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I Figured Out How To Instantly Improve Any Photo – Just Add Water!
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I Figured Out How To Instantly Improve Any Photo – Just Add Water!

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I’ve been researching and testing photography hacks for years, trying to capture unique and compelling images. I love sharing my work with the world through free stock photo sites and I’m always looking for ways to take my images to the next level.

Recently a friend shared the best tip yet – ”just add water.”

So what does that mean? If whatever you’re trying to photograph looks boring, try spraying it with water droplets using a spray bottle or mister. Of course, you might not want to try this with electronic products or unwitting models, but it often works incredibly well with organic materials like fruit or flowers. Glass surfaces, like mirrors or windows, are also instantly more interesting with water on them as well.

Below is a short explanation of the technique that shows how easy (and effective!) it is. I’ve included other sample photos that I’ve made more interesting using a splash of water, and a few inspirational shots from other photographers as well.

P. S.  All the images are royalty-free in case you want to use them for anything or share them with your friends.

More info: burst.shopify.com

Here’s the photography hack in action, taken with my iPhone

To demonstrate how this technique works, I used a bunch of grapes – but pretty much any fruit or veggie would work just as well.

It’s pretty amazing how a simple squirt of water can instantly make fruit look more appetizing. Beforehand the grapes looked dusty and had all sorts of marks that would have taken a long time to correct in Photoshop. Just add water though, and they look fresh and crisp!

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A spray bottle can help you get the right sized droplets

Here’s a ‘behind the scenes’ shot that shows the mister I used. By the way, I found this spray bottle in the gardening section of my local dollar store. You could probably find a similar bottle in any discount shop, or the gardening section of a department store.

I’ve used this tactic to simulate rain drops on roses

(Shh don’t tell anyone.)

Image credits: Burst

It also can be used to add texture to a leaf

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This leaf looked a little bland before I gave it a spritz.

Image credits: Burst

Water makes colors *pop*

This is a slightly different spin on the tactic. Rinsing berries in cold water makes them at least twice as shiny and radiant. Maybe three times!

Image credits: Burst

You can shoot – through- water droplets, for a different effect

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I shot this image through a rainy car window.

Image credits: Burst

It works with portraits too

I didn’t personally take this photograph, but it’s a perfect (and royalty-free) example of how water can make any subject more interesting.

Image credits: Burst

And it makes lighting look even more dramatic

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Here’s another stunning example from the same photographer.

Image credits: Unsplash

Who would’ve thought it’d work so well with lipstick?

I wouldn’t have thought to spray lipstick with mist, but it certainly looks good. My friend Nicole took this one.

Image credits: Burst

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byvonne626_1 avatar
marketing_53 avatar
Cam Williams
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the leaf is the best one — looks like a telus ad 👌🏻

lindsay_craig avatar
Lindsay Michelle
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is cool. Did you freeze the grapes too? The water drops look like they've crystallized

matt_h_wiebe avatar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hey, thanks! And no I didn't freeze them. I took the photo outside & it was a sunny day so they glistened in the sunlight a bit.

Load More Replies...
diresilverwolf avatar
BREAK YOUr perceptions
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

quick tip, if you catch an amazing photo that needs this touch but you don't have a squirt bottle on hand. try poking or slicing a hole in water bottle top(be careful) this will make it so you can spritz some water, although you will end up with uneven droplet size and distribution.

hazelpurins avatar
Angelicat
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it can simulate raindrops on roses, can it simulate whiskers on kittens?

schin2530 avatar
Sheralyn
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohmygod, you're right. #photographyhacks Thanks for sharing.

barefootandnatural avatar
Ariel
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The added water might make them look different but it doesn't necessarily make them more interesting or better.

joannie avatar
techlampx avatar
kotlety
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me it's the other way, I like the lipstick photo the most, together with the leaf one. It's just a question of taste I guess ;)

Load More Replies...
joseph_nodurft avatar
Joseph Nodurft
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess water drops is to great stills like slow motion is to great motion pictures

brettharris avatar
Brett Harris
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Im just starting out after finding my love of photography a few months back, and these types of tips and tricks make my learning experience a lot of fun thankyou

cosminluca2001 avatar
Cosmin Radu
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The colours look more shinny and have a general better lightning than on the first pic. Also the second one has a shallower depth of field, which creates a nice mood. Is there any chance I could see the setup for the two pics? Also the EXIF time. Thank you!

sunnyrei82 avatar
sunnyrei82
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this like... an iPhone ad? you know, now that the ridiculously expensive iPhone X has been released. "Here’s the photography hack in action, taken with my IPHONE"

matt_h_wiebe avatar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, no not an iPhone ad. I wanted to do this main test with an iPhone just to prove you don't need an expensive camera to try things out. Actually the grapes was only taken with an iPhone, everything else was with a DSLR.

