I thought I'd take a stab at the method of trick photography levitation featured this week on the Digital Photography School (DPS) blog.
It was late at night and I was trying to meet my photo-a-day deadline by midnight. So there was little planning. The image to the right was my first attempt at it, and it came out pretty clean.
With the camera sitting in the same spot on pool table, I decided to use the same concept to create a illusion using billiard balls.
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How I did It
First, I took a picture of me without anything but the que ball. Since I'm not levitating, I'm just part of the "background".
Without moving the camera, I next balanced a few balls on Jenga game pieces, the took the same image, without me or the que ball.
I then imported both images into Fireworks, laying the "jenga" image on top of the other and aligning them. Using the simple eraser tool, I removed the jenga pieces and the area where I am, to reveal the background image.
Here is the final image
The only thing missing is shadows. Oh well, it was my first try.
After reading many articles about it, and being inspired by Ben Spark's 1000+ consecutive days, I've committed myself to taking and posting a photo-a-day beginning New Years Day 2009.
It has only been five days, but I'm excited about the creativity it forces on me.
Over the next couple of weeks I will write up some scripts to integrate the photos into the FamTrek website, so keep an eye our for a new tab on the top of the page soon.
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In the mean time you can see the photos using the slide show below
If you Google "DIY Lightbox" you will get a bunch of how-to pages. Most are just WAY to complicated for the average shutterbug. Others are just too fragile and will likely get destroyed in short order. Nearly every one you find will cost more than you are likely to get out of it.
I noticed that my local WalMart has a portable lightbox kit in the camera deptartment for $49, which actually looks nice. But me being a cheapskate, decided that I can make one cheaper. So here you go.
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(2) Clip-on-Lights $2.50 from Target
(1) Clear Storage Bin $7.50 from Walmart
(2) Posterboards white and blue $1
(2) BinderClips
Assemble like the pic! Nothing difficult.
The clear(ish) bin works to filter and soften the light. Best thing of all, is that everything stores in the tub when not used. Just remember to turn the dark background out before packing, so that the white doesn't get marked.
I'm a Internet Software Engineer / Consultant. I usually just say, I build the smoke and mirrors that make website function.
When I'm not building web sites and web applications, I can be found wakeboarding, taking pictures, plotting my next prank, learning something new, or hanging out with my wife and kids.
I'm a Internet Software Engineer / Consultant. I usually just say, I build the smoke and mirrors that make website function.
