Image Fulgurator projects images into other people's photos

There's DIY mischief and then there's next level DIY mischief, and we'd have to say that Julius von Bismarck's Image Fulgurator is one of the best scare-the-squares toys we've ever come across. A sensor detects camera flashes of nearby victims, triggering a projection of the image or text of your choice onto their subjects -- and into their photos. Anyone using a digital camera will notice the trick immediately, of course, but marks with film equipment won't ever know what hit 'em -- although they might remember the weirdo with the pistol-grip camera thing standing next to them. Check the video after the break.

[Via Core 77]

[Kip HT @ Jun 26th 2008 8:50AM]

Hahaha!

Awesome

[OneLove @ Jun 26th 2008 10:15AM]

terrorist!

[Bob @ Jun 26th 2008 10:25AM]

Yeah, so awesome! I would LOVE IT if I had a regular camera and I took a picture of my favorite piece of art from the Louvre and traveled back home to the US and found my picture was RUINED by some moron with this device. That would be TOTALLY worth the $2K+ trip there to go to the museum!

[LegendZ28 @ Jun 26th 2008 10:28AM]

It's a good way to get shot, if that's what you're going for.

[lawyer bird @ Jun 26th 2008 10:51AM]

"Hundreds of people died last year by trying this at the US - Mexico border"

really?

[Dan @ Jun 26th 2008 11:15AM]

You don't go to the Louvre to take a picture, moron.

[Ytril @ Jun 26th 2008 11:51AM]

Actually Dan,

You can take pictures in the Louvre of any art piece you like.

In fact, last year when I was there, so many cameras were flashing at the Mona Lisa you would have thought a Hollywood Celeb was posing beside it.

My only question about all of this:
If the Louvre is full of priceless art, won't the constant barrage of flashes damage them?

It really boggled me that crap art museums here in the states won't even let you take a single picture with a flash, but the Parisians permit it limitlessly.

[jodosh @ Jun 26th 2008 12:33PM]

@ytril
the lovre doesn't allow flash photography from what I remember from my visit recently. Also taking a picture of the Mona Lisa with a flash would ruin the picture. The Mona Lisa is behind glass (I assume it is actually an acrylic or Plexiglas) the flash would ruin the picture.

[Ytril @ Jun 26th 2008 12:55PM]

jodosh:
Not a single Louvre employees (or the dozens of security guards hanging about) stopped the flash photography. I, in fact, took multiple pictures of the Mona Lisa with my camera flash as well. Not to mention the hundreds of others I took overall in the museum.

You are correct though, the Mona Lisa is behind glass or some protective polycarbonate.

[Joe @ Jun 26th 2008 1:11PM]

Bob, don't worry about your Louvre photos. This device is set off by the flash of another camera. You can't take flash photography in most museums including the Louvre.

The video was lame though. 2/3 the video was a lame setup and only the last 1/3 of the video was good.

[Amun @ Jun 26th 2008 4:35PM]

When I saw the ML they were really bitchy about anyone taking any pictures *at all.*
I had to take a picture of it when I was in the hall, about 15m away. They didn't have any problems with me taking some pictures of the other art though. (I didn't use a flash at any time though.)

[iEye @ Jun 26th 2008 8:52AM]

"Obey!"

"Buy Apple iPod!"

"Your political leaders know best!"

I miss subliminal messages...

[Khris @ Jun 26th 2008 9:44AM]

I miss reading intelligent comments.

[Bob @ Jun 26th 2008 10:29AM]

iEye... You're a bad apple...

[phanbouy @ Jun 26th 2008 1:26PM]

wow this comment's truly a cry for help

[Don G. @ Jun 26th 2008 8:56AM]

I suspect Mr Bismarck might ruin a holiday photo or two, but if the tourists ever realize what hit them, the uniqueness of their photos will increase dramatically. Übercool.

[Cranky @ Jun 26th 2008 8:57AM]

I so want one of these!!! Just imagine the fun you can have with one of those TV "Ghost Hunther" type of shows!

[Dylan @ Jun 26th 2008 8:59AM]

"All your photo are belong to us!"

Seriously thought, I never considered th possibility of watermarking (or subliminal messaging/advertising depending on its application :P)whole displays in real-time. The only thing is if it detects camera flashes where would this be used? Usually outdoors people don't need a flash, while if you were going to display something indoors usually it's well-lit enough so it can be appreciated on display, thus not needing a flash either.

While I'm a little confused on its application it's an amazing device and for it to be a DIY makes it all the more sweeter.

[dj-kenpo @ Jun 26th 2008 9:09AM]

application is perfect for palces like art galleries where they say no flash photos and people do it anyways.

solution: ruin their photos if they take them.

[Rocketboy @ Jun 26th 2008 9:20AM]

DJ.. that and performances is precisely what I was thinking as well. A big "STOP THAT" might be nice.

[Mic2000 @ Jun 26th 2008 9:44AM]

Or make a great GPS game out of it ;)

[omnicloud @ Jun 26th 2008 10:10PM]

@DJ

Exactly, I can imagine a museum where they forbid flash photography and people ignore it. When they get home and see the pictures, it'll say on each of them:

"We told you not to use flash photography. But noooo!"

