[10/08] Microwave Explosion - bit-tech.net Forums

Silver51 · 6th Oct 2008, 22:01

Large Image

A Mini Maglight, microwave, 20 second exposure and a bit of frantic arm waving.

The kitchen was dark for this, with the only the dining room lights on behind. I put a cup of water in the microwave and set it running for 40 seconds with the camera on shutter priority (20sec) and on 2sec self timer. It took about 24 shots to get this one image.

Exif:

PENTAX Corporation
PENTAX K100D
f/19
20 sec
ISO-200
0 step
45 mm

Smilodon · 7th Oct 2008, 16:01

It's pretty cool. This doesn't really remind me of an explosion, though. And I'm unsure how well it really fits the theme, but close enough i guess.

The toaster feels a bit distracting, IMO it reflects too much, making the light trails look "messy".

eeevan · 7th Oct 2008, 16:16

microwave spider.

Silver51 · 7th Oct 2008, 16:23

Well, motion was certainly used to make it I guess. I liked the idea of light trails, but didn't want to do something other people were going to try.

The original Idea was to do this, (big fish, little fish, cardboard box.) The weather this past week had been appalling and the first time I went out to shoot it at Porthminster Point, the wind kept knocking the tripod over (sans camera, which was in my hand.) I even weighted the tripod, but it still went over in the big gusts.

Finally caught it on Sunday when things calmed down, but not before playing with the microwave using the same technique. Side by side, mum preferred the microwave.

Large Image

dragontail · 7th Oct 2008, 17:38

I like! This is a great effort. The lighting looks about right, any brighter and you'll lose details on some of the trails; any darker and you'll lose the background. The reflections off the workbench and the toaster in particular looks good imho. Nice one!

ssR · 7th Oct 2008, 22:47

I like the idea behind the microwave. I think the reflections coming from the toaster are a nice touch and add another dimension to the shot. I'd like to see more sparks flying away from the microwave, not much of an explosion there. Maybe set to ISO 100 and 30 sec exposure and some PS later on should give you the same atmosphere with more time to create more "sparks"

outlawaol · 8th Oct 2008, 09:20

I like it. For some reason I was thinking a CD-R disc was involved (as they do weird things in mics) but out of the unit made me wonder. Heh, I had to think about it longer then I should have, stupid lateness/brain...

Stuey · 8th Oct 2008, 12:46

To be honest, I like the one with the fish a bit better. Although I cannot see remnance of you or your arm in the microwave photo, it kind of looks like those light trails were photoshopped or drawn in. They're just a bit too roughly curved at points.

Silver51 · 8th Oct 2008, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuey

To be honest, I like the one with the fish a bit better. Although I cannot see remnance of you or your arm in the microwave photo, it kind of looks like those light trails were photoshopped or drawn in. They're just a bit too roughly curved at points.

Is that a good or a bad thing? I wasn't trying to get me in the microwave picture, which is why it took so many shots to get this. I had to be between the light and the camera, staying in shadow, in order not to show up.

With the fish, I was behind the light so I was burned into the image along with the light trails, which is what I wanted.

The curves were a pain anyways. I'll upload one of the early shots later, but trying to draw something in the air without seeing where you've been is really, really tricky.

I tried to do spirals away from the microwave originally, but they didn't quite work out.

Silver51 · 8th Oct 2008, 17:52

This was one of the images taken prior to the one above. The ghosting in the corner is me, where I stayed too long in frame. Because the side of me facing the camera is not being lit by either the microwave or the maglight, I have no cool detail.

Exif:

PENTAX Corporation
PENTAX K100D
f/16
20 sec
ISO-200
0 step
45 mm

Large Image

hughwi · 8th Oct 2008, 18:35

I really like both attempts, but would take the BIG fish, little fish, cardboard box over the other one. Although, Mums know best! hehe

Stuey · 9th Oct 2008, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver51

Is that a good or a bad thing? I wasn't trying to get me in the microwave picture, which is why it took so many shots to get this. I had to be between the light and the camera, staying in shadow, in order not to show up.

With the fish, I was behind the light so I was burned into the image along with the light trails, which is what I wanted.

The curves were a pain anyways. I'll upload one of the early shots later, but trying to draw something in the air without seeing where you've been is really, really tricky.

I tried to do spirals away from the microwave originally, but they didn't quite work out.

A good thing. I meant that despite it being great that you were hidden from the camera, I didn't like the light trails. I certainly do like the creativity and good composure though.

Malfoleo · 9th Oct 2008, 04:17

Looks kinda like you've got a little dancing dude inside the toaster on the second microwave picture.

Rather than explosion, try for the microwave being the "body" to some creature (draw in a head, arms, legs, ect). Maybe try for a glowing heart inside the microwave (black paper cut-out taped inside/outside the door while microwave is running).

Stuey · 27th Oct 2008, 00:41

You've got my vote for POTM. I dunno, I just thought that your composition was the most creative.

Kúsař · 27th Oct 2008, 12:07

Nice pictures. I like the reflections on the table on first pic. The second one looks like something exploded, leaving a cloud of smoke there(quite funny

)

Silver51 · 28th Oct 2008, 12:13

Thanks. Forgot about voting, doing it now.

