Weekly Assignment #109: Laser Beam

Nikolai

I was about to post a different theme when this post caught my attention.
So this time we're going to catch a laser beam.
The beam should be parallel to the focal plane or go at an angle
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES point the laser to one's eye or one's camera lens!
Use the vapor/smoke to catch the effect. Use the mirrors/prisms/ to reflect/bend/split the bean to create verious optical effect (try reflecting off a CD:-). Use the laser pointers/power tools as a convenient source of the beams.
Ultimate bonus point: picture of a great white shark with the activated laser device attached to its head :wink
Let's get some laser action!

eL eSs Vee

The great white shark (even one with a bad attitude) will be easy; it's the laser that might cause some delays.

spb13

Here is my first crack at this assignment. Overall kind of boring. I didn't have anything handy for making smoke so I used powder. I think smoke might make for something a bit more interesting.

Nikolai

spb13 wrote:

Here is my first crack at this assignment. Overall kind of boring. I didn't have anything handy for making smoke so I used powder. I think smoke might make for something a bit more interesting.

Congrats on being the first one! Nice entry, but I hope for a second installment to be better :-)

catspaw

where's that fog machine from halloween....... hmmmm!

Nikolai

catspaw wrote:

where's that fog machine from halloween....... hmmmm!

Guuuuoood thinking!

spb13

More interesting, but I am not sure if I have a focus issue or if the smoke makes for soft beams. I might give it another round, but I had to stop tonight...my eyes were feeling a little wonky. (just from working in the dark, not from the laser)

Nikolai

spb13 wrote:

More interesting, but I am not sure if I have a focus issue or if the smoke makes for soft beams. I might give it another round, but I had to stop tonight...my eyes were feeling a little wonky. (just from working in the dark, not from the laser)

Sean, thant's pretty nifty!
Care to explain your setup?

spb13

Nikolai wrote:

Sean, thant's pretty nifty!
Care to explain your setup?

Let's see...I have a laser pointer just out of the frame camera left. I used a spring clam to hold it in position and another one to hold the trigger down. About a foot to the right there are a couple small boxes covered with black fabric. The CD is sitting on one box and leaning on the other. I needed to get everything up off the table some so the smoke could get under the beams. Speaking of smoke. I used a stick of incense. (The stuff I have was really cheap and it made for quite a bit of smoke I think the "nicer" ones make less smoke.) I ended up just letting the incense burn in front of the beams and lightly fanned the air while the shutter was open. With a "modeling" light on I held a paper in the beam to get focus. Exposure time was hit or miss. It had a lot to do with how much smoke hit the beams. I am not sure how I would do this without a cable release and bulb mode. Oh and the only light in the room was the laser. I think that covers the highlights.

EXIF:
Exposure Time 7.3s (73/10)
Aperture f/5.6
ISO 100
Focal Length 40mm (60mm 35mm)

Nikolai

spb13 wrote:

Let's see...I have a laser pointer just out of the frame camera left. I used a spring clam to hold it in position and another one to hold the trigger down. About a foot to the right there are a couple small boxes covered with black fabric. The CD is sitting on one box and leaning on the other. I needed to get everything up off the table some so the smoke could get under the beams. Speaking of smoke. I used a stick of incense. (The stuff I have was really cheap and it made for quite a bit of smoke I think the "nicer" ones make less smoke.) I ended up just letting the incense burn in front of the beams and lightly fanned the air while the shutter was open. With a "modeling" light on I held a paper in the beam to get focus. Exposure time was hit or miss. It had a lot to do with how much smoke hit the beams. I am not sure how I would do this without a cable release and bulb mode. Oh and the only light in the room was the laser. I think that covers the highlights.

EXIF:
Exposure Time 7.3s (73/10)
Aperture f/5.6
ISO 100
Focal Length 40mm (60mm 35mm)

Thank you! By any chance you have a picture of the setup?

spb13

Nikolai wrote:

Thank you! By any chance you have a picture of the setup?

I moved some stuff around after I was done last night, but this is pretty close to how it was.

Nikolai

spb13 wrote:

I moved some stuff around after I was done last night, but this is pretty close to how it was.

Thank you, Sean, appreciate it!

eL eSs Vee

Very well done, Sean!

You do your experimental shots the same way I do. You know, hit and miss. It's amazing what results from a little patience. Good job!

spb13

eL eSs Vee wrote:

Very well done, Sean!

You do your experimental shots the same way I do. You know, hit and miss. It's amazing what results from a little patience. Good job!

I think I do all my shots hit or miss.

rnourse

I suspect this assignment is now closed and I realize that this image violates one of the guidelines about pointing of lasers but when I saw the assignment I couldn't NOT post this image.

It was my son's birthday and I had the camera out taking some shots with my 50mm 1.4 when a buddy pulled out his laser and started doing a light show for the kids. I was taking shots and he pointed it at the kitchen table under which I was lying... he only did it for 5-10 seconds before realizing it was a very bad idea but in that few seconds I snapped this shot. the boy front and center is my son, the birthday boy. I only wish the IQ was better but the subject matter is great!

Nikolai

rnourse wrote:

I suspect this assignment is now closed and I realize that this image violates one of the guidelines about pointing of lasers but when I saw the assignment I couldn't NOT post this image.

It was my son's birthday and I had the camera out taking some shots with my 50mm 1.4 when a buddy pulled out his laser and started doing a light show for the kids. I was taking shots and he pointed it at the kitchen table under which I was lying... he only did it for 5-10 seconds before realizing it was a very bad idea but in that few seconds I snapped this shot. the boy front and center is my son, the birthday boy. I only wish the IQ was better but the subject matter is great!

Assignments never close, so you're fine :-)
And the rule is primarily for your won safety and the safety of your gear. You ended up with a nice shot anyway:-)