[Carson T. @ Jun 26th 2008 9:00AM]

This might be the answer to copyrighted / private areas where photography isn't allowed...

[ChaoZ @ Jun 26th 2008 10:21AM]

Nope. It relies on the flash. Turn the flash off and set a long exposure (with a tripod of course) and you still can get an image (a better one in fact).

[Justin B @ Jun 26th 2008 11:16AM]

Yeah, but who the hell can set up a tripod w/ camera without getting caught?

[Flashpoint @ Jun 26th 2008 9:06AM]

Honey,

why does it look like you've got a pair of testicles on your chin in our wedding photos?

[kevjohn @ Jun 26th 2008 9:45AM]

No, dear, those are the honeymoon photos!

[kevjohn @ Jun 26th 2008 9:47AM]

As an art photographer who uses film, I denounce this act of douchebaggery!

[Lowest Ranked @ Jun 26th 2008 2:06PM]

My Goodness! Those are, after all, my bachorlette pictures!

[psilver @ Jun 26th 2008 9:07AM]

Ingenious!

[Shinigami @ Jun 26th 2008 9:08AM]

"No Flashes when taking a picture of Mona Lisa!"
Written on Mona Lisa painting itself xD

Well actually they do have a warning about "don't use flash" if I remember correctly in the museum (Musée du Louvre) but all people actually use it, making picture look horrible in most cases. I recommend using a tripod :) or getting a picture guide with great photos.

[HitnRun @ Jun 27th 2008 7:22PM]

Actually, the museums that do allow photography usually do not allow "professional" equipment or tripods. They don't want you making your own print of the art, especially when it is for sale in the gift shop.

[RC @ Jun 26th 2008 9:10AM]

At least ruin their pictures with something worthwhile. At then end when I saw what the text was, just made the whole thing the lamest thing ever.

[Dan2600 @ Jun 26th 2008 9:20AM]

dumbest thing ever

seriously can't these technology artists do something useful?

GRL's stuff is so much cooler anyway.

[Fred @ Jun 26th 2008 9:31AM]

"Anyone using a digital camera will notice the trick immediately, of course, but marks with film equipment won't ever know what hit 'em."

Well, I'll keep that in mind next time I'm on vacation in 1994.

[looseinthedeuce @ Jun 26th 2008 9:44AM]

Wow, you had a digital camera in 1995? I knew someone in 1999 that had one, and that was before spending $300 on a camera was no big deal.

[joey @ Jun 26th 2008 2:34PM]

People still shoot on film, there are certain advantages if you are a professional. Also, what format do you think movies are shot on? FILM

[Shinigami @ Jun 26th 2008 8:54PM]

Movies aren't recognized as movies if they are not *filmed*. There was an issue with students making a great 30-minute movie for a contest but wasn't accepted because it was recorded with a digital video camera on DVD instead of film.

There are advantages in both formats - digital and analog - but older people stick to things they've used for years, while youngsters prefer new technologies. You can expect a shift of interest to digitals in next 50 years :)

[notYou @ Jun 26th 2008 9:39AM]

Now at Nobama rallies, I can project pictures of the diverse people behind him that his handlers moved out of camera because they didn't fit "the message" (whatever that is). Cool!

Need to make it look like another camera (instead of a gun) so it looks like I'm just taking a picture like everyone else...

[epsilon343 @ Jun 26th 2008 10:45AM]

Nice attempt there, go back to LGF or RedState if you want to talk about politics. This here is a blog about gadgets and technology.

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 28th 2008 3:54AM]

hey, I have an idea, take your mindless drivel somewhere else you fucking moron....

[Colin @ Jun 26th 2008 9:44AM]

Imagine what the paparazzi would think of this? Hey all you celebs out there.... just hire a guy (or a girl) to have one of these and all those pics they take will be... .toast!

[Josef @ Jun 26th 2008 9:45AM]

Fuck that. Some people still use film and I imagine they would be pretty heartbroken if they got home from their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe and had their pictures developed just to find "LOL, I HA>

[sinai @ Jun 26th 2008 12:48PM]

i would have agreed with this, except for that it only turns on when it detects FLASH photography. Flash photography, more specifically, heat, catalyzes chemical reactions and deteriorates paintings.

also, i hate douchebags who use flash everywhere.

[F3 @ Jun 26th 2008 7:35PM]

People need to learn how to take their damn cameras off full auto.

[Silas Miller @ Jun 26th 2008 9:58AM]

I believe the message said "Every day hundreds of people die attempting to cross borders around the world." Or something close to that.

[Silas Miller @ Jun 26th 2008 9:59AM]

Oh and is this guy a commie or what? :)

[BratPAQ @ Jun 26th 2008 10:05AM]

i reckon the people that most likely be victimized by this are professional photographers, as they hate chimping http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimping

[Johnny @ Jun 26th 2008 10:11AM]

Cool idea... horrible video.

[BatteryAcid @ Jun 26th 2008 8:36PM]

I second that they should have done some slow motion effects, the video showed nothing!

Really cool idea. I once saw something very similar. It does the same thing but doesn't automatically sync itself to the flash. A combination of these two devices may be able to wield a smaller easier to make device. Here is the sithttp://www.hactivist.com/flashpoint/