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Varieties of fusion images using X-ray
Images produced using visible light and X-rays could not be more different. And not just because of varying the subject. The fusion of these two techniques already makes it possible to present the same source material in vastly different ways.
When I began developing this technique, I drew inspiration from a method of photographing flowers transparently, as practised and published by Harold Davis. My focus was on transparent flower photography and the ability of X-rays to penetrate objects seemingly without resistance.
In the case of the flowers, the fusion of the X-ray image and the photograph reveals the translucency inherent in the photographic process and, moreover, conveys a delicacy—one might almost say a fragility—of the subject.
Using only the approach to depicting flowers derived from photography and the work of Harold Davis, fusion imaging can create a small universe. The fusion of the two types of radiation in the image is by no means straightforward and also depends on the object being imaged.
As well as flowers, there are interesting structures that never appear transparent or delicate in ordinary light. Nevertheless, they are well worth a closer look. Take, for example, the shells of snails or mussels. Under X-ray light, these become particularly striking. From the very beginning, I have also experimented with fusion imaging on these objects.
In this context, it is also true that image fusion does not follow a single, clear path, but is guided by artistic criteria. X-rays and photographs can produce vastly different effects, even when depicting the same object, depending on how they are processed.
Only a transparent object can be transformed into an image that appears transparent using a lightbox. This is inherent in the nature of how these images are created using an HDR process. This limitation can be overcome to a certain extent with the aid of X-rays.
Transcending the limits of visible light is not a straightforward process. With objects that become radiographically transparent, transforming them into an interesting composition is a demanding artistic task yielding variable results with no set formula.
I bought these two smoked fish from a supermarket. On the left is a sea bream and on the right a trout. In this artistic fusion of photography and X-ray imagery, I added a background and some texturing. On closer inspection, you can see small tears in the muscle tissue of both fish caused by the drying out that occurs during the smoking process.
Fusion images can be created using objects that are not themselves transparent. They are visually appealing as a result of the artistic process and can sometimes even be surprising. There is no set method for creating a fusion image; instead, the approach is guided by the subject matter, the characteristics of the object being depicted, and the overall visual effect.
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Flash
I have set up a studio of black surfaces where the light falls on my objects from above. All distractions that could interfere with the view disappear as if by magic. There is only the object.
Every ray of light that does not fall directly into the eye remains invisible. Concentrated light such as laser beams is made visible by introducing vapour from CO2 into the beam path, for example, which provides the necessary deflection into the eye or a photographic lens.
For the same reason, light from above escapes the eye of the observer or the photographic lens when viewed horizontally. Only an object deflects the light from above in the direction of the eye or the photographic lens. This is essentially a reflection. Transmission of reflected light can also occur with objects that are transparent. This is the case, for example, with fine petals or glass. Both phenomena, reflection and transmission, are of great aesthetic appeal and therefore of photographic interest.
In the end, there is only the object – or composition. Photographing colored flowers in a dark room has the effect of an apparition emerging from the darkness. And the picture immediately makes you think. These pictures made me think of a quote by Henri Poincaré, whose exact source („The value of science“?) I have unfortunately not found: „A thought is like a flash of lightning in the middle of a long night, but it is everything“.
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Lilies of the Valley
Yesterday I came across a piece of music through a noble advertising trailer of a French watch company with the wonderful actors Catherine Deneuve and Rami Malek directed by Guy Ritchie. I was almost magically drawn to the film because there was a time when I lived in Paris.
But the most exciting thing was the soundtrack „Lilies of The Valley“, which exuded such an incredible lightness. I hadn’t heard of the composer Jun Myiake before, but I did know Arto Lindsay, who added his inimitable vocals. Perhaps one cannot leave the cosmos of one’s own taste.
