Photography challenge - water drops, patience, and Pluto Trigger

I was bored yesterday because my husband was on the night shift. I didn’t want to watch TV (ugh, nothing good on), and I wasn’t ready to read a book because, let’s be real, if I start, I don’t stop. You know how it goes....eight hours fly by, and suddenly it’s morning, and I’ve forgotten to sleep. Not great when I have work the next day!

So, I grabbed my camera, found my Pluto Trigger & Water Drop Kit, and started making pictures. Sounds exciting, right? Well, kind of. It’s just not as fun doing it alone. I usually do this with my husband because, let’s face it, he’s way better at setting everything up. But I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it solo—and maybe even take some amazing photos without his help.

Spoiler alert: I’m not super happy with how they turned out. I mean, they’re okay, but I wanted them to be WOW. Like, “Hang it on the wall!” level.

Still, I want to share them with you and get your honest opinion. I think I’ve got a lot to learn, but hey, that’s part of the fun, right? My husband, of course, is always happy to help when it comes to photography. He said the photos were “good.” Just good. I wanted “great” or “awesome” or maybe even a “you nailed it!” But nope, just “good.” Ugh, not quite the reaction I was hoping for, but hey, I’ll take it. It just means there’s room to grow, right?

But hey, at least I can proudly say I did it all by myself! Let me tell you how I made these photos, it’s actually pretty fun, and you should try it too!

How to Make Cool Water Drop Photos with Pluto Trigger

Here’s the step-by-step guide to creating water drop magic:

1 - what you need

A camera (preferably one with manual settings)

A Pluto Trigger & Water Drop Kit (fancy name, but it’s easy to use)

A shallow tray filled with water

A lamp or soft light source

A colorful background (or just plain black for a dramatic look)

Patience... lots of it!

2 - setting up the scene

First, place the tray of water on a flat surface. This is your splash zone. Then, attach the Water Drop Kit above the tray. Make sure it’s centered. Next, pick a background. I went with black to make the splashes pop, but you can experiment with anything...patterns, textures, even shiny foil.

3 - lighting is everything

Position a lamp or light source to the side of the tray. Use a diffuser (or even a thin white sheet) to soften the light. This prevents harsh shadows and makes the water drops sparkle. Trust me, lighting can make or break your photo!

Step 4 - connect the camera, Pluto Trigger, and Water drop kit

Here’s where I got stuck. I fiddled with the kit, stared at the camera, and even read the manual...Hjea...still, I couldn’t figure it out.

So, I called my husband. Here’s how it went:

Me: “Hey, love...”

Him: (without missing a beat) “What do you need? Or better yet, what did you do wrong this time?” ( He knew what I was doing) 🙂

Me: “Listen, I didn’t want to call you, but how the heck do I connect the camera, Pluto Trigger, and water drop kit? Help me, genius.”

Him: (laughing) “Alright, let me save the day. Again.”

He explained it step-by-step (and yes, I took notes so I could share with you):

Connect the Pluto Trigger to your camera. Use the cable that came with the trigger and plug it into your camera’s remote shutter port.

Sync the water drop kit to the Pluto Trigger. There’s a small cable for this too—plug it into the port marked “drop.”

Set the timing in the *Pluto Trigger app (iPhone, Android, it doesn't matter). This lets you control when the water drops fall and when your camera takes the photo.

Once everything was connected, it was finally time to shoot.

4 – Let’s shoot!!

Take a few test shots to check the timing, focus, and lighting. Adjust as needed. This part can get a little frustrating, but once you nail it, it’s SO satisfying! I didn’t nailed it this time...Not so how I want it...but...still not bad...

My results

After an hour of splashing water everywhere (pro tip: keep a towel handy!), I got a few decent shots. My favorite part was seeing the different shapes the drops created...crowns, ripples, and even little “dancers.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my photos. Be honest...just don’t crush my spirit too hard, okay? 😂 If you’ve ever tried water drop photography, share your tips with me. Let’s make this a fun learning experience!

And if you’re looking for something creative to do next time you’re bored, grab a camera, some water, and Pluto Trigger, and give this a shot. It’s messy, it’s tricky, but it’s also so much fun. Plus, you can always tell yourself, “I’m an artist!” 😊

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” – Karl Lagerfeld

With love, @tinabrezpike ❤️