I’ve seen lots of marvelous images taken at the Lumiere London Festival of Light. Unable to go along, I organised my own Festival of Light in our kitchen.
I think this is possibly the most experimental photograph I have ever taken. This image shows the complex refraction of multi-coloured lights through glass. It involved split second timing and lots and lots of practice. I must have taken around 50 images before I managed to capture this one.
That’s one explanation. Here’s a more down to Earth one.
You’re looking at the lights from my youngest daughter’s My Little Pony fibre-optic tree as they’re refracted through a prism. Just to complete the picture in your mind’s eye, the prism was balanced over the top of the torch using tins of Baked Beans and a couple of empty wine bottles.
The bit about taking 50 images? Yes, it took many, many attempts to arrive at this point!
I wasn’t really sure what my final image would look like, but I think the effect works. That said, I’m not convinced the organisers of Lumiere London will be knocking on my door any time soon.
32 thoughts on “Organising my own Lumiere Festival of Light”
It’s a fantastic photo and you would never have guessed tins of beans were involved! It must have been great fun setting it up.
It was fun, but it had its stressful “why am I doing this again/” moments. I’ve kinda learned that’s how you produce your best photography. Well, I do anyway!
It’s awesome John baked beans now there is something I would never of guess you had used, fab final effect #mysundayphoto
The baked bean tins went under the wine bottles to give them enough height. Simple yet effective!
Wow that is clever, a great result from some very ordinary props!
I don’t get called clever that often! Aside from the prism, all very ordinary stuff.
Very impressive. What’s more impressive is the imagination and ingenuity with the props. Who would have known! Nice one. #MySundayPhoto
I can be resourceful when I need to be! Thanks for your kind words.
Wow it does look so impressive and well worth the 50th attempt and using a baked beans can!! You should do a whole feature of them 🙂
Well, watch this space. If I can think of enough ways to use the prism creatively I may well do a small series.
Ooh, moving into the world of abstract there! Very nicely done, I really struggled to wrap my head around what I was seeing until I read the explanation. I stared at that for a long, long time, well done! #MySundayPhoto
Oh yes, the most abstract image I have ever taken. Well, apart from one or two self portraits. I hope you enjoyed the explanation!
This is flipping brilliant, I would never have guessed this was in your kitchen
Thank you for linking up
It was a little something I rustled up Darren. I am finding the conditions outside to be dire for photography at the moment so this was a nice project I could do inside.
Absolutely love this picture, the light is amazing!
Thank you, I’m really glad you lked it. I may try something similar with my Lensball at some point.
That’s amazing, John. I love taking photos of lights, I would never have thought to do this. It’s beautiful. #MySundayPhoto
It’s wonderful this image has garnered such a response. I find photographing lights to be quite tricky but I enjoyed this challenge.
Ha ha… fantastic. Love it and spectacular results!
Thanks Paul. Somewhat different to your superb landscape images, but delighted you liked it.
What a brilliant achievement and amazing results. Who would have guessed it was in your kitchen and involved tins of beans! ;D
Yeah, it was a novel approach I guess. Had no idea what the end result would be but it was such fun getting there.
Wonderful image, you worked hard to achieve it.
Thanks Carol. It took quite a bit of effort. This I cannot deny!
Oooo. That looks amazing. Better than the real thing
Very kind of you to say so Lewis. Not sure Lumiere’s organisers would say so!
Very clever and I enjoyed the explanations of why and how. #MySundayPhoto
Hi Kate. Glad you enjoyed my explanations. It was a bit of fun but I think it works.
Either way it is a brilliant shot
Mollyx
Hi John, all I can say is WOW!…Okay, that was a blatant lie (not the WOW! part)… At first glance, your photo reminded me of a concert audience where everyone is waving their phones (think old Nokia advert). It’s amazing what you can create with a lot of imagination and patience. Very clever and impressive.
xx
That is a fabulous shot. I’m glad you explained what it was – I was trying to work it out! I can imagine it must have been fun experimenting to get this shot.
Wow that must have been amazing to see. I saw a few people post pictures of it and it looked incredible. Wish I lived closed. Thanks for sharing, this is a fun shot x