Mad Idea.

[purplehaze]

Love your brand of madness, Gary. A truly admirable effort of imagination and execution. Thank you for sharing it and how it was done.

[Wayland]

Fair enough, what is the ground cover in the middle?
Grass or sand or ?

It is mostly grass. Someone had constructed some new age "shrine" like a Mandala in the middle, possibly one of the camper van mob, but most people try not to damage the site or fill it with litter.

[Wayland]

This is GREAT!
What a concept, and well executed as others have said.

Now if it had been me, since I don't stack images, I'd have dressed up all in black and figured out a way to completely enclose the fire pot, then scurried around exposing the pot at each of the stones while making a long duration exposure to capture the whole thing.

I think your method works better though. I wish we could see a little bigger version of it so we could see some of the detail that I'm sure is there.

Sorry, I forgot part of my response.

For film work the method you suggest would indeed have been the best option but for digital not only does it make things more difficult but it would also exaggerate issues inherent to digital capture.

The problem with extending the exposure length is the corresponding increase in sensor noise. Mostly due to the electronics heating up but also due to random particle bombardment.

Stacking shorter exposures, apart from being easier, also allows you to reduce such noise with data taken from different frames.

[Wayland]

This is the shot that I had originally planned by the way.

[IzzieK]

I like the second idea then...it is more beautiful and understandable in my eyes...

This is the shot that I had originally planned by the way.

[Wayland]

I think if I'd just taken the "light painting" shot I'd have been quite happy with it but having seen how the "circle of fire" shot worked out I'm glad I didn't stop there.

[Dave A]

Two beautiful images that show a high level of skill and imagination. Outstanding!

Dave

[Wayland]

Thank you.

[Wayland]

Just giving this thread a wee bump to wish you all the best on this Solstice eve.

This is image has been doing the rounds tonight on a few other ( Non photo ) forums I frequent.

Seems sort of appropriate.

[Wayland]

Seems like the Druids and hippies are celebrating a day late at Stonehenge this year???

Puts me in mind of the time I happened to be at Castlerigg a few years ago planning a shoot on a midsummer solstice and there was a stone hugger with his "magic staff" wandering around trying to impress the public.

At 12 o'clock he started some sort of ritual which involved lots of chanting and staff waving. When he finished, a member of the public asked him what he was doing and he replied loudly that "High Noon on the Solstice was the exact time the circle opened the way to the spirit world.

I couldn't help but pipe up, "It's amazing that the Bronze Age Circle builders had so cleverly accounted for British Summer Time."

He looked a little crestfallen as the crowd roared with laughter.

At least they won't all have to wait and extra day for the gates to open at Glastonbury....

[PhotoByTrace]

Love your mad idea! Wonderful vision, attention to detail and beautifully executed. Thanks for sharing the image and story. I've actually found myself quite excited about what you've achieved here; It's inspiring my own creative juices.

[Wayland]

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

You have some lovely images on your web site.

[John 2]

Missed this first time around (on holiday) and commented on the first image in another post. Both of these are inspired.

[rlepra]

Congratulations! The result of your hard work is amazing!

[Wayland]

Thank you, It was just an idea that needed working out.