Reindeerzilla
12 December 2014 -- 346/365
North Providence, Rhode Island
I was driving through the neighborhood on my way out, tonight, and I noticed the huge Godzilla-like shadow of a Christmas lawn ornament being cast on this house. It definitely required a photo. Even more interesting is the blur in the shadow. (You'll notice that the house and the actual reindeer - not the shadow - are in focus.) This is what happens when you have a light source that is not a single point. Here's a bit of a Newtonian physics lesson for you. The amount of blur is described by the equation 2*d*tan(.a) where "d" is the distance between the object and the shadow, and "a" is the angle between the edges of the light source. The greater the distance between the object and shadow, the greater the blur. Of course, even if the light source were a single point, there would be blur, as long as the light casting the shadow contains multiple wavelengths. As the light encounters the obstruction, a contour pattern of diffraction occurs, which is what creates the edges of the shadow. Each wavelength creates a different contour pattern, and that results in a blurry shadow. Now be sure to study up for our next lecture on Wheeler's Delayed Choice experiment in Quantum Physics where we demonstrate effect preceding cause.
Post processing started with a classic filter in Topaz B&W FX. I adjusted color sensitivity sliders, adaptive exposure, regions, contrast, boost black, and protect highlights. A levels adjustment was added in PSE.
