Re: Spark Photography

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Charles Hobson by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <charles.a.hobson-at-btinternet-dot-com>

> Original poster: "Ted Rosenberg by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>
>
> Jason, all:
> As a professional photographer and former Manager of Consumer Relations
for
> Minolta-Ramsey NJ, I'd like to offer the following suggestion for taking
> good photos that show off the physical coil and the sparks it produces.
>
> Let me use http://www.flash-dot-net/~ford29/tesla/HHH01.jpg for an example.
>
> I used a Minolta Maxxum which was taken off AUTO and put on full manual.
> I mounted the camera on a tripod and framed the coil/dummy.
> The ambient light was almost totally dark except for the fluorescent light
> from the "Brain in the Aquarium" and a bit of light from the Jacobs Lader.
> The film was Fuji ASA 200.
> I set the camera to "B" and the aperture to f/8. I pressed the shutter
> button and the flash fired, properly illuminating the scene and the coil.
> But I kept my finger on the button for another 5-8 seconds. It was during
> this time that the sparks and the streamers registered correctly.
>
> Naturally, I also bracketed. Film is cheap.
> I shot some at f/8, f/11 and f/16. I let the sparks register for 4, 5, 8,
> and 10 seconds.
>
> I do not believe the same could have been done with a fancy digital camera
> (just my opin)

Certainly haven't had much luck trying to do it with my Epson PC600.
If it only had a "bulb" position and a shutter, might do better.

 so in this instance...even an ancient Argus C-3 would do the
> trick.

How old are you??????????????

> Good luck in getting your coil functional once more and in getting those
> fantastic photos.
> Safety First.
>
> Ted

Ed

Hi Ed, Thanks for the photography tip. Like lots of good  ideas I see on the
Tesla list, I keep telling myself, "why didn't I think of that?"
I will be searching the loft for my old camera when it gets warmer!

Chuck/England