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I was tinkering with my favorite graphics software, Paint Shop Pro, when I noticed on one long menu the word "kaleidoscope." Remembering how I like the way the little bits fall into nice patterns in the barrel of a real kaleidoscope, I immediately applied the technique to several of my own photographs.
I was absolutely astounded at the amazing patterns that resulted, and soon learned to incorporate many ramifications offered by the software, such as color saturation, focus, angle of rotation, cropping, all of which profoundly affect the patterns achieved, and I often use all of the ramifications on one picture.
I tried kaleidoscoping a great many pictures, such as frescoes by Giotto, Dali's weird wilting clocks, bright photos of flowers or anything pretty I could get my hands on.The best results come from very clear, bright colors. Impressionist paintings don't work well, although colorful, because they are too amorphous, and works of masters such as Rembrandt are too dark. Some of the kaleidoscope results are so elegant I hope to interest greeting card companies in making cards from them.
A while ago, looking for some nice bright subjects, I plugged "Butterflies" into my Google Search Engine. This led to Bill's page, much to my delight, as not only did he have many beautiful photographs, I was taken in an instant back 60 years when I used to "hatch" Cecropia and Polyphemus moths as a little girl, and the huge creatures would hang on the lace curtains to dry their wings, a sight which staggered everybody!
So, everything that goes around comes around! And I am happily pursuing my long-dormant interest in the beautiful giant moths that so few people are even aware of.
If you would like to see more moth Kaleidoscopes (two samples below), please drop me an email! I am very happy to be aboard the Saturniidae Ship!
Pam Sharp
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