Stage 6: The Coil - Water Drop

From observing my images taken during a single water drop, I identified seven stages of the sequence. This post is the final in a series of five blog posts describing the process:

Water Drop Photography Sequence: 6-7 / 7

1. The Crown –  The first splash that looks like a crown or bowl, and can have far-reaching tentacles
2. The Vortex  –  The black hole produced by the plunging drop that pushes the water down
3. The Pinnacle – The tall tower of water that springs back up from the vortex as a rebound from the falling drop
4. The HooDoo – The drop that forms and balances on the tip of the pinnacle
5. The Sphere – The drop that separates from the pinnacle and floats in mid air
6. The Coil – The tight rings that form in the center of the ripples, just before the drop falls back down
7. The Bubble – The final drop sinks, then floats up to form one final bubble on the surface

This post describes the final two stages of the sequence: The Coil and the Bubble.

Once the pinnacle falls back into the pool of water the remaining drop finishes its delayed descent. During this sixth stage:” The Coil” …it is rare, but possible, to capture a set of distinct rings that form a tight coil in the center of the looser ripples.  Then if the last drop is in the composition it makes for a dramatic combination of two focal points that seem disconnected though they are about to unite again. I have only captured two of these coils, so I would love to hear about it, if you manage to get some coil shots! Many people tell me this red-blue is their favorite image in my collection. Maybe that is because they are rare and unusual. A more common effect of this final descent is the “double bubble” of which I have included several examples below.

The final, seventh stage is the “Bubble” that sometimes bounces back up to the surface, once the final drop plunges into the fading ripples. This is also a more rare capture, and not quite as dramatic. Yet it marks the final stage of the drop sequence.

I hope you have enjoyed this series of blog posts as much as I have!  Macro photography is fascinating and affordable! See my previous post for links to Macro Extension Tubes you can add to your DSLR lens and get started! Here is my Water Drop Photography Tutorial: https://www.carynesplin.com/7-amazing-tips-for-shooting-water-drops/

Check out the video at the bottom of this post to see a water drop in slow motion. This is the final post in a series of five posts about the Water Drop Sequence. Thanks for watching. Please feel free to comment. I would love to hear what you think?

NOTE: If you would like an email notification when I add a new blog post, you may SUBSCRIBE at the top right of my blog page.

Stage 6: Coil - Floating Drop above Rare Coil - Water Drop Photography - Caryn Esplin

Double Bubble - Water Drop Photography - Caryn Esplin

Orange Floater - Water Drop Photography - Caryn Esplin

Blue Double Bubble - Water Drop Photography - Caryn Esplin

Stage 7: Final Bubble - Red Lava - Water Drop Photography - Caryn Esplin

Watch this YouTube video to see the process of a water drop in slow motion. You can see each stage of the sequence.

NOTE: If you would like an email notification when I add a new blog post, you may SUBSCRIBE at the top right of my blog page..

Also, see my Water Drop Photography Tutorial here: https://www.carynesplin.com/7-amazing-tips-for-shooting-water-drops/