Triple Break

I’ve broken lots of glass. It’s a mess but it’s an incredible adrenaline rush when it hits the table after falling 10 feet. My record is 7 glasses all caught at the moment of impact.

How is it done? Well I use a sound trigger or I use plain old reflexes. Both work but the reflex method takes lots of concentration and a drop assistant. Practice helps. When a sound trigger is used I start in a dark room and open the shutter for 10 seconds. I run up the ladder and pick up the glasses placed on a board about 10 feet over the table. The drop point, camera focus plane, flash position, must all be planned ahead. Move the glasses an inch or two either way and they will be out of focus or not centered in the frame. Not only that, the glasses have to be free of finger prints, the water color added has to be the right denisty so sufficient light can pass and everything has to be protected, including your flash equipment, because water splashes everywhere. Each shot takes about 4 hours.

6 comments

  • MEM - June 5, 2007 - 11:34 am

    F. – I love these, as you know. The Crystal clarity, precision, “suspended animation” primaries still full of life. Thanks for posting these and sharing the process.ReplyCancel

  • Rich Lemmon - June 6, 2007 - 12:18 pm

    Every time I come to your site I think about one of my favorite quotes:

    “Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”

    Oliver Wendell HolmesReplyCancel

  • JAM - June 7, 2007 - 3:50 pm

    I love how the items her are shattered but still caught in the air. This is a wonderful set of photos. Sure glad I didn’t have to clean that up.ReplyCancel

  • David Worswick - June 17, 2007 - 7:36 am

    Hi,

    I was alongside you in the Gold Coast’s Q1 tower. How did your pictures turn out? I’m happy to e-mail you a small version of mine if you like. Your nature pics are very artistic, hope the books go well for you and enjoy Australia. I didn’t know you made that clamp, I had indeed seen it before, congrats on that too.

    Cheers

    DavidReplyCancel

  • Eugenio - July 14, 2007 - 5:44 am

    Great shot! Time stops, everything’s still. So great!ReplyCancel

  • Jules - August 17, 2008 - 1:41 am

    wow! that is very coolReplyCancel