Raindrops

[Rusty]

HF's magnificant image of the week inspired me. So, I was up with the sun while the dew was still painting our patio flowers. I like the picture but the water drops aren't very obvious.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1dWsCjjmohxTrIDfBFJSGW7Ygdquk0

Q: Is this something to tweak in PSE or is the short answer, "Take a better picture to start with."

I did take the opportunity to try a breakout border - a real task because I've never done a border, much less a breakout. Several HOURS later ... well, first effort; I'm pleased. Now to practice.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1WCLRSe5JCjMK4y2c3ywYIlRrqAu1

I need work on figuring out how to 'size the border frame'.

Rusty

[Wendy]

Hi Rusty ...

Good shot with the raindrops ... and nice work on your first breakout !! :)

Wendy

[Byron Gale]

...the water drops aren't very obvious...Rusty,

I have the same problem when I try to take "drop" pictures.

There are a couple of things that have helped me get better pictues of this type:

-Taking the picture when the drops are in, or just at the edge of, sunlight gives them better highlights.

-A low angle, so that you can see drop in profile, lets you capture the scene beyond the plant through the drop's "lens".

HTH, and have fun!!

Byron

[karen donnybrook]

Rusty,

Your raindrop image is great and so is the breakout.

Karen :)

[Shari]

Hi Rusty - both your images are well done. I keep meaning to do the break-out but never seem to get to it. One thing, I am not a great photographer but with a couple of my shots I used a poster filter and it shows the drops a bit better. Check out my gallery. I think it is the Iris.
Shari

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Don't know if I should admit this or not :o ... but one of those plant misting sprays does make great raindrops :eek: :D :D

Wendy

[hfgerena]

Hello Rusty;

Nice shot. I'll try to answer your question with what I have learn. The most amazing thing about digital photo is that you can take a lot of photos then rush to your Digital Darkroom and see the results right away and you have not spend one single penney on rolls or printouts (oh rolls!!!, they just reminds me the 8 tracks :eek: ).

The best results are when you have a sun light after the rain and if you see that the speed is too slow don't increase your ISO, use a tripod and try to use the fastest speed possible wihout overexpose.

And try not to use the flash (for my personal taste, I don't like the results).

Always try to shoot just a little bit underexposure, it's easier to brighten a picture instead of darkened and the final results are much better.

For the composition, do what Byron told you, look for the angles, if you shoot straight to the subject the drops will looks flat.

I'm a not an experience photographer but I just love to do a lot of trial and error, and as I told you before, that's the beauty of digitial photos, you can shoot as long as you want too.:D