Puzzled about this shadow , Can you explain?

01/19/2007 05:52:25 AM · #1

I took this image while experimenting with the flame shots. This one here is peculiar as one part of the flame is acting like a mirror and you can see the reflection of my finger on the flame. Is it something common? What may be the reason for this as i even after being a major in physics cannot attribute it to any sound explanation.

Here is the url - Flame

Message edited by author 2007-01-19 06:03:32.

sabphoto

Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

01/19/2007 05:53:55 AM · #2

when I click the image I get a page not found error.

01/19/2007 05:58:11 AM · #3

Here is the url //picasaweb.google.com/manniagni/General/photo#5021689004878838450

Message edited by author 2007-01-19 06:25:56.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

01/19/2007 08:22:21 AM · #4

My poor thread is starving- just thought to bump it again so that i can get some answers

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

01/19/2007 08:27:54 AM · #5

Looks to me like an interruption in the flame rather than a reflection, as if you waved your finger swiftly through the flame from left to right. I see some motion blur on your thumbnail which supports my theory.

..............Edit to add. I wasn't a physics major, but my lab partner was a cute French girl. ;-)

Message edited by author 2007-01-19 08:28:45.

jan_vdw

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

01/19/2007 08:31:01 AM · #6

I certainly have not experienced this before, sorry can't help.

jan_vdw

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

01/19/2007 08:32:46 AM · #7

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

What I would not give for a cute French girl...

Now back to the topic at hand.

Arcanist

Nikon D810

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

01/19/2007 08:40:43 AM · #8

How about this....

Fire is neither a gaseous or liquid state. It is plasma.
The Solid material being burned is 'string' and wax.
As the wck is heated it goes from solid to plasma and releases liquid.
The liquid molecules released are either converted to vapor(gas) or converted to heat.

The flame holds a transparent, liquid in it that is being evaporated ona dark background, creating a mirror effect within its plasma.

John Pahl

Nikon Coolpix AW 100

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

01/19/2007 08:46:37 AM · #9

Originally posted by Arcanist:

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

01/19/2007 08:54:26 AM · #10

Sounds very logical arcanist, i think its a sound theory - never thought a random picture can capture so much science!! :-)

Message edited by author 2007-01-19 08:54:45.

Matthew

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/19/2007 09:44:47 AM · #11

Originally posted by Arcanist:

Sadly, I think that this is unlikely - even if there is a mirror effect, it would be unlikely to reflect a shadow (it is, after all, a source of light). By analogy, it is hard to see shadows reflected on the glass of a lightbulb turned on. That said, the properties of plasma are hard to understand through observation.

However, it does look like a break in the flame to me (there is also movement blur around the "break" as if the flame were moving upwards).

Interesting question, however.

Message edited by author 2007-01-19 09:45:12.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

01/19/2007 09:56:33 AM · #12

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Looks to me like an interruption in the flame rather than a reflection, as if you waved your finger swiftly through the flame from left to right.

The interruption theory is weak because a flame is three dimensional and not single plane which can be disrupted in this sharp and abrupt manner, the gap would have closed from behind as the finger is barely touching the flame.

Greetmir

Nikon D60

01/19/2007 10:04:02 AM · #13

I am gonna concur with Strikeslip until I hear anything better. That is exactly what I was going to say before I read his response.

I doubt that whatever the answer is, will get you more recognition than figuring out cold fusion. Go for that!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/19/2007 10:18:26 AM · #14

That's the reflecting flame candle. There's one in every box.
edit; Maybe it is a lens flare of some sort? My best guess is the same as Strikeslip.

Message edited by author 2007-01-19 10:23:34.

crayon

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

01/19/2007 10:48:40 AM · #15

i think that's what known as ghosting, or some sort of lens flare

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/19/2007 10:58:49 AM · #16

Slippy has it right, I believe. The flame was interrupted; you can see that the bottom portion of the flow has been forced outward. The interruption is dark because of the local cooling, both from contact with the finger, and the cold air drawn in behind it. Burning (the oxidation of the vaporized wax) cannot take place at the reduced temperature.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/19/2007 11:38:15 AM · #17

Awwww since most of you are agreeing on something as basic as 'interruption' in flame, my momentary learnings of plasma and exotic thoughts of a nobel prize (thanks

Greetmir for the inspiration)have turned to gas.

Quote of the day -A flame is very deceptive ; when touched on a wick it inspires a discussion but on the butts of a rocket makes it hot enough to leave the earth

Message edited by author 2007-01-19 11:44:12.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

01/19/2007 12:26:02 PM · #18

Can't it be some sort of intense "oasis effect"? That was my first thought... A reflection on heated air, in other words?

R.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

01/19/2007 12:44:10 PM · #19

Bernoulli's principle would cause cool air to be drawn toward the trailing edge of the finger as it moves, There would be a low pressure area on the trailing side of the finger. The gap in the flame which starts low on the left and gets higher as it goes to the finger can be explained by the same. The low pressure would cause the flame to move down on the trailing edge of the finger where the gap in the flame appears. This would support what Kirbic said.
Experimenting with an incense stick may demonstrate the effect.

01/19/2007 01:39:19 PM · #20

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

Bernoulli's principle will come into effect if the rate of accereleration of the finger is more than the rate of movement of air replenishment of the displaced air - i was moving my finger at a very slow rate. Moreover i moved my finger perpendicular to the flame as in entering the flame and not across the flame. (The fact that the top half of the flame is pushed back shows just that)

01/20/2007 05:19:11 AM · #21

This closes the chapter i guess

FireBird

01/20/2007 11:42:18 AM · #22

Originally posted by manniagni:

This closes the chapter i guess

Maybe. What ISO, shutter, F-Stop and lens type were you using?