Karl Leck
July 2025 - STEM stuff
About the Image(s)
For July I return to birefringence with STEM Stuff, a double polarized image of an acrylic stencil of lab items and a micro sample holder. This is an image straight out of a Nikon Z7 II with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4S lens at 67mm. Exposure was ISO 200, 1/125 second, f/5.6. Lighting was done with a polarized and diffused LED light behind the objects and a second polarizer on the lens which was rotated to null the polarized background light making it appear black. This lighting brings out the internal stress in the plastic items. Thus, we have a scientific image of science related stuff.
2 comments posted
Birefringence produces interesting color palettes, as this image demonstrates. The stencil is doubly interesting for its "Rubin's Vase" effect". I examined the colorful stencil for patterns and objects for a few moments before they leaped out of the black negative space. I like the diagonal presentation of the stencil. The multiwell dish has lovely swirls of color, but is not as interesting as the stencil and actually distracts my attention from the more interesting stencil. The composition would be improved by cropping the image from the right up to the stencil thereby eliminating the dish. Posted: 07/24/2025 17:59:39
The dish and stencil counter each other in vibrance/saturation. Certainly, the stencil has more visual impact.
It's curious that you are the only commentor for this image. You may be the only person in the group who understands birefringence. In competitions, very few judges understand it so it gets lower grades just because they 'don't know what it is'. It's a shame. We should all try to enlarge our photographic knowledge. Posted: 07/25/2025 15:38:01
It's curious that you are the only commentor for this image. You may be the only person in the group who understands birefringence. In competitions, very few judges understand it so it gets lower grades just because they 'don't know what it is'. It's a shame. We should all try to enlarge our photographic knowledge. Posted: 07/25/2025 15:38:01