This picture was created through the magnetic properties of ferrofluid. Nanoscale ferromagnetic particles are suspended in the liquid with a surfactant for this effect. In this photo, I took a 5/8″ diameter bolt, nut, and washer and connected them to a magnet. The magnetic field produced caused the ferrofluid to form spikes on the bolt due to the combination of surface tension and magnetic properties of the fluid.
45 Comments. Leave new
Nice ferrofluid and bolt. The rainbow effect looks cool – oh, that’s the bolt. Quite the trick to make the ferrofluid look like the top hat/crown. I want to make a hat like that! The background looks very professionally white.
Really cool experiment using ferrofluid to depict fluid flow. The focus seems a bit off, but the white background was a good choice to make the fluid in the image pop. The shape of the fluid is really interesting. Overall, interesting and cool image.
The ferrofluid in the image is interesting to look at, the top looks sort of like a crown. I like the removed background as well, it takes out other distractions in the image. The quality is really nice as well
This looks magic! You capture the contrast really well! It was helpful to see it on the large board in class.
The image is beautiful, the ferrofluid reaction makes the nut/bolt set up feel like a fondue foundation. Choosing the background as white was an interesting decision but clearly paid off well.
Interesting and straight forward I enjoy the flow demonstration but think more can be done with the background
It’s awesome that you went to the effort to utilize some of the facilities we have. This is a sweet image!
This is pretty creative. I like the fact that there is not fluid in the middle.
art: Beautiful composition, very arresting, powerful image. It could be nice to have it even larger as well, a super huge metal flow could be a cool extension of this.
flow: Ferrofluid is SO cool! Beautiful capture.
technique: The capture is nice, but your upload here is really low resolution. To improve your trim in Photoshop, you might look at “select and mask.”
The physics of the ferrofluid is very captivating with the different formations it forms. The contrast with the white background is nice but I would like to see a different color background.
Very creative experiment. I really like how the ferrofluid changes shape as it goes between the layers of your design. The background choice brings out the clarity in the ferrofluid to capture the flow.
The physics in this photo look great. I really like the different shapes that occur in the different layers of your setup. The focus looks good, but the outsides of the setup look odd.
It is really interesting to see the different magnetic fields created by the different metal components. The physics look a bit strange, but very fascinating.
Impressive image. The creation of ferrofluid on the bolt and nut is beautiful. Nice focus, very clean image.
I love the idea overall. There is a lot going on in the image, making it very visually stimulating. Maybe keeping the off white background would have been better.
Art: This is a really creative image, and I like the use of ferrofluid. The crown at the top of the image is really neat.
Flow: the flow of the ferrofluid is neat, and flow is evident
Technique: focus and contrast are nice
Image is very nicely framed, I like the solid white background but adding blur to the interface with the image and background could eliminate some of the artificiality.
Impressive image. The creation of ferrofluid on thew bolt and nut is beautiful. Nice focus, very clean image.
The image is very cool and the colors that reflect off of the ferrofluid. Its really cool to see a liquid behaving differently than you would expect it to. The focus is great and then setup is cool.
I love the colors in the ferrofluid, the different magnetic fields, and the Stark contrast with the background. There could be a bit more focus on the fluid itself, though that might just be how ferrofluid looks.
I really like the unique effect and visual detail associated with this image. Maybe add more colors and adjust the lighting so that it looks sharper.
Great picture. Clearly in focus and eliminating the background helps the audience dial into flow phenomena.
Great job on replacing the original background to white background. The image is well shown.
Very interesting flow, and the contrast with the white background looks nice. The areas where the white meets the objects can looks a little rough, though.
I really like the flow of this. The simplicity is wonderful. I also like the the use of use of screws and washers.
The white background is a little too bright.
I love the ferrofluid’s physics. Beautiful shape formed by the ferrofluid. Also a good focus with white background.
I think the focus in this picture looks really good. I really like the idea!
I really like the use of ferrofluid! The contrast with the background is great!
Wow! I am a huge fan of ferrofluid and I think you did a great job creating a sort of sculpture with the fluid. The flow physics here are fascinating and are aesthetically pleasing.
I love this image, I think the magic wand tool was well executed here. The contrast with the background looks great.
Art
Super cool. I like what you did, it has good composition and is somehow dramatic. It looks like a crown!
Flow
You captured the geometry in the flow nicely
Photographic Techniqu
Nice focus and depth of field.
This is a sweet picture. Love the different expression of the magnetic field through the different surface geometries. Really awesome concept, well presented.
I can tell that you spent time on this photo and it looks really good. The white background works extremely well with the dark ferrofluid and screw.
Really cool idea, I’m glad that someone used ferrofluid. Also, the geometric shapes that are created compliment each other well
Very beautiful flow, focus, resolution and exposure is good. Flow is understandable. Very beautiful crown.
Really nice framing. There’s a ton going on with the flow in this picture. Maybe it’d be useful to show a before and after picture or a video.
The lighting, patterns, and small section of the exposed bolt make the image look very symmetrical and makes for an overall interesting photo
Good experiment, but I think the cropping is not super clean. You could either use a true white background or work a little more on cutting out the edges.
Really like the concept of the image where the contrast is amazing. Love the magnet concept and the flow.
Cool use of ferrofluid. Nice crown on the top. I like the white background, it makes the image stand out. Overall nice picture.
Great focus in this image. I like all the different textures with the ferrofluid and the metal between. The focus is really nice as well.
The flow physics are very visible and the image itself is very clear. There is great detail in the points of the fluid and it is pleasing to look at.
I really like the shapes you were able to make as well as how you were able to highlight the points of ferrofluid.
This is beautiful. The dark red and black stand out very well. I love how we can see the shape of the object based on the flow.
I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into creating this image and it paid off! The image on this page blurs the photograph for some reason, but I’m sure it isn’t actually this pixelated in the real image (could’ve been a uploading error).