ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay High Speed photography 101 – Pre-Smarter Every Day
Have you ever wondered how photographers capture those amazing images of objects in motion, like a bullet piercing through an apple? This fascinating technique is called high-speed photography. Unlike high-speed video, which requires specialized equipment, high-speed photography is more accessible than you might think. It’s all about perfect timing!
To get started with high-speed photography, you don’t need a lot of fancy gear. A key piece of equipment is a flash unit, which can be triggered at the exact moment you want to capture. You can create a simple circuit to control this timing. Here’s how it works:
Building the circuit might sound complicated, but it’s manageable with some basic electronics knowledge. Here’s a quick overview:
Once your setup is ready, you can start capturing incredible images. For example, to photograph a bottle breaking:
By varying the flash output, you can achieve extremely short flash durations, allowing for shutter speeds much faster than a typical camera shutter. This capability lets you freeze motion in ways that reveal the hidden beauty of everyday events.
High-speed photography is a fantastic way to explore the physical laws that govern our world. By experimenting with this technique, you can uncover the answers to questions you might not even have thought to ask. So, grab your camera and start discovering the wonders of high-speed photography!
Happy shooting!
Gather the necessary components and follow a step-by-step guide to build a simple flash trigger circuit. This hands-on activity will help you understand how electronic circuits work and how they can be used to capture high-speed events. Don’t worry if you’re new to electronics; this is a great opportunity to learn!
Use a piezo transducer to create a sound-triggered flash setup. Test different sounds to see how they affect the timing of the flash. This activity will teach you about sound sensitivity and how it can be used to capture precise moments in high-speed photography.
Set up your camera and flash to capture the moment a water balloon bursts. Experiment with different angles and lighting conditions to see how they affect the final image. This challenge will help you apply the concepts of timing and lighting in high-speed photography.
Look at a series of high-speed photographs and discuss what makes them successful. Consider factors like timing, composition, and lighting. This activity will enhance your critical thinking skills and help you understand what goes into creating a stunning high-speed photograph.
Compile your best high-speed photographs into a portfolio. Write a brief description for each photo, explaining the setup and what you learned from the experience. This project will allow you to showcase your work and reflect on your progress in mastering high-speed photography.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, it’s me, Destin. It is late, the kids are in bed, so it’s time to work on the next project. This time around, we’re going to start trying to take photos of objects being hit by bullets. I think that moment is called high-speed photography—not like high-speed video, but it’s really within the reach of most people; they just don’t realize it. It doesn’t take a lot of special equipment; it’s all about timing.
What we’re going to do is use a flash unit that I received as a gift. We’re going to create a circuit to trigger the flash at the exact moment we want. It’s not that hard. I’ve got a breadboard circuit that I bought online, and I have what’s called a multi-trigger. It can trigger things based on sound, which I’ll use for my rifle shot, or you can use photo gates and other inputs. It can also add a delay, so the flash goes off right when the bullet hits the target.
I’m going to show you how long it takes to put together this circuit. I have an engineering buddy who helped put it together, but I want to make it a bit tighter. So, I’ll take his circuit apart and reassemble it.
[Music]
Okay, I’m done. It is now late, and I often get comments asking how I have so much free time. I just don’t sleep!
So, we have a circuit on a breadboard connected to a piezo transducer that is sensitive to sound. The way this circuit works is that when I turn my flash on, any sharp sound will trigger a flash. You can adjust the sensitivity and reset time, and you can even add a delay from the sharp sound until the flash fires using a couple of potentiometers.
To connect the flash to the circuit, we use a PC connector, which stands for “premier connector”—a standard connection for synchronizing flashes to cameras.
With this setup, you can do several things. For example, if you want to take a picture of a bottle breaking, you can turn off all the lights, open the shutter, drop the bottle, and when it hits the ground, the flash will expose the sensor on your DSLR, resulting in a cool photo.
Another thing you can do is vary the output on your flash. This particular flash has built-in exposure compensation, allowing for very short flash durations, enabling shutter speeds much faster than what a mechanical shutter can achieve.
The world operates under physical laws, and we have the opportunity to explore and understand those laws. All the answers are already there; we just have to find them.
That’s it! Have a good night!
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This version removes any informal language, personal anecdotes, and specific references that may not be suitable for all audiences while maintaining the core message.
Photography – The art or process of capturing images using light, typically through a camera. – In physics class, we learned how photography relies on the principles of light and optics to capture images.
Equipment – The necessary tools or devices needed for a particular purpose, especially in scientific experiments or engineering tasks. – The lab technician explained how each piece of equipment in the physics lab is used to conduct experiments safely and accurately.
Circuit – A closed path through which an electric current flows or may flow. – In our engineering project, we built a simple circuit to power a small light bulb using a battery and wires.
Flash – A sudden burst of light used in photography to illuminate a scene. – The camera’s flash helped capture clear images in the dimly lit room during our experiment.
Sound – A form of energy that travels through air, water, or solids as vibrations that can be heard by the human ear. – We studied how sound waves travel and how different materials can affect the speed and quality of sound.
Trigger – A device or mechanism that initiates a process or reaction. – The motion sensor acted as a trigger to start the camera when it detected movement in the room.
Motion – The change in position of an object over time relative to a reference point. – We used a video camera to analyze the motion of a rolling ball in our physics experiment.
Camera – A device used to capture images or videos, often used in scientific studies to record experiments. – The high-speed camera allowed us to observe the rapid motion of the pendulum in slow motion.
Electronics – The branch of physics and engineering that deals with the study and application of electrical circuits and devices. – Our electronics project involved designing a circuit that could control the brightness of an LED light.
Sensitivity – The ability of a device or instrument to detect small changes or signals. – The microphone’s sensitivity was crucial for picking up even the faintest sounds during our sound wave experiment.
