Make plastic fantastic!

Dan Mold shows you how to use a polarizing filter, plastic cutlery and a computer or tablet screen to create colourful abstracts images

- Dan Mold

THE MISSION

Create abstract art with plastic cutlery

Time needed

20 minutes

Skill level

Beginner

Kit needed

• Tripod

• Tablet

• Macro lens

• Plastic cutlery

QUICK TIP

Polarizers are an essential accessory to any photographer’s bag, they let you dial in the exact amount of polarized light coming in through the lens. The light that bounces off reflections in water and the blue in the sky are polarized, so twisting a circular polarizing filter lets you control them easily – it’s the same light that’s emitted by computer and tablet screens.

There are some things that just can’t be replicated in Adobe Photoshop and this is certainly the case when using a circular polarizing filter. This landscape photographer’s favourite tool is essential for cutting down reflections in water or glass, and also has the power to reduce scattered light – making blues in the sky look more punchy.

But these wonderfully useful and affordable accessories can also be used to change the appearance of polarized light emitted by computer screens. If you have a laptop, tablet or even a smartphone, the chances are that it’s throwing out polarized light.

If you don’t already own a polarizing filter you can pick one up for around £10.

In this project we’re going to take advantage of this special light to help us achieve the vibrant, almost radioactive-looking abstract in the transparent plastic cutlery you see here which will turn the heads of all your friends.