Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009 
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009 
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009 
Photo: © Vladimir Nefedov, courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2009 Since the iconic images of a moving galloping race horse were revealed in 1887 by English photographer Eadweard Muybridge, high-speed photography has come on in leaps and bounds. Multiple cameras are no longer needed to capture motion, just one, usually hideously expensive, camera is required (and some fancy equipment).
The Needle
High-speed photography allows us to view things that ordinarily move too quickly for us register as a single image. Everyday events such as a drop of water falling into a bowl are suddenly transformed into liquid sculpture. Beauty and art replace the mundane.
The Girl
Those who specialise in high-speed photography are masters of patience. Trying to capture the perfect shot takes some setting up, and although there are various ways to catch the images, seemingly frozen in time, many photographers have their own personal technique, which they guard closely. The most common technique is to use high-speed flashes with quick shutter times. The images are often then polished up in Photoshop, or some digital imaging package, but only the background and shadows are manipulated, the actual fluid shape is left untouched.
Watermetery
Water is often used in high-speed photography, as are other fluids, which are capable of producing infinite organic shapes, depending on how the photographer has set up the shot. Some photographers use specific equipment such as pipettes and drip feeders; others taint the fluid with color, resulting in sometimes strong and impressive images like these by Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA) 2008 finalist, Vladimir Nefedov.
The Crown
Vladimir is a recognized authority in the field of high-speed photography and once managed the professional photographic studio, Prozess in his native Russia. He says on his website (in Russian, so roughly translated):
“There is not yet a technique that could embody what occurs inside of us, and science has not thought up how to photograph dreams or happiness. Art of a photo is an attempt of visualization [of these things], made possible by manipulation of the images, given to us in the objective world and in sensations, they are then fixed using a camera, producing something imperceptible and unique...”
Ash Tray
UPDATE: After writing this post, Vladimir got in touch with us and kindly offered a few words to be added to the article:
"If water and temporary life are inseparable, if eternal life for the person begins with immersion in water, don't you agree that it would be rather strange for the Creator not to have decorated its main substance with gorgeous forms. A snowflake and an iceberg, a forest brook and Niagara, puddles on asphalt and storm surf - this is all the glory of water, perceived with our noble eyesight. And it is impossible to imagine that in the sphere of imperceptible it can suddenly deplete."
The Bell
"Plus, photography, as a natural piece of art, not suffocated with corset of aesthetics is always primaeval and will be always finding its authors and viewers. Modern technologies only multiply the freedom of photographer if they are applied as instruments and do not end in themselves."
The Lira
Vladimir Nefedov opens to us in a new way unimaginable forms created by the falling drop. In a number of these images, someone will be dazzled with subject associations, someone with Japanese elegance of contemplative "design", others with a mysterious unrecognisable space.
Red in White
For your chance to enter the Sony World Photography Awards 2009, read our previous entries: Timon and Pumbaa and Environmental Graffiti Partners with Sony World Photography Awards. The closing date for Prince's Rainforest Project Awards has been extended to February 28, 2009.
Crystal Vase
Thanks go again to Vladimir! He has a new website coming soon.
Water Joke
If you want to find out all the latest news on the environment, why not subscribe to our RSS feed?
54 comments
Mik (not verified) says:
Jan 7th, 2009 at 8am
Awesome photos, just love how different all the splashes are.
Broomstick (not verified) says:
Jan 7th, 2009 at 6pm
the Watermetery photo is my fave... so gorgeous.
Matt Spire (not verified) says:
Jan 7th, 2009 at 10pm
Those are absolutely gorgeous. I've seen many similar shots, but those are beyond surreal. They are from another world entirely.
anonymous (not verified) says:
Jan 7th, 2009 at 11pm
I love these!
very creative thought.
I want to see more!
stimpy (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 12am
photoshopped. every one of them, clearly fake. I can see pixels!
*evil grin*
Elizabeth Truglio (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 1am
You understand the meaning of exquisite. All dreams are contained in a drop of water. Someone just needs to see them. You not only see them, you photograph them. So others can see.
I salute you.
