06/24/2026
This post is for those interested in the fascinating evolution from film to digital commercial photography.
Unspectacular in today's digital world of PhotoShop, where all kinds of magical things are possible, this image was done without any of the modern technology we now take for granted.
For example; today, it's a simple matter to just prop up this bulb with a clamp and then Photoshop it out later in post-production. However, PhotoShop 1.0 was only introduced in 1990 and was little more than an expensive novelty when I shot this image on 4x5 Fuji Velvia in 1991. Therefore, to get this effect of the live back-lit bulb floating in space, I attached a wooden dowel with strong epoxy to the back of the bulb's base and ran it behind the set through a hole in the blue acetate background to the umbrella clamp hole in the strobe head. An electrical cord was taped to the dowel and soldered to the light bulb base. Following the flash exposure, I kept the shutter open while I switched the power to the bulb on for a few seconds, just long enough to get the tungsten filament to glow.
Although the photo isn't an original concept, I still get the occasional stock royalty fee in the mail from out-takes.
Licensing history: Several corporate brochures, educational editorial, wall calendar.
Super Cambo 4x5
Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Symmar-S 210mm F/5.6
Fujifilm Velvia 50
Lighting: Speedotron Blackline 2400
Scan: Epson Perfection V750 Pro
► All my images are my own real photography, not fake AI-generated fraudography.
