This is slightly off topic from the usual content you’ve come accustomed to reading on ZME Science, but I simply couldn’t help sharing these extraordinary stills of pure bliss. Jim Kramer is far from what you would call your typical photographer, mostly because his photos don’t feature countryside ditches, models or urban jungle frescoes, but water droplets. Not just any kind of water droplets, though – he also uses paints to add flavor and colour to the shots, as well as sometimes additives like glycerol and dishwashing soap to alter the water’s consistency.
To shoot these incredible photos, Kramer uses a highly precise system, comprised of valves, stop shot sensors, and cameras for a perfect timing. How did it fair? Well, you’ll be the judge of that. Title and descriptions were taken directly from the photographer’s flickr account.
Rocket Cat. And I think it's going to be a long long time... til touchdown brings me round again to find... I'm not the cat they think I am at home... oh no no no... I'm a Rocket Cat! (c) Jim Kramer
Blood From Under. Another Solid Surface Crown - this one from today. I'm still waiting for my parts from Cognisys, so crowns it is! I am not sure how this happened, but if you look closely you can see the the red food coloring comes from under the cream. Too cool. I hope everyone is enjoying these, I'm having a blast making them. Cheers everyone!!! -Jim (c) Jim Kramer
From the Archives. Can't make any new drops today... although I may do some hard surface crowns a bit later. This one is from one of my first sessions with glycol. Looks like a chess piece to me. (c) Jim Kramer
Concentric. Multi-Drop Glycol Collision. Best on Black (c) Jim Kramer
Red & Teal. Glycol collision against a stained glass background. Thanks for looking! (c) Jim Kramer
Red Glycol Collision (c) Jim Kramer
Singing in the Rain. I can't seem to find the words to describe this one... I'm anxiously awaiting to hear the comments... I hope you love it as much as I do! Ethylene Glycol Fountain Shot (c) Jim Kramer
The Flamenco Dancer. Can you see her...? (c) Jim Kramer
Red and Blue. I shot 3 strobes through a red background, and used blue gels over the front strobes for this shot. Getting enough light for the shot was tough, you lose a lot of light shooting through colors. (c) Jim Kramer
Triple Color Crown. One of the easier shots to accomplish. You can do these without any special timing equipment. This particular shot is using heavy cream (lightly colored blue) being dropped onto a piece of black glass. In order to get the crown, a 'primer' drop is necessary in the landing zone. I added 3 drops of food coloring to the outer edges of the primer drop (red, yellow, and purple), this adds the color. (c) Jim Kramer
Accept reason, challenge the world and think. With my posts at ZME Science I try to bring bits of science to the people - of all kinds and backgrounds. Science is what will move the world past its current petty nature. Let's show everyone how science can change the world! 
Tip us on news, scientific reports and studies, scientific advances, science art, interesting phenomena or any kind of science related material. Just write to
Published on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 by Tibi Puiu
Post filled in: Great Pics, Other