Gloria (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 3am
As a person who loves water, and is ceasely fascinated with the way water envelopes out lives, it is a pleasure to find a yet different expression. I think water is exquisite, we can't live with out it, but yet it can deadly as well. People can drown, have their homes destroyed, along with personal belongings, and yet in it's simplest of forms, the earth is covered by more than 1/3 of it's surface. In it's capacities, it is waited for in the deserts of the world, it nurtures the essence of the rain forest, creates beautiful fountains to watch. And you have now added some other unique ways in which to look at simple plops of water, and watch the phases in which plops create images.
Ah yes (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 4am
It's so easy to procrastinate by looking at awesome pictures like these. The innocence... sometimes I justify it by comparing the fact that I'm not on Digg. But seriously, great photos!
Thriell (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 5am
Wow.
Those water droplets are made even more beautiful when you stop to realize just how fleeting they are.
Just,"Wow".
Dana (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 7am
I think these photos are amazing! Pretty good work! I prefer "The Needle"!
Gray Gaffer (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 8am
Let us not omit mention of Doc Edgerton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Edgerton), who pioneered and developed the technology that makes these beautiful pictures possible. It is because of his work that we have stroboscopes and electronic flash. On the shoulders of giants, and all that.
VICKI (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 10pm
Having loved beautiful glass for many years seeing water almost mimic glass in look is amazing. Love your work.
vicki
5942marine (not verified) says:
Jan 8th, 2009 at 11pm
Pretty Dang Cool, I like these.
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kan (not verified) says:
Jan 9th, 2009 at 2pm
Those are absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never seen any similar to these shots.those are beyond surreal. They are from another world entirely.
tacticalgeargal (not verified) says:
Jan 9th, 2009 at 9pm
This is awesome. Amazing pics. I want more...!!
mohamed kassem (not verified) says:
Jan 10th, 2009 at 12am
very good work
thats nice snapshot
Sandra letran (not verified) says:
Jan 10th, 2009 at 8am
amazing! these photos are really terrific!
asiffy (not verified) says:
Jan 10th, 2009 at 5pm
Wow, truly amazing. I think the girl figure was the most astonishing!
Fantasy Sports Betting (not verified) says:
Jan 11th, 2009 at 10am
These are so amazing, I wounder how many photos it took to get it just perfect. It must be a bit of a lottery, but every shot must look fantastic. :) Great work, keep it up!
Elaine B. (not verified) says:
Jan 13th, 2009 at 1pm
These are awesome! The one looks like a lady on the water.
Luck (not verified) says:
Jan 14th, 2009 at 12am
So Harold Edgerton did this in 1937, why is Vladimir Nefedov so great. For over 70 years people are using HI-speed cameras to capture drops of water...
I don't have anything with Vladimir, but the internet is full of photos like those...
shasta (not verified) says:
Jan 15th, 2009 at 6am
i'm skeptical... some of these look like they're small plastic sculptures masquerading as splashes.
jose (not verified) says:
Jan 17th, 2009 at 7am
Just amazing. simply amazing. keep going
Roberto (not verified) says:
Jan 17th, 2009 at 6pm
These pictures are all either photoshop (C) or computer generated; what is so difficult or artistic about photography using these methods? I would like to see what they can do with a camera and some creativity.
khervin (not verified) says:
Jan 18th, 2009 at 1pm
C'est merveilleux! Merci de partager cela avec nous!
Commercial Photography (not verified) says:
Jan 20th, 2009 at 7pm
That is some great photography. I really enjoyed viewing these images. Very creative and beautiful photography!
marin smith (not verified) says:
Jan 23rd, 2009 at 6am
nice pictures...great work....
such creativity with such clarity is really appreciable!
Photography Studio Lighting (not verified) says:
Jan 24th, 2009 at 9pm
Stunning photos! Just gorgeous.
pascal (not verified) says:
Feb 11th, 2009 at 4pm
Waow very nice!!
Pascal
http://www.agitatto.com/blog a magazine on art and design
ziggi (not verified) says:
Very Nice!!!!!!!