That’s why I quickly set off to get some lilies in town. They were to be white lilies, of which I could only get two. Red lilies in all stages of blossoming I then allowed myself to enjoy. So I took some pictures with a mixed bouquet of paradisiacal blooming lilies. -
Fusion Imaging of Flowers
12. Februar 2023 /Find some technical explanations in my FAQ section.
Composition with roses X-ray image fusion © Julian KöpkeComposition with roses X-ray image fusion © Julian KöpkeChrysanthemum X-ray fusion photography © Julian KöpkeChrysanthemum X-ray fusion photography © Julian KöpkeAmaryllis X-ray mammography fusion photography texturized © Julian KöpkeAmaryllis X-ray mammography fusion photography texturized © Julian KöpkeFusion X-ray photo Calla lilies IV © Julian KöpkeFusion X-ray photo Calla lilies IV © Julian KöpkeTwo roses fusion X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeTwo roses fusion X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeThree purple Clematis fusion X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeThree purple Clematis fusion X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeCornflower X-ray fusion photo © Julian KöpkeCornflower X-ray fusion photo © Julian KöpkeBlue aquilegia X-ray fusion photo © Julian KöpkeBlue aquilegia X-ray fusion photo © Julian KöpkeFusion X-ray photo Calla lilies IV. Black background using Lab inversion. © Julian KöpkeFusion X-ray photo Calla lilies IV. Black background using Lab inversion. © Julian KöpkeThree purple tulips fusion X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeThree purple tulips fusion X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeX-ray fusion image of yellow Calla Lilies © Julian KöpkeX-ray fusion image of yellow Calla Lilies © Julian KöpkeFusion image rose and pink dahlia © Julian KöpkeFusion image rose and pink dahlia © Julian KöpkeX-ray fusion image of a Gloriosa lilly © Julian KöpkeX-ray fusion image of a Gloriosa lilly © Julian KöpkeFusion image of a Bird of Paradise. © Julian KöpkeFusion image of a Bird of Paradise. © Julian KöpkeFusion image Hydrangea © Julian KöpkeFusion image Hydrangea © Julian KöpkeFusion image Dahlia © Julian KöpkeFusion image Dahlia © Julian Köpke -
X-ray of Flowers
12. Februar 2023 /Get some technical points in my section FAQ, e.g. X-ray flowers.
Dahlia X-ray photogram © Julian KöpkeDahlia X-ray photogram © Julian KöpkeRose mammography X-ray positive photography © Julian KöpkeRose mammography X-ray positive photography © Julian KöpkeAmaryllis X-ray mammography photogram © Julian KöpkeAmaryllis X-ray mammography photogram © Julian KöpkeOak leaves with acorns X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeOak leaves with acorns X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeOak leaves with acorns X-ray photo L-inversion © Julian KöpkeOak leaves with acorns X-ray photo L-inversion © Julian KöpkeX-ray Xmas floral arrangement photo © Julian KöpkeX-ray Xmas floral arrangement photo © Julian KöpkeBouquet of Sunflowers X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeBouquet of Sunflowers X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeX-ray three tulips © Julian KöpkeX-ray three tulips © Julian KöpkeFive Dahlias X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeFive Dahlias X-ray photo © Julian KöpkeDigital X-ray photo of a sunflower (inverted representation). © Julian KöpkeDigital X-ray photo of a sunflower (inverted representation). © Julian KöpkeX-ray Calla lilies © Julian KöpkeX-ray Calla lilies © Julian KöpkeComposition with roses X-ray photogram © Julian KöpkeComposition with roses X-ray photogram © Julian Köpke -
Flowers on Black
12. Februar 2023 /Using Lab-colors a black background can be achieved by inverting the L-channel.
Fusion X-ray photo Calla lilies IV. Black background using Lab inversion. © Julian KöpkeFusion X-ray photo Calla lilies IV. Black background using Lab inversion. © Julian KöpkeComposition © Julian KöpkeComposition © Julian KöpkeWhite Amaryllis © Julian KöpkeWhite Amaryllis © Julian KöpkeRose leaves © Julian KöpkeRose leaves © Julian KöpkePapaver II © Julian KöpkePapaver II © Julian KöpkeClematis © Julian KöpkeClematis © Julian KöpkeRed amaryllis on a lightbox with a black background © Julian KöpkeRed amaryllis on a lightbox with a black background © Julian KöpkeAmaryllis Lab color inversion photography © Julian KöpkeAmaryllis Lab color inversion photography © Julian Köpke -
