free-fall kitchen towel with strobe effect and hairdryer

[ashcroft]

I do love this messing around with photography...

A piece of scrunched-up paper kitchen towel dropped by hand. I used a black lastolite backdrop and a Nissin di866 strobe flash set to 'multi' mode. This fires a user-set number of flashes at regular intervals. So long as the moving object doesn't 'overlap' between each exposure you get a multi effect like this. It is ONE exposure (0.8sec) and each 'flash exposure' is the result of the flash going off each of the 3 times that I set. Used a hairdryer on the right to get some 'turn' in the towel and horizontal drift.

Am I mad?

[AlwaysOnAuto]

You could have gotten the same effect by just photo'ing the towel on a flat back round and changing its position. This pic needs some motion to really make it believable.

[IzzieK]

So we are into games now... what about scrunch it up some more and do some speed shots? That will be more fun...

[Shadowman]

Nice concept.

[Mike Buckley]

Am I mad?

Nope. You're creative. Great use of the hair dryer!

[Mike Buckley]

You could have gotten the same effect by just photo'ing the towel on a flat back round and changing its position.

The nice thing about photography is that there are often multiple ways to accomplish the same thing. If I had a flash unit that has the settings on Rob's unit, I would use the flash because it would take so much less time to make the photo and would allow for the spontaneity associated with stopping the falling subject with the flash. Moreover, it's possible that placing the towel in front of the background would not render the same look because it would have to be hung in front of it or placed on it and photographed from above.

This pic needs some motion to really make it believable.

This photo isn't about motion for me; none needs to be implied. It works well for me as is.

[Manfred M]

A very creative image, Rob. I like it.

I have to ask; how many attempts did you make before you got an image that you liked?

Operating a camera, a flash and a hairdryer all at the same time takes more hands (and coordination) than I have!

[chauncey]

What's important? The method/place of capture or...the final image? An old question.

A lion shoot from a zoo, or ...one taken in Africa/a snow owl in the wild or...at that zoo.
A Photoshopped image or waiting and hoping for that magic moment. Always questions.

[Mike Buckley]

Always questions.

All of the questions have answers. Fortunately, each of us gets to decide for ourselves the appropriate answers.

[mknittle]

Very nice Rob, looks like fun

[FootLoose]

Nice idea, Rob, and good result. Now, could you repeat it with an origami dove?

[GBO25]

I do love this messing around with photography...

Am I mad?

Not at all mad.
I've tried the same thing with my 580EX setting up and getting my wife to call the dog so it ran through the shot. I was mad because I didn't have a black background and the dog looks like a ghost superimposed over the background several times.

I like the shot and the way you did it.

[Saorsa]

I'm sure the hair dryer creates more breeze unless you have a very happy dog with a bushy tail.

The fun of these shots is the visualization and solution not necessarily the resulting image.

I find I can get a good curved path with a paper towel if I don't crumple it tight enough as I throw it toward the trash can.

[Loose Canon]

Am I mad?

Good question! I would say you don't have to be but it probably helps!

I’ll admit that I may not have known right off the top of my little ole’ bald head how this was done without reading the explanation. Sure, it could have been a composite.

But this isn’t as easy to do as it may look to some. As those who have tried probably discovered and those that have not tried have no clue. Especially, as Graham mentioned, how easy it is to discover the possibility of “ghosting” and other phenomena that can be less than optimum (read: trash the shot). Then, if you discovered this possibility because you didn’t do it right were you able to figure out why it happens and correct it?

I, too, applaud the technique used to shoot this.

[ashcroft]

I have to ask; how many attempts did you make before you got an image that you liked?

Not so much which one I liked but just getting the timing right. Even though it was paper it still moved pretty quickly.

[ashcroft]

Very nice Rob, looks like fun

Yes, it is fun, especially on a wet windy Welsh day

[ashcroft]

Not at all mad.
I've tried the same thing with my 580EX setting up and getting my wife to call the dog so it ran through the shot. I was mad because I didn't have a black background and the dog looks like a ghost superimposed over the background several times.

I like the shot and the way you did it.

Yes, you must have a blackdrop, white or even pale colour just doesn't work. I suppose you could try it at night?

[ashcroft]

Good question! I would say you don't have to be but it probably helps!

I’ll admit that I may not have known right off the top of my little ole’ bald head how this was done without reading the explanation. Sure, it could have been a composite.

But this isn’t as easy to do as it may look to some. As those who have tried probably discovered and those that have not tried have no clue. Especially, as Graham mentioned, how easy it is to discover the possibility of “ghosting” and other phenomena that can be less than optimum (read: trash the shot). Then, if you discovered this possibility because you didn’t do it right were you able to figure out why it happens and correct it?

I, too, applaud the technique used to shoot this.

Thanks, Terry. I have another that 'I did earlier' In this one the movement was across the image. The knife was secured at the top (out of view) by a thick wire attached to a boom arm. I twisted the wire as I let go of it so it turned as it traveled.

[IzzieK]

I can just imagine what you two can come up with if you meet and did your photographic endeavours...Wifey-dos will not be happy campers if they see you killing yourselves with electricity, water and now knives???

[wilgk]

I do love this messing around with photography...


Am I mad?

Possible....perhaps, but not problematic...