Introduction: Water Drops (Macro) Studio

About: Hey! My name is Stella and I'm 50% Romanian and 50% Greek, but I currently live in Thessaloniki, Greece. My life was always been about crafting and fixing things. I tend to think about other uses of things tha…

Hello everyone!!

I'm not a photographer but I like photography a lot, especially macro photography! I have a compact camera (Nikon Coolpix B700) and believe me, if you are a little talented, you don't need a DSLR to do great things. (The first photo was taken in 2011 with my old camera, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50).

I learned a lot about macro photography from one of my best friends, Alex V-Light. You can take a look at her work on her Instagram account and also find her on Facebook and Twitter. ❤

Step 1: Tool & Supplies

Supplies

  • Cardboard Box
  • Spray paint
  • Translucent paper
  • Hair straightener
  • Adhesive tape
  • Infusion set with a flow regulator
  • Hot glue
  • Cardboard tube
  • 250ml plastic bottle (junior)

Tools

  • Knife cutter
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Glue gun

Step 2: Cutting the Box

First of all cut the flaps.

Choose which side will be the top and draw two "windows" on the left and right side of the box using a ruler and a pencil.

My box wasn't very big, so I chose the longest side as the studio's height. Also I measured 10cm from the top and the bottom and 5cm from the back and the front side to draw my windows.

Then cut the windows with a knife cutter.

Step 3: Painting the Box

You can paint it however you like. I like it minimal so I chose Black spray paint for the outer sides and White fore the inner ones.

If you are going to spray paint your box too and if you choose to do it like me (first cutting and then painting) paint the outer sides first and then paint the inner, because, if you do not close the windows with a paper or something, the inner sides will gonna end up painted with the outer color.

Step 4: Paper Windows

Measure the translucent paper and cut two pieces. Mine was very thin and wrinkled so I iron it with a hair straightener and then I cut it in two pieces.

Stick the paper on the inner side of the windows using adhesive tape.

Step 5: Flow Regulator

Cut the tube about 15cm from the injection site and about 5mm from the drip chamber. Pass the 15cm tube you cut in the regulator clamp (roller) and glue the tube with 5mm tube on the chamber using hot glue.

To do this, I stretched the end of the 15cm tube with the spike (the other end of the drip chamber) and then put it ON the 5mm tube that was left on the chamber. Then I applied hot glue around the tube.

Step 6: Water Bottle

Make a hole on the bottles lid and insert the chamber's spike. Glue them together with hot glue.

You have to make a hole on the bottle's bottom too to let the air flow in as the water level lowers. Just poke a hole with the tip of your knife cutter, but don't make it very big. When it's time to fill the bottle you can put a finger on the hole and then turn it us side down.

Step 7: Cutting Holes on the Top

Find the center of the top side and make a hole with an xacto knife. Use the injection site to measure the hole you;re gonna need, mark it with a pencil and cut it out.

You are gonna need a cardboard tube as a stand for the bottle, so you have to cut out some holes for it. Put the cardboard tube on the top and mark a circle with a pencil. Cut two semicircle on the top side of the box and the cardboard tube, as you see in the photos.

Step 8: Assembling the Parts

Your studio is almost ready!

Push the cardboard tube to fit in the semicircles, put the bottle on the top of it and take out of the tube the regulator clamp and put the injection site on the little hole on the center.

Ta-Daaa!!!

This is it! Now you have to use it!

Step 9: Taking Photos

Since photography is a hobby for me, I did't invest so much money on it. Therefore I do not have the adequate equipment to do this photo shooting. BUT, I have some things I can use to substitute the equipment.

So... I used my Coconut Desk Lamp on the left side and one other simple lamp bulb with a switch on the right side. I used a vice as a stand for the lamp on the right.

As receivers I used bowls, one green (transparent) and one black.

This is up to you, you can use whatever you want. Also you can try a clear bowl and put a colored surface underneath it.

Hope you find this project useful! :D

Photography Contest 2017

Third Prize in the
Photography Contest 2017