Camera settings

Switch to manual focus

Switch your camera’s shooting mode to either Aperture Priority or Manual mode. Whether you’re using continuous lighting to illuminate a physical background or the light from an LED screen, you should be able to use a relatively low ISO.

We selected ISO400.

This was low enough so as not to visibly impact image quality, but high enough to enable shutter speeds above 1/100 sec. These speeds helped mitigate movement from the oil droplets, as even the most light-footed can disturb the water. Once you’re ready to capture your photograph, consider using a 10-second self-timer or remote shutter release so you can wait (stock still) for the water’s surface to settle before the shutter is fired.

Close-up photographers usually favour manual focus. To ensure your focus is tack-sharp, switch to Live View and zoom in on the edge of a bubble before refining your focus accordingly.