Tango of Exuberance

There is a saying that photography can "turn a moment into eternity", meaning that the camera can capture a scene in a split second.

For a while, I was fascinated by this saying.

If you cut a second into hundreds, thousands, or even ten-thousandths of a second, each moment will be different. Through the capability of the camera, we can see the changes that occur in that moment.

The camera extends the limits of human ability.

During a trip to Malacca, I found this bottle made of tin. Its delicate and elegant shape attracted me. When filled with water, due to the structure of the tin bottle and the tension of the water, the water extended slightly higher than the opening. This interesting phenomenon inspired me.

I wondered what it would look like when water splashed out of this elegant bottle. I decided to give it a try.

Photography

The bottle was filled with a blue liquid. My assistant would push the bottle, and I would press the shutter. I did not use any additional equipment for the shoot, such as infrared or sound triggers. It was purely based on my reflexes.

“The camera extends the limits of human ability.”

Given that the session was shot on film, the process was more challenging.

During the first trial, there were only six negatives left in the camera. After shooting the six, I wondered if I should load a new roll. But my impatient eyes rushed me to develop the negatives. I observed them one by one, and when I saw the sixth negative, the amazing result immediately made me jump for joy.

I happily titled this piece "Tango of Exuberance".

Photography, in many cases, is not only about technique but also about luck, don't you agree? Why not leave a comment and let me know?