At first: there are lots of other ways to do that too. Not the worst idea would be using a light-operated switch to control the cams trigger. After fine-tuning that, each shot would get perfect but as i don't have such sophisticated equipment available, good ole handywork had to do the job. Just wanted to add that to all the technicians out there :)

Hiya Mel,
i'm glad to be able to tell you the setup. Nice to be of help to others ... there's a lot to give back to helping people as you are :)

Cam with macro-lens on a tripod. A bowl of water (no dark material), the lens focussed manually on the middle (let something swim in there to get the focus). Lots of light. Really all that's available (i don't have any special studio-flashes or the like so our living room literally was bathed in light hehe) I additionally activated the cams internal flash.

Than the fun began. I took a .. hmm .. do you call it "pipette" in english too? Rubber in the back and a small glas tube taking the water? You press the air out, than by releasing the rubber the submerged tube sucks the water in which than can be pressed out again? ... you know what i mean? I hope so ... no dictionary around when i need it most ... sigh

Ok, trying to find the sharp spot in the water with the "pipette" than raising that thingie about 5", releasing one drop, pressing the cable-control of the cam almost the same time (depends on the height of the pipette (the time the drop needs to fall) - and the cam's speed) - so one drop = one shot .. with a 1Ds one may get two shots .. but not with my 300D. The 3rd or 4th had been the best (in my eyes - i'll post it tomorrow) .. pure luck .. afterwards lots of practicing .... in the end, i got a little better but the most of em where totally out of focus or without any drop .. ;)

You see, it's quite simple ... disappointing somewhat, isn't it?

Colouring was done in PS, the shots were just greyscale. It's impossible to get that saturated colours with just food-colours in the water. Also, because of the whole operation got very wet, i didn't want to have coloured water all around the place .. lol. Sadly there's not to much contrast in them, giving it a grainy look after PS. Don't know a solution for that (for now).

So let's flood r'osity with drops .. i'd love to see what you'll get. I'd be happy if i could be of service ... :-))

Tom

PS - the technical aspects: shutter time 1/200 (Thanks to Matt (RedundantlyAbundant) ... i thought this had to be a lot shorter too), aperture F2.8 (hardly enough for that droplet alone .. see tomorrow) to (in todays posting) F9 (at least the inner ripples are sharp) .. couldn't rise it any further for it got to dark - but with some decent flash you'll be able to use F12 which should provide even sharper shots. ISO100 .. but that's of no importance. Anything else you'd need to know? Ahh .. the famous Sigma 105 EX lens at a distance of 4 or 5 inches to the impact-point.

PPS Kim/Matt: i'd like to read your specs too .. if you have a spare minute to post em. :)