Wow! You hit a grand slam with these. You gotta keep on this trail, the images are compelling. I was just thinking about figure/ground images vs abstract recently. If you haven't, look up Frederick Sommer's abstractions and cut outs. Man Ray, Maholy-Nagy, etc.
I knew about the kaleidoscope but nothing about the vortoscope. Pretty interesting tool, gotta give it a go. Very compelling images, Susanne. Thanks for sharing! :)
Awesome post, Susanne. Thank you for sharing what you learned with us! The best part was that you actually experimented with it yourself- so inspiring, and your results are amazing!
And perfect timing, I was in a class last week on “creative shooting techniques” with a bunch of cool props and I loved the Fractals prisms that we could try.
After 5 months of not posting, I finally did just now, and included one of my photos taken with the prisms in class. Thank you, Susanne, for the inspiration and encouragement!
The creative ideas in using this vortograph process is interesting...as you proved. The time piece shot and the first dog photo were my personal favorites. Thanks for the lesson and creative ideas!
Interesting. I was unaware of Coburn. Of course it always brings me up short when I find examples of something similar to a thing that I had worked with. In my case it was shooting through a glass block, a hollow glass 'block' about 3 inches thick with wavy glass front and back. Wild distortions.
A very interesting article, thank you. And it's great to see how you've used the technique yourself. One of the fascinating thing about photography, to me, is that it is forever young: the 'tricks' of early photographers are still relevant and effective today, 'old' photographs can perfectly well inspire today's images.
Wow! Thanks for sharing. I love how your images came out. I love using a prism ring for cool in camera effects. I went to Romania this past spring and we had family photos done by a local photographer team (husband and wife) who do beautiful work. They gifted me a small copper pipe to use when I shoot and I have loved playing with it.
Wow! You hit a grand slam with these. You gotta keep on this trail, the images are compelling. I was just thinking about figure/ground images vs abstract recently. If you haven't, look up Frederick Sommer's abstractions and cut outs. Man Ray, Maholy-Nagy, etc.
Thank you, Rick! I am familiar with ManRay and Moholy-Nagy. Sommer is already on my list to learn more about.
Thanks for these stories and sharing of important photography history.
You are very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
excellent post, fantastic results! my hat off
Thank you. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
I knew about the kaleidoscope but nothing about the vortoscope. Pretty interesting tool, gotta give it a go. Very compelling images, Susanne. Thanks for sharing! :)
Thanks, Alex! Happy you enjoyed it! Feel free to share when you give it a go!
Awesome post, Susanne. Thank you for sharing what you learned with us! The best part was that you actually experimented with it yourself- so inspiring, and your results are amazing!
And perfect timing, I was in a class last week on “creative shooting techniques” with a bunch of cool props and I loved the Fractals prisms that we could try.
oh, what a fun coincidence. Are you going tho share yours? Would love to see them!
After 5 months of not posting, I finally did just now, and included one of my photos taken with the prisms in class. Thank you, Susanne, for the inspiration and encouragement!
Oh, that‘s great! Will read it now!
1917! Demential! Thanks for the great read
You are very welcome!
Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting. I love hearing stories like this... pretty punk rock. And your images are great!
Thanks, Dan! I was fascinated by them considering the time when they were made. Definitely a fun experiment!
Wonderful images and a really interesting read, thank you.
Happy you enjoyed it!
The creative ideas in using this vortograph process is interesting...as you proved. The time piece shot and the first dog photo were my personal favorites. Thanks for the lesson and creative ideas!
You are welcome, Jack! Thank you for reading!
wow what an interesting read, @Susanne Helmert . . . thanks for sharing, I enjoyed this greatly.
David, I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the read! I liked learning about it all so much, I just had to share it!
Interesting. I was unaware of Coburn. Of course it always brings me up short when I find examples of something similar to a thing that I had worked with. In my case it was shooting through a glass block, a hollow glass 'block' about 3 inches thick with wavy glass front and back. Wild distortions.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Your create endeavours sounds really interesting too!
A very interesting article, thank you. And it's great to see how you've used the technique yourself. One of the fascinating thing about photography, to me, is that it is forever young: the 'tricks' of early photographers are still relevant and effective today, 'old' photographs can perfectly well inspire today's images.
Thank you, Pierre! I totally agree with what you've said. Early photography is just as inspiring and relevant as what is created today!
These are beautiful! What an interesting process. Think I will have to do some experimenting of my own now.
Thank you! It is such a fun process. I felt like a kid again, looking through one of those kaleidoscopes!
Fascinating post about a photographer I hadn’t heard of and you have some very good photos in your experiments too.
His name was new to me too and his Vortographs as well! Glad you enjoyed the read!
Wow! Thanks for sharing. I love how your images came out. I love using a prism ring for cool in camera effects. I went to Romania this past spring and we had family photos done by a local photographer team (husband and wife) who do beautiful work. They gifted me a small copper pipe to use when I shoot and I have loved playing with it.
Thank you, Judy! Glad you enjoyed it and it brought some memories back for you!
Now I can't stop thinking about making a vortoscope! Lol
Haha, go for it. It isn’t really difficult, but fun to play with...
Well done. I love these! And thanks for the background.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the little excursion.