Laser pointers and mirrors brought this album cover photo to life

If internet anecdotes are anything to go by, laser pointers are good for nothing more than endlessly teasing your cat. But, as this video shows, it appears that isn’t the case.

Photographer Kim Manchul shows us that something as simple as cheap lasers and a handful of mirrors can create an incredible ethereal image worthy of an album cover.

Inspired by a the aesthetic of a kaleidoscope, Manchul worked with electro rock band Love X Stereo to create an out of this world image with far fewer supplies than you might think.

With his 50mm lens and DSLR in hand, Manchul attached laser pointers to spring clamps and placed them around the studio. To make the lasers as visible as possible, he adjusted the laser head to make the beam as wide as possible.

To further alter the image in-camera, he picked up a large acrylic mirror, which he cut into three pieces and turned into a trigonal prism around the lens.

Add some fog and a few extra lights and what you end up with is an image worthy of an acid trip—and an album cover.

https://vimeo.com/151057198

It’s worth noting that lasers aren’t something to be taken lightly.

Not only can they damage human eyes, there have been instances where they also ruin camera sensors. So, if you’re to try this at home, be sure to not point any lasers directly into the lens of your camera.

[via ISO 1200]