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A Brighter Spark
A Brighter Spark
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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Garage Art (Basic Editing I)
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Location: Home
Date: Jan 30, 2004
Aperture: f/7.4
ISO: 50
Shutter: 1/2 sec
Galleries: Macro, Studio
Date Uploaded: Jan 30, 2004

 This is not actually a spark from a spark-plug, as that would a. require an enormous voltage, and b. require some kind of wire connection. So it's obviously a trick - the background is a piece of paper, supported on a couple of metal rulers bridged between two books on end (if you want real detail) with a small hole punched through it, and a maglite bulb pushed through. Spark Plug then placed relative to the light, half second exposure and hey presto. One big softlight (just a bit of photo paper with a desk-light behind it), and the shot slightly under-exposed for the main lighting. Half the trick is in the fact that the texture of the paper at this magnification makes it look like a work surface.

Slightly darkened the rest of the image to contrast the 'spark'. Otherwise it's almost straight out of the camera, other than a touch of cropping.

Grey and White are favourite colours at the moment, or rather a favourite combination.

Statistics
Place: 12 out of 159
Avg (all users): 6.3612
Avg (commenters): 7.3333
Avg (participants): 6.0115
Avg (non-participants): 6.5341
Views since voting: 1326
Votes: 263
Comments: 26
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
 02/11/2004 12:43:59 AM
From critique club.

As I said before - it's little off-focus, but I still gave it a good mark.

I was just thinking... The spark has to be blueish in the air and the electrodes would cast some shadows - that will change the spark shape from round to elliptical. There is some color in the spark - which is nice. Also the tone of zink coating is very realistic.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/10/2004 09:25:40 AM
Interesting effect of the light... I love it... Perhaps, your picture is too dark. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/09/2004 02:57:00 PM
One of my favorites. I would have pushed the contrast of the candle's body, so to obtain a whiter (porcelain?) body.Pardon my french :) 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2004 10:11:48 AM
Best I've seen so far. GOod work with the lighting on this one. Only thing I think could be a bit better is that the rest of the photo could have a little bit more exposure. Almost looks like another paint with light entry. And one that would've really done well too. I expect this will be in the ribbons, but I've been wrong before.9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2004 08:53:04 PM
Kinda cool, and better than most in this challenge. Is this PS'd? I'll vote with the belief it hasn't been.

A bit more light on the porcelian would have been nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2004 07:22:05 AM
Nice. I hope you have detailed how you took this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/07/2004 01:25:27 AM
Nice picture. How did you get the spark?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2004 10:18:31 PM
cool shot. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2004 08:47:12 PM
I like it's simplicity. It gets my attention.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2004 05:36:11 PM
Like it, would be interested to know how it was done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2004 01:02:54 PM
v cool!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/06/2004 10:27:28 AM
This is great! Awesome idea! I really like this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/05/2004 03:01:57 PM
A thinker...
Now how would this spark being unplugged?

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 08:54:16 PM
Great idea. Very original. Well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 02:46:05 PM
Interesting photo. Nice effect with the spark. Maybe a little on the darkside, but maybe that was needed to make the spark standout.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 02:32:31 PM
Nice idea. Spark plug needs to be brought a bit more into the foregroungd with better lighting
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 01:02:36 PM
Needs a little more fill light on the plug itself
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 12:48:02 PM
how did you put the spark in?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 11:31:07 AM
Very sharp! Tell us how you did it!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 09:51:04 AM
Neat idea. I wish there was just a little more interest of some kind in the photo. It just seems kind of blah visually. I like the added border on this one.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 09:12:01 AM
nice effect. I wish the other end of the plug was lit better however.
 02/04/2004 08:23:34 AM
Great idea and result. One of my favorites for this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 06:03:32 AM
One of the best around. Top 10. Sometimes a spark is just enough to reach one's goal. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 04:56:02 AM
I think you need the body of the spark-plug to be a little lighter, or the background to be a little darker, otherwise a clever idea and deserving a 6.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2004 12:49:30 AM
Pity it's little off-focus ;-((
 02/04/2004 12:44:27 AM
9 from me...cool shot, great idea.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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