Parabolas - Multicoloured

[MSidPhoto]

Hey All!

I've been on this forum for a pretty long time, but this is my first "How I took it" post. Hope you guys like it and learn from it.

(MODERATORS: Please let me know if I have violated any rules, so I may correct myself. Thank you.)

For a pretty long time I was interested on creating Parabolas using light. But didn't get the time to actually do it. Few weeks ago I gave it a shot and got surprisingly amazing results.

First, a shot of a simple Parabola:



So here's how I did it.

Equipment/Items needed:

> Camera (DSLR or any camera which supports BULB shutter speed setting)
> Tripod
> Wired/Wireless Remote (for shutter release)
> Small Flashlight (e.g. Maglite)
> String/Thread
> Ceiling hook (or any other way to suspend the Maglite using a rope)
> Coloured plastic/gel (to create coloured and multicoloured parabolas)
> Any dark, flat object to place on the lens


Method:

Suspend the flashlight using the rope/string/thread from the ceiling hook. Place your camera directly below the flashlight on the tripod and make it face vertically towards the flashlight. Turn the flashlight one. Using auto-focus, focus your camera on the flashlight and then switch to manual focus to "lock" the focus on the flashlight. Make sure you focus after every time the camera is moved or adjusted.

Set your camera's shutter speed to bulb and set a small aperture (around F18/F20). Using a wide angle lens is suggested so as to cover the entire movement of the flashlight, although any lens will do. After this, close all the other lights of the room and keeping the wired/wireless shutter release remote in your hand, throw the flashlight in a circular direction. Ignore first few unsteady/unstable cycles and once it starts moving in a uniform way, press and hold the shutter release. When the flashlight comes close to completing it's swinging, release the button and TA-DA! You have a Parabola!

Throwing in different styles and directions will create different and unique patterns. Moreover, to create coloured Parabolas, cover the flashlight with a coloured piece of plastic or a coloured gel.


How to create multicoloured Parabolas:

To create multicoloured parabolas, using a remote which can lock and hold the shutter release is suggested. First, throw the flashlight with a coloured gel on it and press and hold the shutter release. When it comes closer to completing its cycles, place a dark object over the lens of the camera (keeping the shutter button pressed) and change the coloured gel over the flashlight. Throw the flashlight again, in a different style, and after a ignoring few unsteady cycles, remove the dark object from the lens. Wait for the flashlight to complete it's cycles and look at the result. You'll be surprised!

Here are a few of my shots of the multicoloured Parabola:









Hope you learn something new from this post. Like I said, my first "How I took it" so forgive me for any mistakes and please do correct me if any. Thank you.

Regards,
MSidPhoto

[jamesrdroy]

Mindblowing. I Just tried it out. will post the pics tomorrow as am already late for a party and my wife will start writing another "Wonderful tonight" song if i delay any longer! Thanks! This was a lot of fun, especially when I accidentally switched on my ceiling fan (from which I'd hung my torch)...
Thank You!

[MSidPhoto]

Hehehe, James, you are welcome, glad to know you had a great time shooting Parabolas!
And the fan idea's great, I have a few ideas myself using the ceiling fan, will try it out when I get time.
And yeah, will be waiting for your shots!

Cheers.
MSidPhoto

[dpgiffin]

Thats great! I'm going to have to try that out here sometime soon!

[MSidPhoto]

Thanks for the compliments!

[jamesrdroy]

Thanks again! here are the shots. They looked so much better on the camera than on big screen. I couldnt get the fantastic clarity of yours. I'll be attempting again tomorrow.

[MSidPhoto]

Nice try James!

For a more sharp impression, may I suggest that try to use a flashlight in which light is focused or cover up your flashlight in a way that the light doesn't disperse a lot. A focused beam would be best for sharp effects.

Anyways, keep it up ^_^

Cheers,
MSidPhoto

[vennela]

Nice and detailed tutorial, Sid....
I should try this soon!

[Shutterbugdeb]

Wow, your images are amazing. Thanks for sharing. I'll have to try it sometime.

[MSidPhoto]

Originally Posted by vennela

Nice and detailed tutorial, Sid....
I should try this soon!

Thanks for the compliments

Originally Posted by Shutterbugdeb

Wow, your images are amazing. Thanks for sharing. I'll have to try it sometime.

Thanks a lot!
Check out two others...they are simple parabolas: Simple Parabolas - Light and Long Exposure