Water and Plastic

Posted on by

When I saw successful water-on-a-CD photographs in the Shutterbug eNewsletter I decided to do the ethical thing and completely steal the idea. My ‘results’ must be karma. It should be out of my system, though. For now, anyway. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Royal Tenenbaum: “I’ve always been considered an a*****e for about as long as I can remember. That’s just my style. But I’d really feel blue if I didn’t think you were going to forgive me.”

Henry Sherman: “I don’t think you’re an a*****e, Royal. I just think you’re kind of a son-of-a-b***h.”

Royal Tenenbaum: “Well, I really appreciate that.”

– Gene Hackman & Danny Glover – The Royal Tenenbaums

About this image: digital photograph, moderately modified

99 thoughts on “Water and Plastic”

    • Kind of cool, right? I thought the same thing when I saw this in the ‘try-it’ section of the eNewsletter I subscribe too… the range of looks this process produces is really incredible!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

    • There is such a wide range of colors this technique produces, N.M… and right out of the camera, too! It’s wild!
      Another one of my favorites! I just watched it again the other day and decided I needed to come up with a way to work this quote in (now for those 50 or so others…)!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

    • I’m so happy to hear that, S.E.! That is wonderful! I’ve been looking for a good excuse to use that quote for quite some time now… I was happy to finally work it into a post… makes me laugh every time!
      If you like Wes Anderson movies I know you’d like it, S.E. I like pretty much everything he’s made, but it’s probably tied with ‘The Life Aquatic’ for the one I’ve seen the most. CAN’T wait until his next one, Moonrise Kingdom, comes out!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  8. Yes and so brilliantly recreated with your own
    wicked style, I really like this one SIG, well done 🙂

    Have a fine Thursday SIG 🙂

    Androgoth

    Reply ↓

    • Many thanks, A.G.! The article was basically a ‘how-to’ kind of thing, but I wanted to be sure and give proper credit, too!
      Thank you so much, sir! I hope you have a wonderful Thursday as well!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  9. Oh my gosh, SIG. This is gorgeous!! So very cool! And the shot is ‘simply’ drops of water on a CD? Amazing. Really. Just amazing. Props to you for ‘stealing’. It’s the best form of flattery, eh? By the way, I keep meaning to try the flower on the window thing you did. So, forgive me in advance, as I may be cheating and/or copying you in the future. 🙂

    Reply ↓

    • It is indeed! Pretty wild effects, huh?
      Hahaha… yeah, to be honest, it was one of those ‘try this’ kind of articles, but I rarely post something I haven’t dreamed up here, so I wanted everyone to know it wasn’t originally my idea.
      Oh, please do, Ms. D! I’d love to see your version(s) of this! It’s a bit tricky as the difference in levels of light are so extreme, but a lot of fun, too! And with simple materials! Not only that, but the range of different looks / effects you can produce with this is incredible!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  11. Fantastic colors (… I’m learning to type American) and patterns. Those droplets look like rare and precious metals 😉 Very nice work Bob and nicked like a true professional photographer!

    Loved the quotes too. Gene Hackman seems to put in his best performances alongside African-American leads. Crimson Tide with Denzil Washington and Enemy of the State with Wil Smith are two of my favorites 🙂

    Reply ↓

    • Hahaha… brilliant work, Martin! You are a natural!
      I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I haven’t seen ‘Enemy of the State’ yet… I’ve heard very good things, though! And it’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen ‘Crimson Tide’, too… I seem to remember liking it, though… I might have to give it another look, too!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

      • I highly recommend Enemy of the State – Good acting all round. Good storyline with several plot twists and… you get a bonus feature – Regina King in skimpy black underwear 😉 It’s also got Jack Black demonstrating that he can act and apply his off-message approach to a serious film.

        Actually, given the film’s subject matter, I’m surprised it hasn’t been banned as un-American! It will have you wondering whether your tax Dollars are being spent in a manner you’re comfortable with.

        Reply ↓

        • Sounds very interesting, Martin! I might just give it a try! I mean… only for the serious performances you’ve mentioned, of course! 😉
          To tell you the truth I’m pretty sure the vast majority of those tax dollars are being abused… I try not to think about it too much, though… bad for the blood pressure, you know!
          🙂

          Reply ↓

  12. The Royal Tennenbaums is such an underrated movie. It’s almost a cult classic. Love that quote.

    Your photo makes me think of a crystal ball. Make a wish, SIG!