Load More Replies...
johngordonp avatar
John
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Advertisers figured this trick out decades ago. Why do you think the vegis on hamburgers are always soaking wet in commercials? Did they just not have time to dry them before serving!? Or how cars are 100% of the time driving away from a car wash just off screen. Juice and coffee commercials like to splash the cup, as though poured by a drunk, to get this effect. For some reason our minds find wet things far more appealing (juvenile jokes aside).

sophieg avatar
Sophie G
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thought it was mould *sorry for stomping allover your creativity*

reclameshit20152016 avatar
Captain Planet
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll add 2 comments. One from a serious perspective and one from apparantly your vision of the mainstream boredpanda visitors perspective. (Which is apparantly totally r******d) Serious one first: No it doesn't make ANY photo better AT ALL. It all depends on the message you want to convey. Just by claiming this you've proven to be a r****d. (My own sugegstion: Delete/censor or downvote my post because I don't make you look good. And the droplets introducte a TON of distractions. It's really only worth it if it actually enforces the story you want to tell at THAT moment. Otherwise it's only detracts from the image. 101 artschool/photography. But yeah. Internet schooled wanabees... Now from the target group you think you have: OMG this is so awesome! It really works! I'm going to make ALL my photographs like this now and post every single one on FB!

tatummuses avatar
Monty Is Fiennes
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahahahahaha....Wow...some people just like new ideas and looking at photography..who knew right?...heheheh get a life Cap' Planet ;)....

Load More Replies...
byvonne626_1 avatar
marketing_53 avatar
Cam Williams
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the leaf is the best one — looks like a telus ad 👌🏻

lindsay_craig avatar
Lindsay Michelle
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is cool. Did you freeze the grapes too? The water drops look like they've crystallized

matt_h_wiebe avatar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hey, thanks! And no I didn't freeze them. I took the photo outside & it was a sunny day so they glistened in the sunlight a bit.

Load More Replies...
diresilverwolf avatar
BREAK YOUr perceptions
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

quick tip, if you catch an amazing photo that needs this touch but you don't have a squirt bottle on hand. try poking or slicing a hole in water bottle top(be careful) this will make it so you can spritz some water, although you will end up with uneven droplet size and distribution.

hazelpurins avatar
Angelicat
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it can simulate raindrops on roses, can it simulate whiskers on kittens?

schin2530 avatar
Sheralyn
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohmygod, you're right. #photographyhacks Thanks for sharing.

barefootandnatural avatar
Ariel
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The added water might make them look different but it doesn't necessarily make them more interesting or better.

joannie avatar
techlampx avatar
kotlety
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me it's the other way, I like the lipstick photo the most, together with the leaf one. It's just a question of taste I guess ;)

Load More Replies...
joseph_nodurft avatar
Joseph Nodurft
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess water drops is to great stills like slow motion is to great motion pictures

brettharris avatar
Brett Harris
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Im just starting out after finding my love of photography a few months back, and these types of tips and tricks make my learning experience a lot of fun thankyou

cosminluca2001 avatar
Cosmin Radu
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The colours look more shinny and have a general better lightning than on the first pic. Also the second one has a shallower depth of field, which creates a nice mood. Is there any chance I could see the setup for the two pics? Also the EXIF time. Thank you!

sunnyrei82 avatar
sunnyrei82
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this like... an iPhone ad? you know, now that the ridiculously expensive iPhone X has been released. "Here’s the photography hack in action, taken with my IPHONE"

matt_h_wiebe avatar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, no not an iPhone ad. I wanted to do this main test with an iPhone just to prove you don't need an expensive camera to try things out. Actually the grapes was only taken with an iPhone, everything else was with a DSLR.

Load More Replies...
johngordonp avatar
John
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Advertisers figured this trick out decades ago. Why do you think the vegis on hamburgers are always soaking wet in commercials? Did they just not have time to dry them before serving!? Or how cars are 100% of the time driving away from a car wash just off screen. Juice and coffee commercials like to splash the cup, as though poured by a drunk, to get this effect. For some reason our minds find wet things far more appealing (juvenile jokes aside).

sophieg avatar
Sophie G
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thought it was mould *sorry for stomping allover your creativity*

reclameshit20152016 avatar
Captain Planet
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll add 2 comments. One from a serious perspective and one from apparantly your vision of the mainstream boredpanda visitors perspective. (Which is apparantly totally r******d) Serious one first: No it doesn't make ANY photo better AT ALL. It all depends on the message you want to convey. Just by claiming this you've proven to be a r****d. (My own sugegstion: Delete/censor or downvote my post because I don't make you look good. And the droplets introducte a TON of distractions. It's really only worth it if it actually enforces the story you want to tell at THAT moment. Otherwise it's only detracts from the image. 101 artschool/photography. But yeah. Internet schooled wanabees... Now from the target group you think you have: OMG this is so awesome! It really works! I'm going to make ALL my photographs like this now and post every single one on FB!

tatummuses avatar
Monty Is Fiennes
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahahahahaha....Wow...some people just like new ideas and looking at photography..who knew right?...heheheh get a life Cap' Planet ;)....

Load More Replies...
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