Image Fulgurator Does Real-World Hacking Of Other People’s Photos
According to Merriam Webster, fulguration means “the act or process of flashing like lightning” and that’s kind of the principle behind artist Julius von Bismarck’s device. It’s a reactive flash image-projector…or, to put it another way, a real-world hack of other people’s photos. Sounds sinister, looks sinister…works great. Adapted from a flash gun and an old SLR, it senses the flash of someone’s camera, and then quickly illuminates itself, projecting images or text onto the object that was being snapped. The video of bemused tourists in Berlin, peering in confusion at the screen of their digicams is priceless.
Julius’ web page says one of the reasons he built the gizmo (currently being patented) was to challenge the high confidence that people have that their photos are accurate captures of reality. And though, as Ghost in the Shell fans will admit, it’s no sophisticated Laughing Man hack, I love it for the fact that it’s a physical trick as opposed to a digital one. [Juliusvonbismarck.com via MAKEzine]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Ive seen the so-called Fulgurator when it won its prize at ARS Electronica. Its total crap. The most interesting thing it reveals is the how little people understand technology. Even as Julius Von Bismarck was attempting to demonstrate it live, he had to ask members in the audience not to use their cameras as the flashes would stop it working. His well-practiced girlfriend managed to eventually capture an image which had been modified. Another intersting point is that the ‘fulgurated’ image of Obama which is being touted to support his ‘Guerilla’ tactics never turned up anywhere in the press.. could it be that no-one elses images were manipulated?
The ‘device’ is dependant on so many variables: Timing, recharge of flash unit, direction of sensor, exposure time of ‘target camera’ and the assumption that the camera generating the trigger flash is pointing at the same thing… the chances of it working are miniscule!
Julius Von Bismarck also claims he is going to patent his technology – well, sorry Julius, Cameras, Flash Bulbs, Projectors and Light Sensors are all patented.
I fail to understand why this is groundbreaking since it is basically a projector…and one that doesnt work very well either.
I have an invention too… it draws temporary graffiti on buidlings by stealth… its called ‘OHP-Inside-A-Wig’.