AboutScott Valentine Expertise Most anything about digital post processing (Photoshop, etc), effects, and image restoration, some technical information about digital imaging systems, light and electron microscopy, optical physics and image analysis. I can help with shooting basics, lighting setups, and getting the most out of your digital camera. I am also an 'expert' here for Photoshop (Computers/Technology > Software > Graphics Software > Photoshop).
I am currently writing a book for Adobe Press on composite artwork using Photoshop CS4.
Experience I've been an image analyst and advanced amateur photographer for over 6 years. I run an Adobe user group, focusing on digital media, and have lectured on digital image capture systems. Currently, I am an administrator for a rather large instructional Photoshop forum
Organizations Adobe User Groups, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Advanced Imaging Specialists
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Physics, University of California, San Diego
Awards and Honors Winner: Best in Show and several category first place awards - Imaging Professionals of the Southwest Print Competition (multiple years)
I want to take a short video clip of the sun, suitable for using as a two-second or so animation loop on a website. I want it to appear that same boiling cauldon of red and orange so often seen on TV documentariues.
I wonder how to do it. I'm thinking of taking it with my digital camera video feature--through a welder's mask, but thought it better to ask a pro first, lest I ruin my camera.
Do you think it might work--or might it damage my camera.
(Any other suggestions?)
Dan
I'm thinking
Answer Interesting question, Dan. I'd have to recommend against using a consumer-grade camera for taking pictures of the sun for a number of reasons. The biggest of which is it probably won't turn out the way you expect, and you could put your eyes and camera at significant risk if you are not extremely careful.
The images you see on TV are either shot with very special lenses through purpose-built telescopes, are enhanced images that may have been animation with computer graphics. Of these two solutions, I suggest the second as being the easiest, safest, and most flexible.
If you want to try taking some pictures of the sun, you can build an eclipse viewer, which is basically a very long tube with a pinhole in a cover at one end, and a viewing screen at the other. The idea is that the image of the sun goes through the pinhole, and reflects off the screen at the other end. If you build your viewer with a largish box at the viewing end, you can use your camera to take pictures of the screen. Again, this may not turn out as you expect, since the metering on your camera may try to balance the bright image with the shadows all around, and you'll get a white dot in your picture.
