Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by mcmurma:
Congrats Stephan!

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by Remie:
Congrats with your ribbon Stephan. Great idea and very well executed!

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by stephan:
Thank you very much for all your feedback. I still don't believe that I scored that high :-) For the curious ones who wanted to know how I did this, please see the photo details. When you look very closely you can see the luminous bulb behind the bulb in the front. E.g. there is a label imprinted on it which you can see through the other one. The most difficult problem in this shot was to keep the bulbs clean and without any fingerprints ;-)

Regarding the comment of jmsetzler: It was a difficult choice how to crop it, but I liked the horizontal format more because it left more space for the hands (also the imaginary rest of the hands which are hidden in the dark). If it would have been allowed I would have used a square format though.

Konador: You're right the bulb is really a bit off-centered. I didn't notice that before or at least it wasn't that disturbing to me. But now I think I'll mind that when recropping the photo for my photo gallery.

This photo was the result of some kind of development. First I tried to make a photo where a glowing light bulb hovers above my head, visualizing the act of "having an idea". In German there is a wordplay called "Mir geht ein Licht auf" meaning "It dawns to me", but that wouldn't have worked for this mostly american site. Also I wasn't able to get enough light on my face with the bulb behind my head. Then I had the idea to put two bulbs in a row to create the illusion of a disconnected but glowing bulb which hovers in the room. But I couldn't produce enough light on the socket (without a second light source) to show that it's disconnected. Then when playing around with that idea I noticed that when holding my hands very near the bulb my palms reflect enough light to make the socket visible. That was it! The "Edison's gift" message was attached to it afterwards ;-) Well... long story short... This was an interesting experience because almost all of my other photos I did with a specific image in my mind and just executing it.

Anyway. Thanks again. You all helped me a lot developing my skills more and more (just see my first enntries to DPC ;-)) so that photo is also a gift from you :-)

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by nds:
I go green with envy ;-) Congrats on the hard-earned 3rd little brother!

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by GeneralE:
He did have help, even if he held the patent for the first commercially useful model. I've read that his most enduring invention was the creation of the industrial research lab complex...
I'd also heard that for a long time rookie engineers were "hazed" by assigning them the bogus task of frosting the inside of the bulb...very funny until one day a guy did it...but I digress...
Very well done...yet another photo perhaps even more suited to this upcoming Illusion challenge...

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by Konador:
Awesome concept and pulled off great. Its a little annoying that it is off centre slightly to the left, but it doesnt detract from the 10 score I'm giving you!
-Konador

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by Gekker:
On my second round through I had to move you up. beautiful.

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by Garden Weasel:
This is my all time favorite in the challenge. Great idea ...Something turned on in your head and all you needed was to transfer it into the work of your hands...good job

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by shutterfly:
ok..this isnt the illusion challenge. how is that lightbulb lit?? its not screwed into anything...i have to know how u did this!!! 8--shutterfly sorry had to come back and change this to a 10.

Edison's Gift
by stephan

Comment by alanfreed:
Well done -- very crisp details here!