High-Speed Photography

[wilheldp_PE]

Since I obviously needed another expensive hobby, I have taken up high-speed photography (or slow motion photography, if you prefer).  I just received my Kickstarted Chronos 1.4 camera today and played with it a little.  This thing can do 1,057 frames per second (fps) at 1280x1024 resolution up to 37,500 fps at 320 x 96.  The latter is *almost* fast enough to see bullets in flight, but the resolution is kinda crappy.  Here is my obligatory water droplet video.  I have lots of other things I want to video, but I'm also looking for suggestions.

 

[Dleg]

Sneeze.

Isn't having more powerful lighting (or a synced strobe) a big part of getting better resolution at extreme high speeds?

 

[wilheldp_PE]

Light is definitely a concern.  Each time you double the frame rate, or go down 2 F-stops (for better depth of field), or halve shutter speed (to reduce image blur) you halve the amount of light reaching the sensor.  I have a 150 watt LED continuous studio light that produces roughly half of bright sunlight.  If that isn't enough, I have my eye on some cheaper 100 watt LED light modules that I can get a few of and run off one power supply.  But the general consensus is to shoot outside in bright sunlight for best results at high speeds.  

For the above video, I had the 150 watt light about 2 feet to the left of the glass.  It was shot at f1.2 (the best my lens can do), so I definitely could have made the image brighter with the same amount of light.

 

[Dleg]

I have to admit I find that stuff pretty cool.  That would be fun to play with!  

 

[Supe]

Next up, the popped water balloon. 

 

[wilheldp_PE]

Next up, the popped water balloon. 

That's on the list.  But I also want to get my old aquarium from my parent's basement and pop an air balloon under water.  I've seen some footage of that, and it's pretty cool.

 

[Dleg]

Better yet: blow an M-80 underwater inside the aquarium. (behind appropriate shielding for you, of course)

 

[MA_PE]

blow up an egg in a microwave

 

[YMZ PE]

The classic "enormous dog drooling while running happily toward its owner"

 

[wilheldp_PE]

I'll have to borrow a dog to get the drooley shot.  I need to go to Indiana to pick up some M-80s (or similarly waterproof fireworks).  In the meantime, this will have to suffice...

 

[Dleg]

Pretty damn cool!

 

[Dleg]

Next you should go and shoot @thejulie_PE's spider with a bug-a-salt in ultra slow motion.

 

[YMZ PE]

Love the smoke trails and sparkles!

 

[Supe]

How about a water/dry ice or mentos/diet coke combo?

 

[Ble_PE]

How about a mentos/diet coke combo?

We all know what happens next.

 

[wilheldp_PE]

Here's some Mentos and Diet Coke for you, @Supe.  Had plenty of light for the outdoor shots, but unfortunately, it really screwed up the colors.  Need to figure out how to fix that.

 

[Master slacker]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet - bread toasting in toaster.

 

[wilheldp_PE]

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet - bread toasting in toaster.

I don't get it.  I just toasted some bread, and it was excruciatingly slow.   Which part do you think would be interesting in slow-mo?

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

Maybe he was thinking of time-lapse instead? 

 

[Supe]

I don't get it.  I just toasted some bread, and it was excruciatingly slow.   Which part do you think would be interesting in slow-mo?

Up next, paint drying!