Photo link: How much propane does it take to melt a pool? – Flow Visualization
Attribution: Samuel Hatton
This is my favorite flow visualization image that I found on the web, from our course website (get wet assignment last year). This piece was created by Samuel Hatton, who used a propane jet on a pool of water. When the flame hit the water, it rapidly cooled, causing the flame to change colors. The viewer can see the initial semi-laminar flow coming from the propane tank, then hitting the water, spreading out, and becoming a turbulent flow. This is the most artistically interesting demonstration of rapid cooling after combustion.
The composition of this photo is also very impressive. The focus clearly shows the ripples of the flame hitting the water, and the black background (presumably taken at night) helps draw all of the focus to the flame. The shutter speed helped freeze a very short moment of the flow, allowing a clear view of an instant of the flow.
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First Prize. Nice balance between science and art. You can see how the flow becomes more turbulent after the propane flame hits the water. Also, the blue/orange colors make the flow pop out and easy to see.
Second Prize: I love the use of fire and water and think that the photo has great definition, capturing the water droplets around the fire. The use of a black background makes the flames pop out with amazing details.