Submitter's name:	Wiliam Wagenaar
Title:	Drops are only frozen water
Gear used:	OM-2n, bellows, 100mm/f2.8, 2xT32, cables and multi-connector, winder2 with remote release Tripod.
Diaphragm:	f8
Shutter speed:	1/60
Film used:	Fuji Sensia 100
Technical information:	I placed a glass bowl in the kitchen sink. To reduce the reflections I lined the bowl with black cloth. Filled the bowl halfway with water. After that I set up the tripod with camera, bellows (set at approx 1:2) and lens. I placed 2 T32's at about 45 degree angle to the left and right of the camera. To focus on the place where the drops would fall I used a very small jet of water out of the tap. Then one thing happened which I had not foreseen. The water level rose so much the drops would go out of frame. Once I had overcome this problem by regularly emptying the bowl with a cup the next problem arose. Since I have a rather new kitchen it is fitted with a ceramic tap. Have you ever tried to get such a thing into dripping? Well, that's quite difficult, since it is designed not to drip. When I finally got it dripping I had to use 5 cups to empty the bowl enough to frame the drops again. After that it was only a matter of activating the shutter at the right moment. I made about 10 shots. Most of them came out good. I liked this one the best so it was printed (20x30cm for on the wall) and scanned. The print was a bit brownish, so I decided to convert it to B&W. After that I made no more digital changes and sent it in. I hope you like it.
Subject information:	It's only water
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Comments:

Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

A textbook example of a great motion-freeze shot. While the idea may not be completely new, it was still very nicely executed. Quite rightly so a great shot for on the wall!

Comment left by: Thomas (no e-mail specified)

Let me say straight ahead, that I think it is a nice picture in general. Classical subject, but rather well done...now....to the "harsh words" ;) I hate to be the "wet towel", but it seems that either the scanner or your lab has dust somewhere. Also, I find that the crop in the top is a bit too tight - I'd have prefered a bit more air above the drop. And what are the vertical "lines" in the picture, just left of the drop? I've tried two different screens, and they persist, so I think they must be in the picture. Scratches (they don't look much like) or artifacts from the scanner? Finally, I lack a bit of contrast. Otherwise, as I said, not a bad photo. Just keep wondering what it would look like had you employed a cross-star-filter in front of the lens ;) And don't take the comments too hard. Just pointing out what I would be working on, if I was to redo your experiment (except that we have an old kitchen where the trick is not tricking the tap into dripping....but convincing it to stop...)

Comment left by: Mark Marr-Lyon (no e-mail specified)

Very nice! I also would like to see a little more area above the drop. If you try again, I'd suggest using a wide, shallow bowl, and just let it fill up and spill over the brim. That way the surface will stay in the same location making focusing and composition easier.

Comment left by: Jim Caldwell (jamesfc@gte.net)

Cool effect! I tried something like this using milk against a black backdrop - but was nowhere near as successful as this one. I may have to try again!

Comment left by: Ian Nichols (no e-mail specified)

I'd intended to try something like this, but never quite got around to it inside the shooting period. I still haven't but now that you've inspired me.... Thomas: I can't see the vertical lines you mentioned, nor does the image lack contrast on the system I'm using to view it. A glitch with your graphics card maybe?

Comment left by: bob gries (gries@nothingrhymeswithorange.com)

i think the composition is right on! you can see the reflection of the rising drop in the water below which is much more fascinating than the background beyond.

Comment left by: Wiliam Wagenaar (the Photographer) (wiliam@zeelandnet.nl)

Thanks to all for their comments. I have some replies to make: - I left out about 20-30% of the frame at the top because there were amny reflections of the flashes (in the wet cloth) visible. It distracted from the main part of the picture. - Shooting in a wide shallow bowl (25 cm) was what I did. I needed the cloth however to minimise reflections of the kitchen sink. - I cannot see any vertical lines in the photo on my monitor, neither at home nor at the office.

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