Dance of the Toothpicks

[Loose Canon]

I had no idea these common household items were so graceful!

f/16
¼ second shutter
ISO 400
100mm 2.8 macro
One flash fired.
One frame.

[Stagecoach]

Oh boy, what's next

Good one Terry, I think I can grasp the technicalities here but will not embarrass myself yet.

[FootLoose]

Wow!

[Shadowman]

Nice concept.

[rtbaum]

I, for one, am speechless........and am looking forward to the technicalities

[chauncey]

It's good to see another member going beyond the mundane and stretching his imagination.
Tis indeed some nice shots.

[Dave Humphries]

I think we should change your username to "Creative Canon" Terry

You put most of the rest of us to shame.

Nice idea and implementation.

[Mike Buckley]

Wonderful abstracts, Terry! I especially like the second one for all sorts of reasons.

[Loose Canon]

Guys?

Thank you so much. You have no idea what it means to me that you all would come in to view and comment.

I can’t dance my way out of a wet paper bag! It was fun seeing something that could! A toothpick was the last thing I thought I might see Dancing With the Stars!

[Brownbear]

As always creative, and simply incredible! My favourite is the 2nd simply for the aesthetic beauty of the shapes in motion...

[bnnrcn]

I have always been stunned by your shots Terry, another super set

[IzzieK]

Beyond my wildest imagination....but I do not have that even... What is next Terry? Dance of the Oogly Chopsticks? I can't wait....

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Terry,

It strikes me that photographing these is probably a bit like water splash drops - a lot of 'less good' shots and the occasional one where the pirouetting stick describes a really nice shape (e.g. #2) during the exposure - is that how it is?

TIA, Dave

[ashcroft]

Excellent, Terry. Very creative!

[ShaneS]

I often lurk about your posts and am always amazed by your creativity and the technical skills that you employ to create such wonderful images. #2 for me as well

[Loose Canon]

Thank you all again.

Dave you really get a large percentage of what I might consider usable, which makes this so much fun. Unlike water drops, or splash, which I like doing, but can get monotonous trying to get what you are after.

As regards this process, you get a wide range of cool stuff out of it so it depends on what criteria you are going put on it for a “keeper”. As I progress through the project (really any project), my criteria for keepers get more and more strict.

As an example I consider this next shot is perfectly usable as far as I am concerned. At first a keeper. Then I constrained the criteria such that I wouldn't accept the table top in the view. I wanted the toothpick spinning in mid air rather than getting the bounce. I like this shot it didn’t meet the changing criteria. On the downside of my process is that I end up keeping a lot of shots but usually only processing a very few. Maybe only one. Then in a month or so I go back into the folder and start trashing stuff after I’ve slept on it for a while.



So I always make sure I fully understand what is going on with the technique, how to tweak it, and what to look for so that I can reproduce the set-up if I want. This is, of course, as much a function of the mistakes and accidents as it is the successes. But if I get something cool from a mistake or accident I want to know what went on with it and why. Then investigate further whether or not I can use that purposely.

As an example I did this shot by firing the flash through a gel. It was not done in Photoshop. I figured I understood what would happen and why. Then shot some test shots to make sure I was right about what I thought.

I didn’t like the color at first (I’m liking it more and more now) but I consider it perfectly good because, except for the color, it met the restricted criteria I set.



Sorry for the Happy Ramble there Dave but you do get a lot of cool shots! For sure relative to shooting moving water. It just depends on how you set your keeper criteria.

Just because I had this one done...

[Mike Buckley]

I've looked at these images many times and every single time the first five things that come to mind -- in no particular order -- are:

1. swirling dervish
2. swirling dervish
3. swirling dervish
4. swirling dervish
5. swirling dervish

[Loose Canon]

No doubt Mike! I had similar thoughts though in a different order!

After I set it up and took the first frame I was immediately shocked at the potential.

I’m seeing the humble toothpick in a whole new light now!

[Loose Canon]

I really didn’t want anything for Christmas this year materially.

I have my Spirit, my Beloved Bride, grub on the table, and I am okay with that!

But I have amended that and at the last minute wrote a last ditch letter to Santa.

Dear Santa,

I would love a box of 250 ct round toothpicks for Christmas. I have been a (kinda) good little boy but I always meant well. That would take me through what is left of my Life.

But, Dear Santa, if there is a little boy or girl out there that needs something and may not get it, I would rather you disregard my request and bring some Joy and Happiness to them.

Thank you Dear Santa and Merry Christmas to you.

Signed:

(Kinda) Good little boy- Terry

PS Santa: I hope I don’t see that box of toothpicks and instead see a child that gets something they need or want. And what’s more sees the True Meaning which will take them through their Life. I’m doing the best I can to make that happen, but no one does it like you Brother Santa!

Please look for the cookies and milk. And please give Mrs. Clause a big squeeze for me!

These last two are for you Santa.

Merry Christmas!

[Mike Buckley]

The last two are definitely keepers but the last one is really special.