Using what he calls “electrickery,” Dr. Terren — known for a few other Tesla coil adventures including an electro-colorful remake of Rodin’s “Thinker” — used a really long exposure on his camera, several different lens filters and his knowledge of physics to create the high-voltage scene, manipulating the rod to create different visual effects.
Nothing in the images is Photoshopped, but someone watching Dr. Terren create the images would see something quite different than the image itself. Rather than a fiery display of colorful plumage, a passerby would see two minutes of intense sparking at the coil while Dr. Terren scrambled about switching filters on the camera from green to yellow to red and so on while gradually raising the rod atop the Tesla coil. But when the camera shutter finally snaps shut 120 seconds later, what’s captured is the bright white light, filtered into Christmas wavelengths.
A Discovery Channel segment about Dr. Terren’s tree is in the works, but you can catch more images in our accompanying gallery, and find pics of his creative process here.
Popular Science has been a leading source of science, technology and gadget news since 1872. With up-to-the minute latest space news, insightful commentary on the new innovations and concept cars ...if it's new or future technology you'll find it at popsci.com.au.
WW Media - Popular Science © 2010
Cameras - Home Entertainment - Mobile Phones