Photo Observation #9
Samarium & Air
Courtesy of Cyberchemist’s flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/37388341@N00/2585456414/in/photostream)
DEALER’S CHOICE (I’ll call it “Bold.” “Nerdy” also applies.)
This is a thin strip of the element Samarium, which sparks and burns spectacularly when heated in air. The color of the light and the shape of the sparks and their trails are bold, bright, and fanciful (the pattern reminds me of something from a sci-fi movie, or the trees in Dr. Seuss books). The light it gives off has an interesting effect on the surroundings, creating outlines around what looks like the clamp holding the metal, and tinting everything pinkish-purple. The contrast is beautiful, and the use of the samarium as a single light source is a bold choice for the photo.
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