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i built a simple rube goldberg machine. since i didn't have a motion picture camera, i couldn't capture it in motion. instead, i captured its motion with two single exposures. the first with a very long exposure showing the paths of the objects. the second with a strobe light catching the machine in the act at sequential intervals. the chain reaction goes as such:

1. a large ball bearing is dropped into the bicycle fender.

2. the ball bearing knocks a ruler out from under a tape measure.

3. the tape measure, with the added weight of a small stone on top of it, unwinds and makes its decent.

4. a string connected to the tape measure is pulled.

5. the string lifts a second ruler with a rubber ball on it.

6. the rubber ball rolls down the ruler into a funnel.

7. inside the funnel is a little piece of wood which also rests on the power switch of a power strip. when the power strip is turned on, it activates a fan.

8. the wind from the fan blows a balloon up into the air.




rube (before)



rube (blur)



rube (strobe)

i used a digital camera to do exposure tests, but these shots are 400 iso film photographs.

2010