Flowers on a Lightbox
12. Februar 2023 /Get some technical aspects about photographing and processing flowers on a lightbox from Harold Davis.
Dahlias using manual HDR in visible lightDahlias using manual HDR in visible lightSpring Dance of Tulips © Julian KöpkeSpring Dance of Tulips © Julian KöpkeWhite and purple orchid © Julian KöpkeWhite and purple orchid © Julian KöpkeHDR Calla lilies © Julian KöpkeHDR Calla lilies © Julian KöpkeYellow gerbera © Julian KöpkeYellow gerbera © Julian KöpkeYellow gerbera on a lightbox © Julian KöpkeYellow gerbera on a lightbox © Julian KöpkeLarkspur in the open countryside © Julian KöpkeLarkspur in the open countryside © Julian KöpkeDelicate rose hips before autumn starts © Julian KöpkeDelicate rose hips before autumn starts © Julian KöpkeCornflowers © Julian KöpkeCornflowers © Julian KöpkeThree vetches © Julian KöpkeThree vetches © Julian KöpkeRed chrysanthemum and yellow gerbera © Julian KöpkeRed chrysanthemum and yellow gerbera © Julian KöpkeLady's slipper © Julian KöpkeLady's slipper © Julian KöpkeAstilbe blooming © Julian KöpkeAstilbe blooming © Julian KöpkeRose petals © Julian KöpkeRose petals © Julian KöpkeThe colors of a white amaryllis on lightbox © Julian KöpkeThe colors of a white amaryllis on lightbox © Julian KöpkeTwo white amaryllis © Julian KöpkeTwo white amaryllis © Julian Köpke -
Flowers Photography
12. Februar 2023 /With or without my three-legged friend, on the go or in my studio.
Summer's Dream © Julian KöpkeSummer's Dream © Julian KöpkeColumbine or Aquilegia © Julian KöpkeColumbine or Aquilegia © Julian KöpkeGloriosa lilies © Julian KöpkeGloriosa lilies © Julian KöpkeHippeastrum (Ritterstern) © Julian KöpkeHippeastrum (Ritterstern) © Julian KöpkeRed callas and rosé fixed fern © Julian KöpkeRed callas and rosé fixed fern © Julian KöpkePink hyacinth II © Julian KöpkePink hyacinth II © Julian KöpkeSnowy heather © Julian KöpkeSnowy heather © Julian KöpkeLilies red an white. © Julian KöpkeLilies red an white. © Julian KöpkeYellow Osteospermum © Julian KöpkeYellow Osteospermum © Julian KöpkeRanuncula © Julian KöpkeRanuncula © Julian KöpkePurple clematis on a lightbox (mHDR) © Julian KöpkePurple clematis on a lightbox (mHDR) © Julian KöpkeBudding Amaryllis © Julian KöpkeBudding Amaryllis © Julian KöpkeFritillaria meleagris (Schachbrettblume) © Julian KöpkeFritillaria meleagris (Schachbrettblume) © Julian KöpkeOrchid on black © Julian KöpkeOrchid on black © Julian KöpkeSibirean iris (Deep Blue)Sibirean iris (Deep Blue)Ensemble of Calla lilies © Julian KöpkeEnsemble of Calla lilies © Julian KöpkeLilies red an white. 40s, Automated Frame Average © Julian KöpkeLilies red an white. 40s, Automated Frame Average © Julian KöpkePink tulips at Keukenhof, Netherlands © Julian KöpkePink tulips at Keukenhof, Netherlands © Julian KöpkeTulips imagination iPhoneography © Julian KöpkeTulips imagination iPhoneography © Julian Köpke -
Flowers
12. Februar 2023 / -
FAQ: X-rays
11. Februar 2023 /