Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second)

Choleric · 05-14-2007, 06:43 PM

Harold Edgerton's story is one of humble Nebraskan beginnings that sparked a child's curiosity for taking things apart to see how they worked. So bloomed the genius that led him to become an MIT Professor who founded his Strobe Alley workshop which perfected stroboscopic photography. His amazing works include a lightbulb stopped in the process of shattering, the drop of milk frozen in midair splash, a bullet shown shooting it's way through a playing card, shredding it in half as it goes. One of the things Edgerton was asked to photograph was the night time detonation of an atomic bomb by the military. He managed to capture the process beautifully but also the strange beauty of destruction at the same time.

Harold Edgerton built a special lens 10 feet long for his camera which was set up in a bunker 7 miles from the source of the blast which was triggered Nevada - the bomb placed atop a steel gantry anchored to the desert floor by guide wires. The exposures are at 1/100,000,000ths of a second.

In a millisecond the blast expands; lightning caused by the force of the energy travels down the guide wires The desert floor was turned to glass.

In another millionth of a second, a planet of fire exists, silhouetting and dwarfing the Joshua Trees.

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Choleric · 05-15-2007, 09:05 AM

Some other cool shots you may recognize, from the same man.

he has done some cool stuff.

Alfie · 05-15-2007, 10:31 AM

Seen the apple before.

Rest is also wicked

Bruce · 05-15-2007, 10:37 AM

Awesome photos. Esepcially the bullet going through the card.

Mikael · 05-15-2007, 10:58 AM

Not exactly the same thing but I found this pic nice: Almost looks like the Hornet is coming out of a wormhole.

Giannis · 05-15-2007, 02:14 PM

he has a thing for bullets and highspeed stuff?

Impressive pics indeed!

Alfie · 05-15-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmer

Not exactly the same thing but I found this pic nice: Almost looks like the Hornet is coming out of a wormhole.

This pic is taken exactly when the plane crosses the soundbarrier. That pic is on the front of my chemistry book

Mikael · 05-15-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zonda

This pic is taken exactly when the plane crosses the soundbarrier. That pic is on the front of my chemistry book

Yup, the pressure drop causes a condensation cloud.

Alfie · 05-16-2007, 05:16 AM

Yup, that's what it says on the book too, lol:P

shonguiz · 05-16-2007, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmer

Not exactly the same thing but I found this pic nice: Almost looks like the Hornet is coming out of a wormhole.

05-14-2007, 06:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Choleric Justice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Great Plains Posts: 3,404 My Mood: Thanks: 564 Thanked 1,130 Times in 613 Posts	Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second) Harold Edgerton's story is one of humble Nebraskan beginnings that sparked a child's curiosity for taking things apart to see how they worked. So bloomed the genius that led him to become an MIT Professor who founded his Strobe Alley workshop which perfected stroboscopic photography. His amazing works include a lightbulb stopped in the process of shattering, the drop of milk frozen in midair splash, a bullet shown shooting it's way through a playing card, shredding it in half as it goes. One of the things Edgerton was asked to photograph was the night time detonation of an atomic bomb by the military. He managed to capture the process beautifully but also the strange beauty of destruction at the same time. Harold Edgerton built a special lens 10 feet long for his camera which was set up in a bunker 7 miles from the source of the blast which was triggered Nevada - the bomb placed atop a steel gantry anchored to the desert floor by guide wires. The exposures are at 1/100,000,000ths of a second. In a millisecond the blast expands; lightning caused by the force of the energy travels down the guide wires The desert floor was turned to glass. In another millionth of a second, a planet of fire exists, silhouetting and dwarfing the Joshua Trees. - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

05-15-2007, 09:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
Choleric Justice Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Great Plains Posts: 3,404 My Mood: Thanks: 564 Thanked 1,130 Times in 613 Posts	Re: Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second) Some other cool shots you may recognize, from the same man. he has done some cool stuff.

05-15-2007, 10:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Alfie Aficionado Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: La Svezia! Posts: 4,838 My Mood: Thanks: 802 Thanked 841 Times in 513 Posts	Re: Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second) Seen the apple before. Rest is also wicked

05-15-2007, 10:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bruce Crazy Canadian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: British Columbia Posts: 9,433 My Mood: Thanks: 3,554 Thanked 2,848 Times in 1,753 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Re: Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second) Awesome photos. Esepcially the bullet going through the card.

05-15-2007, 10:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mikael Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,867 Thanks: 796 Thanked 342 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second) Not exactly the same thing but I found this pic nice: Almost looks like the Hornet is coming out of a wormhole.

05-15-2007, 02:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Giannis Devotee Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Patra, Greece Posts: 3,487 Thanks: 139 Thanked 212 Times in 163 Posts	Re: Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second) he has a thing for bullets and highspeed stuff? Impressive pics indeed!

05-16-2007, 05:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
Alfie Aficionado Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: La Svezia! Posts: 4,838 My Mood: Thanks: 802 Thanked 841 Times in 513 Posts	Re: Amazing Photos of an Atomic Blast (taken at 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second) Yup, that's what it says on the book too, lol:P

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