Submerged flower photography - Sharon Lamb

At Print 2 Metal, we’ve regularly had the opportunity of working closely with photographer Sharon Lamb since the early days of our journey.

With metal being her go to medium when it’s time to print, we are amazed by the creativity behind her printed artworks.

After spending 25 years as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Sharon made a bold decision to not only embrace a sea change but also a career change. She immersed herself in intensive photography studies on the Gold Coast, only to realize that conventional photography wasn’t quite the right fit for her creative vision.

Determined to forge her own path, Sharon discovered light painting photography, an innovative technique that would become her signature style.

Ever curious, she continues to explore other unconventional photographic methods, always expanding her artistic horizons.

A more recent technique that Sharon has been exploring is Submerged Flower Photography.

She recalls how she first discovered it: “While scrolling through Instagram, I came across an incredible image that struck me as being ‘real’—not AI-generated, composited, or a result of any other Photoshop manipulation. It had this ethereal, smoky quality, but it was actually created using milk,” she explains.

Sharon shares with us here, her tips and tricks including DDM’s or Ding Dong Moments as she likes to call them:

• Find a Container: You’ll need a glass container to submerge the flowers—an old fish tank or large vase works. DDM: I realized the tank/vase was too heavy to refill multiple times, so I only filled it once for the shoot.
• Fill with Water: Submerge the flowers fully, leaving enough water above them for a nice effect. DDM: Start by half-filling, then place it where you’ll shoot. Finish filling with a jug to avoid spilling.
• Prepare the Flowers: Cut your flowers so they’re fully submerged. DDM 1: Flowers float! I used a rock to weigh them down. DDM 2: Water will overflow when you add the flowers, so keep a jug and towel handy. Note: Native flowers don’t float—my florist was right!
• Milk Dropper: Get a helper to drop the milk into the water while you shoot. Note: Use real milk (not skim or cream). DDM: With an intervalometer and tripod, I realized I could do it myself. A total “aha” moment!
• Background: Use a dark background - black works well since the milk is white.
• Lighting: I prefer natural light, so I moved the vase closer to a doorway. DDM: Watch for reflections! I moved away, cranked up the ISO, and used light painting torches. Note: A lighting setup helped a lot later.
• Camera Settings: Don’t stress about the technical details. A phone camera will work. If hand holding a camera use a faster shutter speed to capture the drops. If on a tripod, go slower for a smooth, smoky effect.
• Milk Droppers: Use syringes to control the milk flow. You can drop, squirt, or pour it in. Note: Once the milk disperses, start again (you don’t want to empty the container). Add ink if you want a different effect, but adding milk to the already milky water also looks great!

Sharon’s enthusiasm for this “fine art photography” process is most evident.

“This technique can be modified in so many ways such as using ICM (Intentional Camera Movement), using different liquids either dropped or submerged, different subject matter etc. It’s exciting and gets your creative juices flowing. You don’t have to have technical equipment to give it a go and the knowledge you gain will never be wasted. I hope you enjoyed this small insight into what could be termed ‘Fine Art Photography’. I know I certainly did, and anyone who passed by my studio during these sessions were always hyped up with enthusiasm when they left.”