How can I create large circular water highlights in backlit flower photos?
Asked 5/20/2015
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2 answers
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I’m trying to recreate the large, bright circular highlights often seen in backlit garden photos. The example I’m looking at was shot with a Helios 44M 58mm f/2, and I’ve had trouble getting a similar look using a Canon 50mm f/1.4 and 100mm macro.
I’ve tried shooting flowers toward the light and spraying water, but my highlights don’t become as large or as strong. Is this mainly a vintage-lens effect, or is it more about how the water and light are positioned? What’s the basic setup to achieve this look?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
7
I've done similar through rain spotted windows before, so basically the way I would tackle this is with a sheet of clear glass, perhaps from a picture frame, treated with something like Rain-X so that water will bead and then spray it with some water. You could also probably use something like glycerin. Then, basically, shoot through the glass.
Originally by user472. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user472
11y ago
0
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It’s probably not just the vintage lens. The effect is mostly created by backlighting, shallow depth of field, and water droplets placed both in front of and especially behind the subject.
From the answers, the basic recipe is:
- use strong backlight, such as morning sun
- shoot wide open or near it (around f/2 to under f/4)
- spray fine water droplets into the scene
- keep many droplets out of focus by having them at different distances from the lens and flower
- a reflector can help brighten the flower itself
Some responders also suggest shooting through a clear sheet of glass with beaded water on it, or using a rain-spotted window. That can produce large, soft circular highlights too.
The Helios may add character, but the circles are mainly out-of-focus specular highlights from droplets catching the light. If you want bigger highlights, increase the size/brightness of those reflections and keep the droplets further from the plane of focus so they blur into larger discs.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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