High speed photography

[guinod]

Hi,
I'd like to learn how to initiate high speed photography techniques. Could you advice me in the choice of some materials and methods?
Thank you for your answers.Regards.
Guinod

 

[Alphoid]

Depends on your goals, speed, and budget.

• High speed, high budget: http://web.mit.edu/6.163/www/
• Medium speed, medium budget: http://www.dpreview.com/products/casio/compacts/casio_exf1
• Low budget: Successors of the above.
• "High speed" as in sports/action/kids: dSLR+fast lens, or possibly flash.

If you clarify, you might get better advice.

 

[Doss]

Hi,
I'd like to learn how to initiate high speed photography techniques. Could you advice me in the choice of some materials and methods?
Thank you for your answers.Regards.
Guinod

High speed photography is all about high speed flashguns (or strobes, as they confusingly renamed them in the USA). You also want to look into triggering devices.

There are some great youtube videos illustrating the technique.

 

[AlbertTheLazy]

You really do have to explain what YOU mean by 'high speed'.

A runner, a racing car, a bullet, glass shattering ...

Often the problem is not getting a fast enough exposure but actually triggering at the right time.

Or do you mean high speed moving pictures?

 

[guinod]

Hi,
Thank you very much for tour answers and I apologize to have been so imprecise.
I wanted to get your advice about what Doss has named" high speed flashguns" and "triggering devices". Indeed, I got some pictures about water drops, but I'd like to improve the settings to shoot collisions of water drops. I am interested to know if you already got experience on materials managing, detecting and shooting such collisions. What would be the best for a budget around 500 to 600$.
Thank you very much. Guinod

 

[canonagain123]

1. Yongnuo flash for your DSLR (560, 568, or any model basically, as far as I know they all have the same flash durations) - $50-$200
set the flash power to 1/128, this gives you a flash duration of 1/20,000 seconds. 1/64 gives you 1/10,000 seconds. Get two flashes for better results. Remember they have to be synched with each other and your camera, so set the M/s correctly.


2. Two sensor cleaning blower type rubber pumps, fill with water (syringes are better, but a lot harder in practice) - $2

3. radio trigger for your camera (optional) - $50

3. set the pumps on opposite sides, left and right, at an angle (45'? see what works)

4. make two fists and hold the remote trigger between your palm and your thumb in either hand or set a self-timer (self-timers are harder)

5. smash your fists against the rubber pumps at the same time and trigger the camera halfway through

6. with lots of patience and lots of luck, you'll get what you want

*Amount of time and work not included in the calculations

 

[guinod]

Hi,
Thank you very much for your input. I'll give it a try. Regards. Guinod

 

[FrankieJ]

Hi,
I'd like to learn how to initiate high speed photography techniques. Could you advice me in the choice of some materials and methods?
Thank you for your answers.Regards.
Guinod

For educational value, you may want to also research the work of the EG&G corporation.

 

[Doss]

Spend your time researching rather than purchasing. Some of the best high speed photos are achieved modifying old 2nd hand flashguns - eg by Markus Reugels:

 

[guinod]

Thank you very much for your suggestions Doss. I didn't know the Markus' work until discovering it here, it's awesome!Thank you for the URL, his video is very useful and explains perfectly the different steps, but his material is beyond my reach for the moment...Regards.

 

[guinod]

Frankie,

Thank you for your input , I've googled EG&G ( forgive my ignorance, I'm living in France) and have found some very interesting things. All the best!