As we roll into August, we see a new school year approaching and summer coming to an end. For many, this is the opportunity to head out one last time to a favorite summer spot for some fun in the sun. With sun comes water and with water comes a splash! We asked our Lowepro Storytellers to show us how they make a splash!
Photo by Gregg Jaden
A splash comes in many forms. Ocean waves crashing on a beach, a mammal splashing into the ocean after doing a flip or even the natural movement of water falling from beautiful moss covered rock. A splash is one of the most soothing sounds known to us. The larger the splash the more impact it has on us. It has the power to bring us to a meditative state, sending unique sound waves to calm our nervous systems and ultimately our soul.
Photo by Tara Shupe
Running through sprinklers at sunset…the true definition of summer!
Photo by Willow McDonough
Riding a wave can create the ultimate splash! I really love shooting the aerial perspective of surfing. It is a solid challenge to try and capture each sequence of catching, riding, falling or jumping off. This image was taken at one of the more well known breaks in Portugal, a place to watch some of best surfers in the world on any good day.
*Side note: Kelly Slater was here the day after this was shot!
Photo by Laura Barisonzi
I shot this image while rafting down Cataract Canyon. This section of the Colorado River goes through Canyonlands National Park in southwestern Utah. In late spring the river crests with the snowfall from the Rockies (which is when I rode the river). The rapids in this section of the river are class 5 and are the biggest in North America. This shot tries to capture that action from the nose of the boat while I shoot with my Nikon D810 in an Aquatech housing. My camera was attached with carabiners to my life jacket, just as much to keep it from getting washed away as to keep it from hitting other guests. My Lowepro DryZone 200 served me well on this trip, allowing me quick access to my gear while on the river.
Nikon D810
Nikon 24-70mm
f6.3
1/1000
ISO 200
Photo by Viktoria Haack
Winter mist envelopes everything in silence…the only sound….a splash…as the stone hits the water!
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-200 2.8 lens
ISO 100
F3.2
1/2000
Photo by Shawn Talbot
This image was created by repeatedly splashing milk onto a ballerina and then compositing all of the different splashes together. To see a behind the scenes video on the making of this photograph please check out: www.1stopcloser.com/splashing-milk
Canon 5D Mark II
50mm lens
f/9
1/200 second
ISO 100
Photo by Kristian Bogner
I used my new Broncolor RFS 2.2N trigger to sync my Broncolor Scoro S Pack and Nikon D5 at 1/8000sec shutter speed to freeze this splash. I dropped the olives with one and fired the shutter with a remote using the other hand. My pack was capable of multiple FPS so it made capturing an interesting splash a lot more fun.
Photo by Joseph Roybal
To me, each succession of waves that moves in and recedes is like watching a campfire – something you can get lost in it. The movement of water and waves in a scene like this is incredible. Being hit by spray brings it to life.
Nikon D800
ISO 50
20mm
f/14
1/5 sec
Photo by Guy Fattal
A splash of snow is one of the most exciting moments in a ski photographer’s life. So rare and so tricky to capture a frozen moment that drives me to chase snow every winter and go wherever the weather commands.
Nikon D610
Nikon 70-200 f2.8
Shot at
F/4 1/1600sec ISO 1250
Photo by Ryan Struck
Interstellar may have blown our minds by showing us what another dimension may be like, but we only have to go so far as the nearest swimming hole to actually feel it. Being enveloped in water can feel like a surreal experience, and photographing humans and water is my favorite thing to do.
Photo by Jeff Hinman
The word splash just yells out at you, it comes with great force or just a gentle nudge. Not only can it involve water, it can mean a splash of colour to make a piece vibrant.
Photo by Glenn Bartley
A stunning Crowned Woodnymph Hummingbird splashes around in a small stream while bathing.
Photo by Scott A. Woodward
Nestled on the east bank of the Hooghly River, a distributary of the mighty Ganges, Kolkata is the primary commercial, cultural, artistic and intellectual centre of East India and the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. With a population of nearly 15 million people — making it India’s third-most populous metropolitan centre — Greater Kolkata heaves and churns with a crush of humanity. I criss-crossed the feverish metropolis for four days this past May while shooting an assignment for SilkAir. It was in central Kolkata’s frenetic Burrabazar that I spotted this kulhar wali chai (traditional chai tea served in an earthen cup) vendor putting on a “splashing” show for the market’s parched patrons.
Camera = Apple iPhone 6S
Shutter = 1/1000 sec
Aperture = f/2.2
ISO = 400
Photo by Mitchel Wu
Bullseye’s Bubble Bath
One of the things I’ve come to be known for is my use of splashing liquids as a tool for storytelling. That includes water, milk, coffee…whatever fits the story. I’m drawn to using liquids in my images because of the mediums’ ability to add dynamic motion to the scene, and also because of the challenge of trying to control a largely uncontrollable medium. I occasionally will get lucky and nail a splash on my first try, but more often than not I can count on multiple takes before getting a splash I’m satisfied with. There are numerous ways to get liquids to splash on a smaller scale like this. You can blow through a straw directly onto the liquid, creating a splash, or you can use compressed air to do the same thing. Experimentation, repetition and patience is the key to getting the best splash possible. It can be a time consuming process because so much cleanup and resetting of the scene in between takes is required, but the results are often amazing and well worth the added effort.
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 135mm f/2L @ f/2
ISO 1600
1/1000 sec
Photo by Rachid Dahnoun
When you get the call to document the test dive of a 1.5 million dollar prototype submarine in the beautiful blue water of Lake Tahoe you just say “YES!” My assignment was to shoot a new two-man submarine called the DeepFlight Dragon. The story ran as the feature in Lufthansa Airline’s inflight magazine (November 2016).
Submarine Facts:
-The DeepFlight Dragon is a prototype and currently the only one of its kind in the world.
-The sub runs completely on electric power making virtually no noise in the water. One charge is
good for 8 hours of dive time.
-The sub doesn’t use a ballast system like a traditional sub. Instead, it relies completely on
propulsion to dive. This means that if all the systems fail the sub is buoyant and will steadily
float back to the surface.
-The sub can dive to a depth of 400 feet
-DeepFlight is based near San Francisco, making Lake Tahoe the closest clear water to test the sub.
Equipment Info:
Nikon D4s
Aquatech Water Housing
Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8
ISO 800
1/1600
f/8
Photo by Annette White
Water puppetry is a traditional Vietnamese art form that dates back several centuries and is performed in a shallow pool of water. The wooden puppets are manually controlled behind a screen by master puppeteers who splash them through the stage with precision and skill. During the performance you will see dragons shoot sparklers out of their mouths, dancing turtles, colorful swimming birds, men riding ox and speedy fish, all telling a special story.
Photo by David Cheung
To end their wedding day celebrations, Ray & Ivy rented out the entire Banff Hot Springs for their guests to enjoy! And boy, do they know how to make an entrance 🙂
Photo by Emily Polar
Jumping off a big rock into the Ganges looks like this 🙂
Photo by Matt Clark
Photo by Daisy Gilardini
The crossing of the notoriously WILD Drake Passage in the Southern Oceans could be very adventurous at times.
Photo by Frank Lopez
The oceans current crashing on rocks creating a beautiful splash of waves from above. Being able to see the ocean from another angle beside eye level is like rediscovering a new world.
Photo by Arthur Ward
There’s nothing like a summer sunset out on the lake!
Lens: Nikon 50mm f/1.4
ISO: 2800
Aperture: 1.6
Shutter: 1/1000
