Lightpainting with a Harmonograph Harmony of Light - From Technology to Art? By Andrew Carter

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Introduction I am a lifetime enthusiast photographer, but my career has been in Optoelectronics and Engineering, designing and building the devices that power today’s optical transmission for the Internet. When the pandemic hit, members of our local camera club were looking for activities to try, share and learn from, but at a distance. I chose to build a Harmonograph, which I thought would enable a good variety of images to be produced. I have really surprised and delighted myself! I am discovering new options and patterns almost daily; it is enabling me to explore a range of photographic images which I think are unique and unbounded!
A harmonograph is built around pendula. Victorians were amazed and enthralled by the pendulum. They were used to prove the rotation of the Earth (Foucault) and to measure the differences in the force of gravity at sea level and the tops of mountains. The Harmonograph (there is plenty of material on the web) became a ‘gentleman’s toy’ and cou...