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Dudski


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Puzzle Macro V (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR
Date: Jun 25, 2015
Aperture: 13
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/250
Date Uploaded: Jun 23, 2015

 Ferofluid. Always messy, and most of the time worth the effort.

[Jul. 2nd, 2015 07:58:39 PM]

Seems like people are starting to recognize this stuff!

A few have asked about more details, so here goes: ferofluid is a thick and oily magnetic liquid. Sitting alone it doesn't do much, but will react to a magnetic field such as a magnet. So in this case the ferofluid is sitting on a piece of glass and I have a strong circular magnet underneath the glass. The shape that the fluid takes will vary with the strength of the magnet as well as its distance away from the fluid. The larger spikes such as these will appear when the magnet is slightly farther away.

As with any macro shot, the lighting is the key to a successful photo and it is by no means easy. Because it is black metal, a large light source is required and it must be as close as possible to the subject. In this case I build a "box" around the fluid as close as possible and shot 3 flashes into it. A polarizer can of course be used for some interesting effect.

If anyone wants to try this stuff, it's pretty easily bought off the net, or even local stores. BUT, beware, it stains everything, and I promise that there is at least one disaster per photo shoot.

[Jul. 2nd, 2015 08:00:04 PM]

Ah, forgot to mention: this is a 10-photo focus stack, hence the sharpness throughout. Shot at f13 with the camera mounted on a tripod, I varied the focus for the 10 photos and then combined them later with zerene stacker (focus stacking software).

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 173
Avg (all users): 6.7935
Avg (commenters): 7.4444
Avg (participants): 6.8806
Avg (non-participants): 6.5600
Views since voting: 2133
Views during voting: 217
Votes: 92
Comments: 39
Favorites: 6 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/10/2015 08:00:54 AM
Beautifully done, congratulations on your blue.
 07/07/2015 09:51:59 AM
Amazing. can't stop staring, the spots where it fades to pink is otherwordly.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 02:17:41 PM
Congrats on the blue. Interesting stuff, well photographed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 11:41:48 AM
Congrats on the blue! :) Thanks for the tips!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 11:35:38 AM
Excellent...I wondered if this was yours...I did get some Ferofluid have played a little bit not much. Good to know that you stack. That explains a lot for me...excellent as always.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 09:13:40 AM
Originally posted by tanguera:
How did you keep the magnet in place?


I attach a clamp on to one of these guys: Magic Arm. Extremely useful.
 07/06/2015 08:19:43 AM
Gorgeous - Congratulations
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 08:04:02 AM
Love the technique - looks like you earned that prize. Grats on a remarkable image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 03:46:56 AM
Told you so :)

How did you keep the magnet in place?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 02:50:58 AM
Go GLASSEYE
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 01:54:43 AM
Well done mate, congrats on the Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 12:06:19 AM
Damian- congrats on the blue! Well done!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 12:05:51 AM
Congrats on the Blue, Glasseye! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 12:04:27 AM
Nice job. Almost ordered some of this for the challenge, but figured it would be too obvious. Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/06/2015 12:02:20 AM
you either know what this stuff is or you don't. not really a puzzle.

but blue wins.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
07/05/2015 10:29:31 PM
Heh - using this stuff is just plain cheating! It's so cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/05/2015 09:26:52 PM
Beautiful metallics.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2015 09:05:41 AM
Ferrofluid
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/03/2015 06:46:08 AM
Used that funny magnety stuff? Can't remember the name of it.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2015 09:19:36 PM
Ferrofluid... I like what you did with the lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2015 08:27:36 PM
Ferro fluid?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2015 02:56:52 PM
nanothistle
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2015 01:09:51 PM
ferro fluid. guessing this is shot somewhere near Montreal? ;) (assuming this is Damian/Dudski)

really like your cool tones for this, the pink/purple gradient background works well
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2015 12:28:39 PM
And there it is. I was wondering when this stuff would make an appearance. It always wins the blue
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2015 11:37:28 AM
It seems to me I've seen this before, and it seems that it was excited about something last time. I think it's still excited :) Beautiful image, I would expect this to land on the front page.....10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/02/2015 02:25:26 AM
I know this is ferrofluid - I've been experimenting myself with this liquid and found it extremly hard to handle.
You did a very good job putting this into scene! And it looks so tidy... mine was always a mess at the edges...when voting is over I'd appreciate some hints how you've accomplished this setup.
Sharpness and colours are great - 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2015 10:56:41 PM
Ferrofluid. It is rather lovely.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/01/2015 10:13:18 PM
Some kind of magnetized metal?

Great image. Colors really pop and it is tack sharp. Top finisher.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2015 11:22:55 PM
ferrofluid?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2015 11:13:09 PM
Looks like metallic pollen :-). Pretty cool image and processed very well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2015 11:10:11 PM
not voting yet...just guessing, forget the name, but a magnetic liquid metal??
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2015 04:08:01 PM
Hedgehog.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/30/2015 11:39:52 AM
Dunno what it is , but it's sure purty!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2015 10:49:19 PM
ferrofluid - I'm hoping you'll share some of your info with me...I have some of this and haven't been able to get a shot like this yet...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2015 06:01:47 PM
Metal Spikes
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2015 02:53:48 PM
Ferro fluid
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2015 01:32:44 PM
Ferrous liquid is so cool. I need to find some :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2015 12:11:45 PM
Is this Unbelievium? aka Ferrofluid.

Not many people have access to this so will go out on limb and say Oliver? (or possibly Eli or Bob).

I think this is one of the nicer shots of this type I have seen, just guessing right now, back to vote later.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 06/29/2015 06:09:40 AM
Someone found a new toy ;)
Did you have fun cleaning up the mess?

Excellent focus and great lighting, one of my top picks.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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