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Lava Lamp
Lava Lamp
GeneralE


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Trends (Classic Editing)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Olympus D-490Z
Location: Oakland, California, USA
Date: Jul 22, 2003
Aperture: 3.8
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Abstract, Still Life
Date Uploaded: Jul 22, 2003

 I bought this original LavaLamp at a garage sale a couple of months ago for $5, partly because I figured it would make a good photo prop, and partly because it's one of the trends from my childhood which is now "in" again (like my ponytail; I guess that officially makes me a dinosaur).

Last-minute, of course, found a bulb, fastened the socket back into the base, and discovered it actually worked. Set up looking out my kitchen window to silhouette/outline the shape, help define the extrusions inside (hard to get right with auto-focus), and to provide interesting diffracted images through the back wall. Also help to minimize all the bright specks produced by front-lighting the irregularities in the glass. I found it interesting that after lying long-dormant it tended to make these long, stringy shapes instead of the usual, more bulbous ones; I'm glad I thought to shoot these right after I turned it on instead of waiting for a thorough warm-up.

Ran four different tone curves to adjust the look and bring out parts I wanted, and reduce the background on the right. Two passes with USM, trying to avoid making those specks too visible. At first I tried to avoid the reflection on the seam where the glass was molded, but from this angle I think I like how it helps define the shape without obscuring any of the contents.

Statistics
Place: 156 out of 169
Avg (all users): 4.0328
Avg (commenters): 3.2500
Avg (participants): 3.9355
Avg (non-participants): 4.0927
Views since voting: 1720
Votes: 244
Comments: 4
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
 07/28/2003 01:17:38 AM
Lava lamps have a lot to answer for in this comp
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon PowerShot SD750
 07/24/2003 12:16:36 PM
Dont get much of the 'lamp' feel from this with the daylight shining through, but I know it can be hard to get a sharp focus in low light... perhaps some sort of screen in the window to soften the light coming through.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS
 07/24/2003 09:42:43 AM
another look alike
Sony DSC-W1
 07/23/2003 02:34:39 AM
the angle needs a fix. otherwise a great pic. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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