Patterns of Creation

Comparison of images of shells and those of stars and galaxies produced by the Hubble Space Telescope

The shell images were made in the studio by reflecting sunlight with a large 12" parabolic mirror onto the surface of a sea shell. The images were made by passing light beams from the sun through 12" x 12" colored gelatin filters mounted between the mirror and the shell. The images are on Ecktachrome and are taken with a Nikon F4 and a 105 mm macro lens. The shell is about 4" in diameter. Most of the shell images are of areas approximately one inch in diameter.

I have not been able to understand the optics of this method. Even though the light is transmitted through colored gels, brilliant diverse colors are produced in the shell surface. My hypothesis is that the surface of the shell in conjunction with the parabolic mirror is creating some polarizing effect that generates the highly saturated colors. I would greatly appreciate information or comments on the physics of the effect.

For me, the images of the shells are reminiscent of the photographs being produced by the Hubble Telescope of  The Space Telescope Science Institute. The Gallery Page also has some astounding images.

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The images from the Hubble Telescope of distant galaxies, stars and nebula and the images of the shells speak to the unity of all creation, that which is galactic as well as that which is minuscule.

On close inspection it is interesting to note that the patterns in the shells offer almost unlimited images of people, faces and symbols.

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