My Wimshurst generator, early 20th century, photographed in low light while running and sparking.
[Jul. 16th, 2012 11:16:53 AM]
Wow, voting on the first day is very encouraging with a 7.2 average after 22 votes! I had good hopes for this image, but this by far exceeds my expectations. This will most likely end up as a PB. If it doesn't erode from here it may even have ribbon potential ... I keep my fingers crossed!
[Jul. 17th, 2012 05:13:12 AM]
When editing, I tried to get a blue spark but all my attempts looked very poor. I ran out of time and I ended up submitting this version. Of course I like to learn, and suggestions on how to get a blue spark are most welcome! The spark is very bright, in camera (RAW) it is not blue but rather blown out to white.
I'm very happy! I get my blue in a different way - a blue ribbon!
Working for a high tech company, this was a challenge I felt I could not miss. Thank you all for the scores and feedback.
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 81 Avg (all users): 6.9432 Avg (commenters): 7.6667 Avg (participants): 6.9024 Avg (non-participants): 6.9787 Views since voting: 2648 Views during voting: 206 Votes: 88 Comments: 25 Favorites: 2 (view)
Congratulations on your success with this image. I am interested in your generator. Can you share with me details as to where you bought it and how much it cost?
Awesome!!! Huge congrats on the blue and the PB! It was an 8 from me. :)
About the blue spark -- I'm assuming that you don't have the blue because it's blown. Two things you can try:
1. Do you shoot RAW? This gives you more control over the exposure during post processing. You can open the file and adjust it the way you want it to appear for the mechanism itself, then open another copy of the same file, this time bringing down the exposure until you get the blue, and then merge the two images, masking out the appropriate areas.
2. If the RAW file still doesn't give you enough information, since it was advanced editing, you can take two pictures -- one exposure adjusted for the machine then one exposure adjusted to the blue spark. Then bring the images together masking out the appropriate parts.
That's what I would do -- there's probably other ways of doing it. :)
WAANZINNIG GOED, GEFELICITEERD!! Congratulations on your Blue, really a fine piece of art. Love the look, the frozen motion of the generator. Well done.
Congratulations on the Blue! It is pretty unusual to top your prior personal best by 1.1 points! You've got to be psyched. Great shot. With advanced editing rules, I'd select the spark (using Topaz Remask, if you have it), and change its color to blue (separate layer, then flatten back down). The spark is hard to see because it is so close in color to the yellow of the balls.
Also, I think you've got a pretty unusual distribution of scores, 2 pairs, another would've been a pair, but is off by 1. Only 12 votes under 6! Pretty amazing!
Gorgeous golden tones, simple and complex at once, nicely framed and composed, lovely motion blur to bring it to life. One of my top five. Voted earlier.
Wimshurst generator
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
