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Tesla coil needed for California Calendar shoot July 15/16

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LAN_403

Tesladownunder

Tue Jun 18 2013, 07:04PM

Registered Member #10 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 09:45AM
Location: Bunbury, Australia
Posts: 1424

Is anyone interested in a photoshoot with a Tesla coil for a Calendar in
California on July 15/16?

Easy stuff but needs a few feet of spark at least from an elevated breakout
point down onto a 6 foot earthed rod. This is one possible effect taken at
my place in 2009.

No-one will be near when the Tesla coil is on. It is a simple case of a the
subject holding a 6 foot earthed object. A flash is taken at the start of a
long exposure and the subject runs away in darkness.
I have done similar with children so it is easy and reliable to do. People
are 20 feet away when the TC is fired.
Once he is clear, then run the sparks for 1-5 seconds then the exposure is
completed.
I can give more details as needed if you haven't done this stuff before -
like retuning, long breakouts, fan, earthing of the rod etc.

Direct correspondence to Lauren Zurchin at <**link**>
with a copy to me <**link**> so I know that it happens.

Peter
tesladownunder.com
............... ..............................

Lets do it! I want to do it and I know I can photograph that, easy. Let's
get the word out!
Ps, the shoot would be on the 15th or 16th of July. I'm working with tight
author schedules so there's not really much wiggle room. I could do the
Sunday or weds if I had to, but that Monday or Tues is best (preferably Tues
if it doesn't matter)

Hmm Peter, I haven't heard from anyone. I'm wondering if mentioning that the subject of the photo is a world-famous new york times bestselling author and that the project is for charity? You could also link to the project:

I know a lot of the people helping me are doing so because of the authors or the charity aspect. Thought it might help, as this is a prop I'm desperate to get a photo with!

Thanks so much!

Lauren

On Jun 10, 2013, at 10:11 AM, <**link**> wrote:

Hi Lauren

Somthing like this is easy and no risk.
Single exposure only - no photoshop.

Fix sword/weather Mageâ€™s sword to ground so it is self standing.
It should be a comfortable (well lit) posing of the subject first, then lights off
Use a FRONT curtain flash and hold exposure open while he runs away in the
darkness. His cue is the flash. Once he is clear he yells OK to the guy
controlling the coil
The Tesla coil then runs for 1-5 seconds and the exposure ends.
It's pretty easy to do but just takes lots of shots to get the best spark
effects. There are a few little touches I can add on and I can instruct the
operator.

Result is Tesla sparks with nothing else visualised and flash illuminating
mage plus sword.

Used blue and white remote photo flashes here.
Note power is off all the time anyone is close. So no really edgy stuntwork.
Any Tesla guy can do this who can pull a few feet onto a sword.
You donâ€™t want the spark too long or you lose facial detail on the celebrity
particularly if you want max detail on the costume.
I reckon that you may want to consider the explanation of how it was taken
and was NOT photo shopped (like all my photos).

The sparks had the intensity minimised as they will be a lot brighter
saturated/blue with lens flare.
Note the multiple sparks are a combination of exposure time and wind which
makes the ionised channel drift. Itâ€™s called the banjo effect.
Use a fan if you want this effect.
Could look good from a very low vantage point looking up but trickier re
safety.

<SucculentgoddessSwordMultisparks[2] .jpg>

OR for a single intense spark. But this is realtime and a stunt (even apart
from the swallowed sword).

<SwordTeslaCam[1].jpg>

Lots more possibilities. As well

If you get a feel for this then I will put the word out to the Tesla
community for anyone in Cal.

Cheers
Peter

From: Lauren Zurchin
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2013 8:22 PM
To: **link**
Subject: Tesladownunder homepage

Hi Peter!

My name's Lauren Zurchin, and I'm a photographer. I'm in the process of
photographing a charity calendar with new york times bestselling authors as
the subjects, and I was wondering if you could help me with something.

For one of the photos I want him to be a weather mage. What I imagined for
the photo was him holding a staff and lighting coming out of the end. I
thought a tesla coil was the best way to do this (I'm not wanting to
photoshop in anything), and I saw a video of you holding a rod and having a
beam of electricity coming out, and that was exactly what I wanted.

Here's my question: do you have any connections with people in the states?
Preferably in California, who would do this? I am having the hardest time
trying to find someone who is interested in working with me. The author is
aware of the risks and is excited for this photo, and I really can't think
of it working the way I'm envisioning without a tesla coil.

Let me know if you know someone, or know someone who knows someone, etc. I'm
desperate to make this photo work the way I see it. I'm also totally willing
to 'cheat' the photo if I need to, with the author in the foreground and the
lightning moving behind him or something.

Here's a link to the project, in case you're curious:

Let me know, and thanks for your help!

Lauren

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