Shannon has asked me to further explain how this was made, and besides this is a learning site:
Things used:
1. A normal kitchen fork
2. An electronic gas grill lighter (The type you press the button and it sparks constantly about 4 times a second.)
3. A make-up mirror (I used one that magnifies 10x on one side and normal on the other.)
4. A can of sprite soda.
5. A Blue LED flash light (Its actually used for Automotive A/C systems for detecting leaks with dye.)
So I hooked up one end of the lighter to the Fork, and taped it on near the bottom of the handle using 8mm ignition cable (spark plug wire) the + side. I then ran the - side cable to the side of the mirror where it used to pivot. I placed some weight on the fork to get it perfectly level off the mirror (this is part of the key because the spark will travel the easiest route.) I got an acceptable spark pattern then added the sprite till I was satisfied with the look, and again adjusted the fork for best spark pattern with the drops of sprite. I used a 60 second exposure to maximize the spark. I used the Blue LED flash light and painted the fork quickly in under 2 seconds to get the proper effect.
***** Disclamer: This is very high voltage, 80KV is enough to jump a 2 inch air gap, and packs a wallup if your not careful!
That's freaking GREAT!!! I was hoping you'd explain how you did it. They do have a bite if you aren't careful, but there's not enough power to really hurt you, just enough to make you remember not to do that again.
The only thing, aside from lighting my grill, that I've ever used those for is as the trigger on a potato gun.
That's a crazy shot. Who thinks of even trying that? :)
Well I can answer that, the thought process went like this:
MattO A fellow DPCer and Olympus user had bought the 35mm macro lens.
then posted this:
Its a hell of a macro on its own right, but it would be cool if it was actually sparking. So I entered this in the Shapes2 challege:
Did ok, but I think I totally lost people on the what the heck is that factor. So when the Abstract Macro came along I thought hmmm..
Ok that part makes sense but I still don't get how you arrived at using a fork with the sparks. Where you eating takeout at the time using one of those plastic white sporks? :P
This is a truly wonderful image that gives me sooo many ideas... Like how about an exposure with a syringe with glowing liquid close to the skin, when bamb..........Or how about a bunch of small caps and resistors with one shorting.... This has soooo many posibilities!
Thank You for the spark that went off in my head! Thank you for the info. Truly worthy idea and photo.
Matthew - Thanks for sharing that setup. And also, thanks for giving me someone else to point to when my wife thinks I've gone over the edge setting up some shots. "Look sweetheart, you think I'm looney - look at what THIS guy has done!". :^)
Did someone mention a potato gun? (baby powder added for impact)
