Best of Web: Smoke

This is a picture of smoke taken by Steven Duong on flickr (licensed CC-BY-ND). This image demonstrates the intersection of science and beauty. Artistically, the visual composition is satisfying, with a sense of motion and an interesting arc for the eye to follow. From a scientific standpoint, the swirls and backflow of the smoke show the complexity of the flow dynamics of air, and the image is able to capture them without loss of clarity due to the complexity. The flow’s complex dynamics are clearly and crisply shown by the well-illuminated blue-and-white particles on a completely black background. This high contrast makes the image artistically pleasing as well as being effective for visualizing the flow pattern clearly for scientific purposes. The black background also enhances the image by eliminating any non-flow-related content, providing effective negative space, and drawing the viewer’s eye to the highlighted smoke pattern.

India ink dropped into water displays the Rayleigh-Taylor umbrella instability.

India ink dropped into water displays the Rayleigh-Taylor umbrella instability.

A double exposure showing first a jet of blue water traveling to the right entraining red water from a wine glass below, and second, the wine glass after shattering, releasing more red water.

India ink was dropped into a stream of water splashing on a metal plate.

Blue and yellow India ink was mixed into a stream of water splashing on a metal plate.

Blue and yellow India ink was mixed into a stream of water splashing on a metal plate.

Dyed water streams down over a wire mesh.

Altocumulus with gravity waves, February 17th, 2014 at approximately 4:52 PM

Altocumulus lenticularis, February 18, 2014, 6:48 am, Boulder CO.

Mountain wave clouds, February 18, 2014, 6:07 pm, Boulder CO.