Comparing Flash Powder And Canon 580 EXII
When you take a portrait today you are probably using a flash or a small strobe. But what would you do if you took that portrait 150 years ago? You would probably use flash powder.
It's a nice toy for all the fire loving togs out there that are not really concerned about burning their back yard (or eyebrows). If you take away the fact that you can not actually get a nice batch today (well, at least without having the fed go down on you) I am still not sure you'd wanna use that. It is highly flammable, totally uncontrollable and give out a nice puff of smoke. (And way slower than any modern strobe)
Maurice Ribble of TPB, did a little comparison to see how flash powder compares with a 580 EXII. results are surprising.
[Flash Powder Photography on TBP]
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Comments
No surprise
let me point out that the subject to flash distance was a lot longer for the 580 than the flash power. Twice as far means the strobe was one fouth the speed.
But it is no surprise that flash powder is bright, IIRC the brightest flashes ever used were some magnesium flash bombs in WWII. The USAAF set them off in mid air to light subjects for aerial photography.
Photoburner, I tried to
Photoburner, I tried to position the electric flash and the flash powder in approximently the same position. I just checked the video and it looks like the electric flash was triggered just a few inches above the flash powder so I'm not sure where you get the flash distance difference.
The point about magnesium flash bombs in WWII is really interesting. I had never hear about that.
Edgerton
I guess it just looked like the 580 was farther away. I was surprised to hear that Edgerton invented the electronic flash. I knew he was deeply involved in flash photography. As for flash bombs it turns out he invented those too. By the 1920's they had bombs which would illuminate 4 square miles from the air, with their slow emulsions too. And they got a lot more powerful later. These were still being used in the 1950's, there is a web page with an account of a photographer on a RB-29 mission over Korea dropping 40 flash bombs during the photo run. The most obvious, and not so safe, use for flash powder now would be using it to illuminate a large area at night. A whole building, street, or maybe stadium. The local Fire Department might not be too happy with that plan however.
That was a lot of fun to
That was a lot of fun to watch. I'm trying to think of some creative use for flash powder in photography, but, I'm at a loss! Perhaps there's some quality to the light that is unique. I'd like to see a little more analysis on it someday, if the feds don't close up his shop, of course.
I love the BOOM!
Modern flashes should have this sound built in I think. Maybe they should come with a sub woofer attached. Very cool vid.
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