6th Oct 2008, 22:01	#1
Silver51 I cast flare! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1,186	[10/08] Microwave Explosion Large Image A Mini Maglight, microwave, 20 second exposure and a bit of frantic arm waving. The kitchen was dark for this, with the only the dining room lights on behind. I put a cup of water in the microwave and set it running for 40 seconds with the camera on shutter priority (20sec) and on 2sec self timer. It took about 24 shots to get this one image. Exif: PENTAX Corporation PENTAX K100D f/19 20 sec ISO-200 0 step 45 mm

7th Oct 2008, 16:01	#2
Smilodon The Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 4,889	It's pretty cool. This doesn't really remind me of an explosion, though. And I'm unsure how well it really fits the theme, but close enough i guess. The toaster feels a bit distracting, IMO it reflects too much, making the light trails look "messy". __________________ "You have to wonder about a business plan based on the notion that people want to interact with a soda can." -Jeff Salkowski abot the :CueCat My Flickr

7th Oct 2008, 16:16	#3
eeevan Dremel Master Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 313	microwave spider. __________________ E6850 @ 3.85Ghz - 4GB PC6400 - 500GB WD + 250GB Seagate + 1TB Spinpoint - X-Fi Xtreme Audio - Asus P5K-E WiFi/AP - XFX 8800 Ultra @ 650/1100 - Antec Twelve Hundred

7th Oct 2008, 17:38	#5
dragontail 7-2 offsuit Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Belfast/Cambridge Posts: 1,389	I like! This is a great effort. The lighting looks about right, any brighter and you'll lose details on some of the trails; any darker and you'll lose the background. The reflections off the workbench and the toaster in particular looks good imho. Nice one! __________________ Project COMTAR Acoustic Guitar, meet Mini-ITX *[ * * * * * * * * ]* MBP 15" \| Dell 2408WFP

7th Oct 2008, 22:47	#6
ssR Carbon God Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 584	I like the idea behind the microwave. I think the reflections coming from the toaster are a nice touch and add another dimension to the shot. I'd like to see more sparks flying away from the microwave, not much of an explosion there. Maybe set to ISO 100 and 30 sec exposure and some PS later on should give you the same atmosphere with more time to create more "sparks" __________________ Galleries: My DeviantArt \|\| My PhotoLight Gear: A620 \|\| 50D+BG-E2N \|\| Canon EF 17-40 F/4L USM \|\| Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II \|\| Canon EF 85mm F/1.8 USM \|\| Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 Macro USM \|\|Canon 70-200 F/4L IS USM \|\| Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6 EX DC HSM \|\| Manfrotto 055xprob with 804RC2 head \|\| Canon Speedlite 430EX II

7th Oct 2008, 16:23	#4
Silver51 I cast flare! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1,186	Well, motion was certainly used to make it I guess. I liked the idea of light trails, but didn't want to do something other people were going to try. The original Idea was to do this, (big fish, little fish, cardboard box.) The weather this past week had been appalling and the first time I went out to shoot it at Porthminster Point, the wind kept knocking the tripod over (sans camera, which was in my hand.) I even weighted the tripod, but it still went over in the big gusts. Finally caught it on Sunday when things calmed down, but not before playing with the microwave using the same technique. Side by side, mum preferred the microwave. Large Image

8th Oct 2008, 09:20	#7
outlawaol ▲Operational Hazard Sticker▲ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greenbay, WI Posts: 936	I like it. For some reason I was thinking a CD-R disc was involved (as they do weird things in mics) but out of the unit made me wonder. Heh, I had to think about it longer then I should have, stupid lateness/brain... __________________ 40D\| 350D \| 24-105 f/4L \| 24-70 f/2.8 Sigma \| 50mm f/1.8 \| 75-300 f/4-5.6 Sigma \| 420ex Speedlight 365 Daily Photograph \| Smugmug

8th Oct 2008, 12:46	#8
Stuey You will be defenestrated! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC & NJ Posts: 2,484	To be honest, I like the one with the fish a bit better. Although I cannot see remnance of you or your arm in the microwave photo, it kind of looks like those light trails were photoshopped or drawn in. They're just a bit too roughly curved at points. __________________ ToolGuyd

8th Oct 2008, 17:52	#10
Silver51 I cast flare! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1,186	This was one of the images taken prior to the one above. The ghosting in the corner is me, where I stayed too long in frame. Because the side of me facing the camera is not being lit by either the microwave or the maglight, I have no cool detail. Exif: PENTAX Corporation PENTAX K100D f/16 20 sec ISO-200 0 step 45 mm Large Image Last edited by Silver51; 8th Oct 2008 at 19:52. Reason: words no makey sense

8th Oct 2008, 18:35	#11
hughwi Hypermodder Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Southampton Uni / London Posts: 884	I really like both attempts, but would take the BIG fish, little fish, cardboard box over the other one. Although, Mums know best! hehe

9th Oct 2008, 04:17	#13
Malfoleo I -am- demotivation. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,512	Looks kinda like you've got a little dancing dude inside the toaster on the second microwave picture. Rather than explosion, try for the microwave being the "body" to some creature (draw in a head, arms, legs, ect). Maybe try for a glowing heart inside the microwave (black paper cut-out taped inside/outside the door while microwave is running). __________________ I play with fish all day. And take photos for your sick pleasure.

27th Oct 2008, 00:41	#14
Stuey You will be defenestrated! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NYC & NJ Posts: 2,484	You've got my vote for POTM. I dunno, I just thought that your composition was the most creative. __________________ ToolGuyd

27th Oct 2008, 12:07	#15
Kúsař regular bit-tech reader Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brnicko, CZ Posts: 221	Nice pictures. I like the reflections on the table on first pic. The second one looks like something exploded, leaving a cloud of smoke there(quite funny )

28th Oct 2008, 12:13	#16
Silver51 I cast flare! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 1,186	Thanks. Forgot about voting, doing it now.