Strawberry Blast - Best of Show Advanced Challenge Topic - September 2009
Photographer: Lisa Schnelzer
Image Title: Strawberry Blast
Date: September 2009 - Best of Show Advanced Challenge Topic (Fruit and/or Vegetables)
Score: 21/27
Comments from Judges: Really cool, wonderful capture
Q. How did you set the shot up?
I set a clear vase partly filled with water outside on a table in bright sunlight with the camera on a tripod at water level. I pre-focused for the middle of the container. As I dropped the strawberry into the water I held the cable release down on the continuous setting...click, click, click, click, click, click!
Q. What equipment did you use?
Tripod, Nikon D300, Nikkor 105 macro lens, cable release.
Q. What f-stop and exposure?
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/5000 sec, RAW capture
Q. How many attempts before the success?
It took two dozen tries before I felt I had a few acceptable images. In some frames I was still holding the strawberry, and in others it hadn’t reached the water yet. In other photos the strawberry had already dropped below the frame but the resulting water splashes were very interesting. I also tried this with a raspberry but with poor results.
Q. What did you learn from taking the shot?
Timing is everything – keep trying, it will be worth the effort! Set ups like this are surprisingly easy with all the tips and tutorials available online (and JR’s guidance) It was fun.
Q. What did you learn from the image being judged at competition?
I was pleased that the judges liked my image.