    Reply ↓

    • I think so, too, Ms. C! I love all Wes Anderson’s movies! Can’t wait for the new one to come out!
      Maybe I should wish not to drop the ball?! Or for no one to notice if I do? Or to be able to make a clean get-away at least!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  13. Wow. Would never have guessed the subject. It’s just gorgeous SIG. Reminds me of jewels skipping across a clear blue pond.
    Dug the Tenenbaums quote as well.
    Your photography always reminds of my inability to draw anything other than unrecognizable stick figures. Thank goodness you’re there to put some beauty into my mind, on even overcast days such as these.

    Reply ↓

    • What’s really cool is that changing the angle / amount of light bouncing off the CD changes the look of things entirely… it’s kind of fun! If you’re faster than me, anyway… and the water doesn’t keep evaporating on you.
      Thank you SO much, Ms. B! Although I suspect you can draw up a storm!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  15. STOP! THIEF! 😉
    Watch out, Martin . . . or instant Karma’s gonna getcha!

    BUT . . . it’s probably worth it.
    That is ONE GORGEOUS PHOTO! 😀

    Great quote too!

    Reply ↓

  21. Perfect little water bubbles, Bob!
    Hey, shouldn’t you be taking Annabelle on another vacation soon….that one for your behalf Annabelle. 🙂
    Okay, now that you could be mad at me, Bob. I’ll tell you again, “those are perfect water bubbles!”
    Hugs, xx

    Reply ↓

  23. What do you mean–”‘results'”?! This is gorgeous. It’s funny you say you like vivid colors like this, though, because I thought it looked specifically un-you when I saw it. I guess it’s like me saying that I only like black and grey and then wearing red patent leather shoes every day.

    Reply ↓

    • Hahaha… thank you, U.M… and very good call! What I should have said is I often like the color I see in other people’s work… and sometimes should try convince myself to use some every now and then, too. Definitely a change from my general palate of B/W, sepia and neutrals, though!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

    • That does sound like fun, Red…
      I might try to do a few more in the future.
      It’s a nice project in that it’s relatively cheap and easy… everything I need is here and ready to go (which definitely comes in handy, sometimes)!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

    • *whew*
      It probably wasn’t quite as bad as it sounded… it was one of those ‘try this’ kind of articles… still… wanted to be sure to give proper credit where it was due! As I need to here! Thank you, Mary! So very kind of you to say that!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  27. Have a great start to your weekend SIG
    and don’t be doing anything that I might
    do either 😉 Be ghoulish now 🙂

    Androgoth

    Reply ↓

    • Big weekend plans as always around here…
      places to not go… (as there are always a few too many projects to work on, you know)!
      Thanks much, A.G.!
      I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

      • I think just doing your own thing makes for an excellent weekend SIG so do enjoy yourselves, yes the both of you 🙂

        Be very well my good friend…

        Androgoth

        Reply ↓

    • Ridiculously simple set-up on this one!
      Basically threw a CD on my kitchen counter in a pool of light (propped up slightly with rolled up paper towel to find some reflected reflected colors I liked – my kitchen window is what you see reflected in the droplets). Then I flicked some water off a kitchen strainer onto the CD and shot it all with my 300D (kit lens and a +10 Macro filter). Cropped, sharpened and blurred a whole lot. In other words, nothing nearly as complicated as what you’re used to dealing with, Mr. B!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

    • Thanks so much, sir!
      I keep telling myself if I keep trying different things at some point something is bound to work out!
      Of course, that was my same strategy for the Mega Millions jackpot and… er… well…
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  33. Man, I f’n love macro shots. The focus distance really shows off how beautiful that light-catching prism is.

    I’d say break out a steel wool and add more scratches (to show up in the bubble as tiny “rays”) but then you’d probably sacrifice that awesome deep blue backdrop..

    Reply ↓

    • Definitely a ‘whole new world’ with macro!
      Great… now I’ve got that Titanic song in my head (make it stop! make it stop)!
      Sounds like a cool idea! So many intersting ways to play with light and shadow with this project!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  34. I love the water on cd photos… I need to retake one… they’re fun to do. I like what you’ve done with yours, it’s not the normal sort … great work… Sir!

    Reply ↓

    • I’d love to see one of your water on CD photos, Nigel!
      Yeah, one of my favorite things about this project is how easily you can create such a wide range of ‘looks’!
      Thank you very much, sir!
      🙂

      Reply ↓

  37. Excellent ! What was the sound track on the CD ? You could a series of images of the CD, turn it into a video and use the CD audio as the sound track. Unless the Cd had visual data, like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit , then the idea is all wet. 🙂

    Reply ↓

    • This one took more running around then it should have, so it made me thirsty, too!
      It was a bit frustrating, at the time I was milling around, trying to get shots set up, and by the time I was ready to try one I’d notice some of the water had evaporated in the hot sun (leaving a little water-spot behind)!
      Happened more than once, I’m afraid!

      Reply ↓

Leave a comment