How to break a light bulb without smashing it

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MiqsPix

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Roger
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I want to photograph a broken light bulb with the filament glowing. I have a basic idea how to do this but how do I break a light bulb without smashing it or destroying it altogether? I want to retain the actual glass but showing the broken edges. Any ideas?
 
I think as soon as it's cracked, the inert gas within the bulb will escape, and that's what stops the filament from burning out (as it would if it was in oxygen or air, for eg). So it would then instantly burn out. An LED bulb is different, but then you don't get that white hot /glowing filament.

Photoshop, is the simple answer really. Shoot the intact bulb, then break it, shoot it again and PS it.
 
MiqsPix said:
I want to photograph a broken light bulb with the filament glowing. I have a basic idea how to do this but how do I break a light bulb without smashing it or destroying it altogether? I want to retain the actual glass but showing the broken edges. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Crumbs, I thought old style Tungsten filament bulbs had gone the way of the Dodo....... if you still have some, especially 100W ones they might be worth some money!!! ?
AZ6 said:
I think as soon as it's cracked, the inert gas within the bulb will escape, and that's what stops the filament from burning out (as it would if it was in oxygen or air, for eg). So it would then instantly burn out. An LED bulb is different, but then you don't get that white hot /glowing filament.

Photoshop, is the simple answer really. Shoot the intact bulb, then break it, shoot it again and PS it.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the examples I have seen in the past were as you suggest PP manipulated?

Or using ultra high speed photography kit , maybe even a RED camera is capable of recording it???
 
Is this the sort of thing you're wanting to do ?

Just a simple close up type Snapograph taken in my home studio of a clear light bulb being smashed by a hammer. This was all done in camera and not via PP.

X-H1, 105mm Micro Nikkor (D) Lens, 1/125th @ F8, ISO-200, Multi Studio Flash.

Smash-03396 by G.K.Jnr., on Flickr

:ty: for looking., (y)

George.
 
If you have a few old bulbs kicking around, have a try at scoring them with a glass cutting tool before tapping them with a hammer. chances are that the results will be fairly random but with a bit of luck, you'll get a few that keep enough of the envelope for your wants. Hopefully goes without saying to wear suitable protective glasses and gloves throughout. Once you have the exposed element, you'll need to play again to see how bright you can go before the element burns out.
 
Thanks to all. I want to photograph a light bulb that is slightly broken to show the glass edges. Not as above. Then to switch it on and ignite the filament because of the lack of vacuum. This will (hopefully) glow as hot and emit some smoke. I have a theory that if I place the bulb into a bag and tap with a hammer this might do it, but not sure. I am intrigued by the scoring idea as this might place a weakness in the glass so to break almost by design. Below is an example of what I wish to achieve. However thanks for your interest.


Broken light bulb 2.jpg
 
AZ6 said:
I think as soon as it's cracked, the inert gas within the bulb will escape, and that's what stops the filament from burning out (as it would if it was in oxygen or air, for eg). So it would then instantly burn out. An LED bulb is different, but then you don't get that white hot /glowing filament.

Photoshop, is the simple answer really. Shoot the intact bulb, then break it, shoot it again and PS it.
Click to expand...

What you could do if you have the kit is crack the glass then power the bulb up via a dimmer. Start off at the lowest voltage and slowly wind it up till you get the effect you want.

It should work.
 
You can cut glass by tying twine around it, soak the twine with alcohol, light the alcohol, and then dunk the glass into cold water... plenty of videos online showing the method.
It might be too uniform for what you want... in that case I would break the edges with a pair of pliers afterward.
 
sk66 said:
You can cut glass by tying twine around it, soak the twine with alcohol, light the alcohol, and then dunk the glass into cold water... plenty of videos online showing the method.
It might be too uniform for what you want... in that case I would break the edges with a pair of pliers afterward.
Click to expand...


I wonder if that would still work with the twine glued down in a less uniform pattern? I'm sure a combination of techniques will get the result the OP's after - if they have enough incandescent bulbs to play with!
 
had a go at this sort of thing over 10 years ago
settings were
ISO 100
F29
shutter 2.5 seconds

to break the glass if i remember i used something like a metal ruler to give the glass a sharp tap with the edge
the photo was taken in a dark room using a lamp holder and the camera on a tripod
i pressed the shutter then turned the lamp on

i remember going through a few bulbs at the time :)

c3cbomo.jpg
 
Dangerous said:
What you could do if you have the kit is crack the glass then power the bulb up via a dimmer. Start off at the lowest voltage and slowly wind it up till you get the effect you want.

It should work.
Click to expand...
That is what I would do, maybe with something sprinkled on the filament to create the smoke at a low level of power.
 
Tdes said:
That is what I would do, maybe with something sprinkled on the filament to create the smoke at a low level of power.
Click to expand...

You may find that the fine filament would burn out anyway even at the lowest setting due to the oxygen it's now exposed to. As for a substance you could always try painting vape juice on the filament. Would be interesting to see results.
 
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