DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 
Challenge Entries
Portfolio Images
This image is not part of a public portfolio.
Bessamer Converter
Bessamer Converter
Matthew


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Metal (Basic Editing III)
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Location: Science Museum, London
Date: Jun 21, 2005
Aperture: 2.8
ISO: 800
Shutter: 1/13
Galleries: Abstract, Science and Technology
Date Uploaded: Jun 21, 2005

 Henry Bessamer invented the process by which the steel age began. This is detail from the first Bessamer converter, used to produce the first cast of steel in the world. While I prefer a couple of my other shots from the (metal filled) Science Museum, this seems to me to be the most appropriate.

From the Science Museum:

The Steel Age began in the 1850s when Henry Bessamer, a prolific inventor, undertook crucial experiments aimed at finding a malleable form of iron, strong enough to make gun barrels. Previously, both machine building and civil engineering had mainly relied on wrought iron, which is relatively malleable, but soft and wek, or cast iron, which is hard but brittle.

Bessamer produced steel, a form of iron with a much lower percentage of carbon than the three percent that is usual in cast iron, by blowing air into molten pig iron, causing some of the carbon to oxidise and burn out. The violence of the chemical reaction sustained the process without the need for the addition of further fuel.

The example shown here is a converter from a pilot plant used at the Barrow Hermatite Steel Company Ltd, Barrow in Furness, to produce the first cast of steel in May 1865. The low phosphorous ore necessary to replicate Bessemer's experimental results was readily available in the area.

File Name
IMG_7856.JPG
Camera Model
Canon EOS 20D
Shooting Date/Time
18/06/2005 15:39:54
Shooting Mode
Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/13
Av( Aperture Value )
2.8
Metering Mode
Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation
-2
ISO Speed
800
Lens
50.0 mm
Focal Length
50.0 mm
Image Size
3504x2336
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
White Balance Mode
Tungsten
AF Mode
One-Shot AF
Parameters Settings
Contrast Standard
Sharpness Standard
Color saturation Standard
Color tone 0
Color Space
sRGB
Noise Reduction
Off

Statistics
Place: 252 out of 508
Avg (all users): 5.1148
Avg (commenters): 5.4000
Avg (participants): 5.0915
Avg (non-participants): 5.1509
Views since voting: 1467
Views during voting: 356
Votes: 270
Comments: 6
Favorites: 0

Please log in or register to add your comments!

AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+
 06/28/2005 10:25:36 AM
Fits challenge=5
Color/lighting=0
DOF/focus=1
uniqueness=1
Attractiveness=0

A unique image that certainly fits the challenge but seems to lack some punch, I realize the object itself is probably dark but I wonder if a little more light would help it. I like the placement within the picture.

Good luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Raynox Pro Digital 0.66X Wide Angle Conversion
 06/25/2005 03:40:47 PM
Lost sharpness in resizing? Nice picture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-300D Rebel
 06/24/2005 12:08:16 AM
Now THAT is metal! Compostion good, color good, good contrast - would like to have see a teensy bit more clarity. Rate: 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark III
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 06/23/2005 08:10:13 PM
I like the simplicity of this shot and the repeating circles..good lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Coolpix 5700
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED
 06/23/2005 08:14:41 AM
You have metal here. You have a good exposure you all. The color helps.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSC-P92
 06/22/2005 06:40:38 PM
Plain.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Theme: Classic / Light / Dark
Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 10/14/2026 07:59:02 AM EDT.