How This “Liquid Storm” Shot in a Glass Flask Was Created (Behind the Scenes)
The basic idea was to mount a small aquarium directly to the camera and observe a “storm” of liquid inside during camera movement, with the aquarium directly following the shaking motion of the camera. The goal was to create controlled chaos by shaking the container so the liquid would crash, swirl, and flow in super slow motion. We also planned to secure various objects inside the aquarium, such as a beverage can, to add complexity to the motion.
In practice, however, this concept did not work. A glass aquarium filled with liquid is extremely heavy, difficult to rig safely, and nearly impossible to balance properly for smooth and controlled movement. Instead of fighting physics, we searched for a smarter solution, and the breakthrough came unexpectedly in a store, where I discovered a small round glass flask.
The flask was significantly lighter, much easier to rig, and, most importantly, its spherical shape caused the liquid inside to literally “dance.” Smooth waves, elegant swirls, and clean, controllable motion appeared immediately, and the result was exciting already during the first test shots.
Lighting played a crucial role in the final look, since everything was filmed through the glass flask. The goal was to make the flask as unobtrusive as possible and allow the liquid to become the main visual focus. Very soft frontal lighting was used to avoid harsh reflections and visible glass edges, while still keeping the liquid clearly readable and full of depth.
To enhance the contours and movement of the liquid, we added a contrasting rear, or backlight, which created sharp lines and strong contrast within the fluid. This lighting setup ensured that every movement remained readable even in extreme slow motion.
The result is a camera-driven dance of liquid that can feel almost likeCGI, but is in fact a purely practical shot, captured in 4K resolution at 1000 frames per second.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Phantom VEO 4K
- Frame rate: 1000 fps
- Motion control: Bolt high speed robotic arm (perfect shaking simulation / repeatable motion)
- Lighting: Aputure Lighting
