I was wracking my brain all week for an idea for this challenge. I'm a chemist and I felt obligated to enter this challenge. I had ideas of pure sodium metal and water reactions (makes big flame); magnesium with acid fires and the list goes on.
In the end I tried this out and am happy with the result. This is only my third submission into a challenge and I'm hoping to achieve a new PB.
POST CHALLENGE:
Looks like third submission was the charm =)
I want to thank all who voted for the pic and all who left all those great comments.
Once again to all thanks so much for all the positive support.
Nov 19 2008,
I know I'm a little late posting this but better late than never.
The shot was set up using my sigma 100-300mm f4 HSM mounted to my D300. Two flashes were hooked up to my D300 via pc-sync cord. The camera was mounted on a tripod about 12-15 feet from the lamp. The lamp was set up on my dining room table about 1 foot from the periodic table. One flashes were aimed at the periodic table one from the top left and the other from the bottom right. I made paper snouts for the flashes so the light would only hit the periodic table and avoid reflections on the bulb. The lamp also has a three way dimmer, and the lamp was lit on the lowest setting. look at the setup photos.
The capture was made by setting the lens at 300mm and the camera to ISO 200, shutter 1/500 and f32. The distance of the camera, and settings were chosen to limit the amount of light getting to the camera so the filament would not be blown out. The only draw back to these settings is that since I was using flashes and the camera shutter speed was above the sync speed I was taking a picture of the shutter curtain as well. look at the original file.
Editing was rather simple, made a few different jpegs in camera raw from the original raw file, focusing on different elements. layered the jpegs in photoshop erased through keeping what I liked. The cropped, cloned out unwanted reflection of the filament and save for web.
Once again thanks to all for your votes and positive comments!!!!!
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Place: 2 out of 102 Avg (all users): 7.0307 Avg (commenters): 8.3182 Avg (participants): 6.8696 Avg (non-participants): 7.0940 Views since voting: 6184 Views during voting: 366 Votes: 163 Comments: 43 Favorites: 10 (view)
My Canon got stolen a while back and I still need to replace it. Seeing photographs and ideas like yours is great inspiration to (I believe) alot of the amature photographers out there. Looking forward to see more of your stuff and hoperfully compete against you soon!
Thank you for not making me grab my periodic table for the 30th time! I should know it by heart by now :) Excellent shot! Technically perfect, great concept, wonderful color. The only nit pick would be the shadow on the lower left. Great job!
I wanted to enter this challenge using the same type of bulb, but couldn't find one :-( Anyway I think you did a better job than I'd have done, so you get top top marks from me, good luck!!
Curious how you got this appearance. This could be an IreneM entry. If not, then consider that a high compliment. Only one small critique. There is a slight skew to the image that stands out and bugs me.
Awesome job- you absolutely nailed the challenge. The background chart is a little crooked, but otherwise a perfect entry, and my pick for the blue! 10
Tungsten: Lighting Up the Periodic Table!
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