Hubble bubble, oil and trouble… Dan Mold cooks up a storm using oil and water to show you how to create colourful abstracts at home
DEDICATED MACRO LENS
A dedicated macro lens is the best choice for closeup photography, because true macros have a life-size 1:1 reproduction ratio. This means if you were to shoot a leaf at 1:1, it would appear the same size as if you had laid it across your imaging sensor.
If you paid attention in science class, you’ll remember that oil and water don’t mix. When you combine the two liquids, the insoluble oil rises to the surface and clumps together. This very often results in the formation of perfectly round droplets and they’re superphotogenic, which makes them fantastic abstract subjects for macro images.
Oil and water photography is an ideal technique for beginners looking to embark on a dedicated project, because it doesn’t require expensive equipment to capture excellent results. We captured our images with a Canon EOS DSLR, a dedicated macro lens, a sturdy tripod and some household essentials you likely have in your store cupboard. While a dedicated macro lens is ideal, as they usually have high magnifications and 1:1 reproduction ratios – so your subject can be shot at life size – don’t let that deter you if you do not own one or they’re beyond your budget. You can sti
