Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

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lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Great! But OK, how did you do it?

MMC Loc: Brooklyn NY

Transbuff1985 Loc: east central Iowa

Nice, real nice, thanks for sharing

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

Thanks Mike! It's done by suspending a low-powered flashlight on a string from a hook. Set the camera to bulb mode, ISO 100, small aperture (around f18 or 22) and use a remote trigger. Set the camera facing up about 4 feet directly below the light with focus set to manual at whatever distance you placed it from the light. Turn off the room lights (you need darkness for this), swing the light so that it is rotating in a circle, and open your shutter with the trigger. Hold it open for about 25 seconds. Then, keeping the shutter open, place something over the lens to mask it, stop the lamp from swinging, start it swinging again in an ellipse. Keep the shutter open for another 25 seconds or so, close the shutter and see what you have got.

If the flashlight is too powerful you will just get a fuzzy blob. In that case tape some dark paper over the end of it, having cut just a small hole the size of a small pea in the middle. Also, you need to have the suspension point of the flashlight centred. You can do that by taping a loop of string over the end nicely centred. If it's off-centre you may get wobbly lines. I use an S-hook to attach the flashlight to the string hanging down.

Once you have got this mastered - it will likely take several tries - you can experiment further by putting a dab of water-based paint on the flashlight to get some colour. I put some clear tape over the hole in my mask to avoid having paint on the flashlight itself. Easy to wipe off and try another colour. You will have less light shining down at your lens doing this, so increase the ISO to maybe 400 and see how it goes.

The timings and settings are suggested starting points; it's a process of trying and adjusting as you go.

You will notice the coloured shots have some white in them. I think this is because the paper that I had taped over the end of the flashlight was leaking some light at the edges. I quite like it, so I kept it, but you could easily mask it out with extra tape if you want to.

Google "spiral photography" for more details.

Give it a try: each one is unique.

PS If you don't have a remote trigger, you can just set your camera to manual, shutter to 30 seconds on a 2 second delay, then spin the light and press the button. I hope this all makes sense.

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

Thanks for looking Transbuff1985: glad you enjoyed it!

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Very cool, reminds me of a “Spirograph” from way back.
Thanks for the detailed info, something to try when the busy holiday season is done.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Attractive abstracts!

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

Cool photos of the whurling durbish ... and sharing how you did it ....thnx ..

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

Thanks Bruce! Yes, very reminiscent. At least it won't set you back $$$ in equipment.

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

Thanks for looking & commenting Karin!

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

Thanks Dr.Nikon! A project for a dark winter evening.

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

I love work like this. Excellent effort and result.

OneShot1 Loc: Wichita, KS, USA

Interesting for sure. And I like the "spirals" by "straight shooter"...ha!

Straight Shooter Loc: Newfoundland, Canada

Thanks saxman71 for your kind words!