I'm really liking the fact that I'm getting out with my camera more than ever!  Part of the reason is this blog - I created it so I'd force myself to take more photos - the other reason is our fun little photo group (see the earlier "Red" blogpost).  Our subject for the past month was WATER, and it was great to see the variety of photos each of us took. 

For me, this topic provided the opportunity to try high-speed photography once again.  I had tried to capture "drops" earlier in the year and, even though those sort of photos could be consider "water", I thought I'd try something different...water balloons exploding! 

Blue balloon with waterYou can see how the balloon has burst and collapsed into the bottom right, but the water still holds the shape of the balloon for a split-second. I picked a nice sunny day and got things together in the backyard: camera on tripod, 60mm macro lens, cable release, string, dowel clamped to garage eavestrough, and of course water balloons.  Fortunately I was smart enough to keep the camera away from my rigging until I knew it would work - and sure enough my first three attempts at hanging a filled balloon resulted in soaked shorts and feet!  First time the clamp didn't work, the second time the dowel held for a second and then shattered, and the third time the balloon just exploded in my hand as I hung it.  When I did get the set-up all sorted out, it was then a matter of somehow capturing the precise moment that the balloon bursts but the water hasn't fallen down yet.  I managed to do that in this photo where the blue balloon has collapsed to the bottom right but the water is still in the shape of the balloon...it's weird how some of the water burst upwards.

Red food colouring in water balloonIt's interesting how the ball of water looks red but individual drops appear clear. Now that I figured out how not to soak myself, I thought I'd try some variations just for fun and so added some red food colouring to the water.  This photo was actually a yellow balloon filled with red water - you can't see it because it actually collapsed backwards and so is behind the water.  Fortunately I managed to capture the red ball of water just a split-second before it fell to the ground...sort of looks like a juicy strawberry!  After a few more of attempts like this (it was really difficult getting the shutter to click right at moment of bursting), I tried to time the burst with the camera set on self-timer.  It didn't work as well but I did get a good shot of the water as the water ball collapses - it has a strange gel-like appearance to it.

Missed the timing slightly!The balloon burst and the water ball collapsed just before the shutter clicked. This is something I'm certainly going to try again - but for next month, the guys picked "Animals" as our topic so stay tuned for those photos...meanwhile, enjoy the sunshine and remember to laugh....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14IRDDnEPR4