling:

[dan-the-man]

Superb pics fella, keep snapping!

[bs0u20a2]

they're wicked pics.

One of the questions in the back of the new scientist a few issues back was asking why milk does that, its called the corona effect. I cant remember the physics but recall it being interesting at the time!

Nick :)

[Reef bloke]

Nice pics Tone, you must have more new toys than the editor of Stuff magazine, how the other half live eh :whistling:

Says the chap that has an LPS buying fetish.:laugh::D

Cheers Dan

Nick thats very interesting,i might have to do a bit of reading on the subject me thinks.

[MaidstoneMarine]

holy cr**.... these pictures are absolutely awesome tony. absolutely top draw mate.

[MaidstoneMarine]

Hope you didn't make too much of a mess on the counter top!!

[Reef bloke]

Ermmm,well i wasnt very popular the missus thats for sure.I did say she could finish watching Eastenders before she had to clean it up though.

[Ross1]

Awesome Tony! :cool:

[MrFish]

Cool Pics, I've never thought about increasing shutter speed by reducing flash power, clever idea.

I've got the speedlight 430ex will have a play

:)

[hihat]

Stunning pics Tony:worship: and great ideas.

Jim

[disco_dave]

Stunning pics Tony, cracking to capture such shots :thumbsup:

[Frogfone]

got me thinking now, i imagine the corona effect is something to do with the viscosity or surface tension of the milk. if you find any links please post them up. i'm also thinking it would look fantastic done with coloured paint (just not on the wife's worktops. LOL). still i have no time to muck about with this stuff ATM as i have a new tank to build.

wookies website is

http://www.simonwootton.com/


cheers

Roddy

[Lukechromis]

Can i ask the make of that lense and name etc please. :thumbsup:

[Reef bloke]

Roddy-stop making excuses and crack out that camera lol.Maybe try Ketchup,rther you than me though lol.Had a look Simon's site,some cracking pics on there!!

Luke
Camera-Canon 40d
Lens Canon 100mm usm 2.8 macro
Flash canon 580 ex II although any flash with manual power adjustment should work
Jessops off camera flash cord
Cheapo 7 day shop remote release
Semi skimmed milk
Knackered old tripod
Kitchen roll( lots of)
:D

[Lukechromis]

Good good thanks. I am after a good macro for my 400d. Just been doing wildlife shots recently and photography for school. But might try some different stuff.:thanks:

[Fungia]

Excellent pictures Tony. :D

I did say she could finish watching Eastenders before she had to clean it up though.

:laugh:

Cool Pics, I've never thought about increasing shutter speed by reducing flash power, clever idea.

How does this work Dave? I understand that every picture using flash is two exposures in one and that therefore if you reduce ambient light to a very low level it will basically be just for the duration of the flash that anything will be captured, but how would reducing flash power influence this? I would have though you would have to increase flash power as you reduce ambient light?


Jeff.

[Paul]

Great pics mate! Love it.

[MrFish]

How does this work Dave? I understand that every picture using flash is two exposures in one and that therefore if you reduce ambient light to a very low level it will basically be just for the duration of the flash that anything will be captured, but how would reducing flash power influence this? I would have though you would have to increase flash power as you reduce ambient light?

I believe, although I'm open to correction, that when you reduce the power on a flash gun, what are actually doing is reducing the time that it fires for, (In a low light condition this is the same as reducing the time a shutter is open for) hence having the effect of simulating increased shutter speed.

Its the same priciple as a mains powered light dimmer switch, when you lower a lights output using the dimmer, what you are doing is reducing the period that it is on for on each cycle of the 50hz power cycle.

[Fungia]

Oh yes you're right Dave, I completely forgot about that!


Jeff.

[Reef bloke]

Yup the power of the flash is determined by the duration the flash is powered on for.By shooting in dim lighting and using your highest sync speed you sort of take the cameras shutter exposure out of the equation.You then rely on the flash to expose the picture,the lower the power the faster the flash fire's hence the faster subject is frozen.
As mentioned the down side to this is the working distance decreases so the flash really needs to come off camera and close to the subject depending on aperture and ISO settings used.
This shouldnt be confused with the high speed flash settings on some flash units where the power/flash duration is increased to suit a shutter speed higher than the camera sync speed.