The swimming pool is quiet. A single whirlpool dimples the surface above the drain. Somewhere, the filtered water is returned to the pool, and unseen currents cause the whirlpool to constantly shift its position, ever so slightly. Sometimes it all but disappears, but then re-establishes itself in a new place.
The camera can stop time. It sees light, reflections, and movements in a different way than we do, recording the way it sees our world for us to admire. I thought when I took these shots that my pictures would look like what I was seeing. They came out very differently. Very interesting.
Once, several months ago, as our family ate dinner, Arram started a discussion by saying that he would like to see colors that no one else had ever seen before. We talked about wavelengths of light, the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet and so on. It was fun. I like these pictures because they let me see in a different way too.
I took some of these photos when the sky was blue and the others later on an overcast afternoon. In one, inverted trees are reflected.
Take a look.
I like this one especially. Let's look at it even closer. I like it because I'm amazed that we can see this pattern that existed only for some tiny portion of a second. (shutter speed was 1/80th of a second) When I take a picture of the moon, the camera simply enhances my normal perception. These pictures are different, they show a different way of perceiving. In very short bits of time.
This close-up got me to thinking. Is the distance between the outer portion of the top, rather diffuse gray ring, and the outer edge of the bottom, narrow black ring, the distance between the top of the whirlpool and bottom, or is it twice the distance because of the reflection?
I have been watching some Youtube videos about black holes. This reminds me of some of the animations of them that were produced. What fun.
Oh, and by the way, this whirlpool is rotating counter-clockwise.
Now I'm really thinking....Which direction do black holes spin? Could they actually spin in all three dimensions with the singularity at the center of what would be, over time, a sphere of whirlpools? hmmm. Or would they simply spin 90 degrees to the galactic plane?
And that makes me wonder about which way spiral galaxies spin? Astronomers must have been keeping track. I think I might try to find out. -djf
Amazing and beautiful photos! Who would think such a simple little thing would be so elegant and provoke such deep thoughts. I actually looked up what direction black holes spin and the first results were...
ReplyDeleteIf a black hole spins clockwise when seen from "above", then it will (simultaneously) spin counter-clockwise when seen from "below".
Kind of makes sense. So if you were to see your little whirlpool from below, it would be spinning clockwise.
When I first saw that whirlpool I wanted to photograph it, but I didn't know I'd get such interesting pictures. This has been a learning experience right along.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the pictures is memorizing! It would be a good stress reduction technique. You would have been a great science teacher. I know that your grandsons have benefited greatly by your example and experience. Your photograph skills have really blossomed also in your retirement. McKenzie
ReplyDeleteThanks. A good camera helps...
ReplyDelete