Finding Stillness in Motion: Macro Experiments with Platypod

Some images begin long before the shutter is pressed.

This short series came from a simple idea: slow down, get closer, and let light and water do most of the talking. Using a Platypod as my foundation, I was able to strip the process back to its essentials—stability, precision, and freedom to experiment at ground level.

Why Platypod Matters in Macro Work

Macro photography magnifies everything—not just your subject, but also vibration, imbalance, and small positioning errors. When you’re working millimetres from your subject, traditional tripods can feel oversized, unstable, or simply in the way.

The Platypod excels here because it:

• Sits flat and secure on almost any surface

• Allows extremely low shooting angles without compromise

• Keeps the camera locked exactly where you place it

That stability became essential in this project, where I was working with long exposures, shallow depth of field, and very subtle movements in light and liquid.

Image One: Organic Energy

The first image explores scattered droplets suspended across fine strands, almost like a living organism expanding into space. Fluorescent paint, applied carefully with a very fine brush, reacts to UV light and transforms tiny details into luminous points that float against a deep, dark background.

This image required patience. Tiny adjustments—fractions of a millimetre—made the difference between visual chaos and harmony. With the camera mounted low and solid on the Platypod, I could fine-tune composition without fighting gravity or instability.

Image Two: Controlled Chaos

In the second photograph, a single droplet becomes the anchor point, with streaks of colour radiating outward like energy lines. The contrast between warm and cool tones was intentional, creating tension while still maintaining balance within the frame.

The effect was created in-camera using long exposure rather than heavy post-processing. The Platypod allowed me to work directly on the surface, keeping the camera perfectly aligned while experimenting with light movement during the exposure.

Image Three: Quiet Precision

The final image is more restrained. A single droplet sits calmly, surrounded by delicate strands that feel almost weightless. Compared to the earlier frames, this one leans into simplicity—less motion, fewer elements, and more space to breathe.

This photograph reinforced the value of tools that stay out of the way. With the Platypod firmly in place, I could focus entirely on timing, light, and subtle colour shifts without worrying about the camera drifting or sagging over time.

The Thought Process: Pushing Creative Boundaries

Creative macro photography has always been about exploration for me. I’ve been working with water droplets for around six years, and while the subject still fascinates me, I reached a point where repetition no longer felt enough. I wanted to approach droplets differently—less documentation, more interpretation.

The idea behind this series was to push beyond what I’d done before and lean into abstraction. I knew from the outset that combining water, fluorescent paint, UV light, and long exposure would be difficult to control. There was no guarantee the concept would work at all. But that challenge was part of the appeal.

The bright, almost electric colours were intentional. They bring energy and contrast to a familiar subject, helping the images feel fresh while still rooted in the delicate structure of water and fine strands. Even now, this work feels very much like a work in progress—an experiment rather than a finished conclusion.

Projects like this remind me that growth often sits just beyond what feels comfortable. By embracing uncertainty and slowing the process down, I’m able to discover new directions and refine ideas over time.

I hope this series is just the beginning, and that future experiments will push these concepts even further—something I’m excited to continue sharing with the Platypod community.

Behind the Scenes: Technique & Tools

All three images were captured using the OM SYSTEM OM-1 paired with the 90mm macro lens, a combination that offers exceptional sharpness and control at high magnifications.

The vivid colours seen in the frames aren’t added in post. They come from fluorescent paint, carefully applied by hand using a very fine brush. Once in place, the paint was illuminated using a UV light from Adaptalux, causing the colours to glow intensely against the dark background.

Each image was created as a 20-second long exposure at f/14, ISO 200. The extended exposure time allowed subtle movements in light and fine strands to register as flowing lines, while the smaller aperture helped maintain enough depth of field to keep the key elements sharp.

This process demanded absolute stability. Any shift during those 20 seconds would have softened detail or altered the structure of the image—another moment where the Platypod’s low-profile support proved invaluable.

Slowing the Process

What these images share is not just a visual style, but a way of working. The Platypod encourages a slower, more deliberate approach—one where experimentation feels natural, and precision doesn’t come at the expense of creativity.

When your support system is solid, you’re free to explore ideas that would otherwise feel too fragile or unpredictable.

Final Thoughts

This series reinforced something I return to often: strong images don’t come from more gear, but from better foundations. The Platypod gave me the confidence to work low, close, and slow—exactly where these photographs needed to be made.

Sometimes, staying grounded is what allows ideas to expand.

Images captured using a Platypod support system.