GCIS Bimonthly Issue-II | Page 7

Y es , it sounds crazy or totally fictional , but the appearance of a cloud in a closed room is possible . Thanks to the Dutch artist BerndnautSmilde ! What looks like magic , turns out to be a carefully calculated science project made possible by smoke and vapour .

Smilde materials are little more than those listed above , and the results vary with the size , lighting and temperature of the location . The space must be cold and damp , with no air circulation . He creates a wall of water vapour with the type of spritzer you might use on houseplants . A smoke machine then sends a puff of faux fog on a collision course . There you go ; you have those really mysterious , fluffy clouds .
Of course science alone doesn ‟ t account for the striking visual impact contained in each image . The artist carefully selects the perfect location for the creation of each cloud and then painstakingly lights it from behind for the desired effect . And then the photographer captures a very brief moment before the cloud could dissipate and disappear as mysteriously as it was formed .
Another way to produce these kinds of clouds is by using dry ice . When you place it into hot water , clouds of white fog are created . This white fog is a form of condensed vapour , mixed in with the invisible CO 2 . But this method is highly dangerous because too much CO 2 is toxic . What makes it even more unsuitable is that , it might burn your skin by freezing ( frostbite ) and might also explode due to high pressure . Therefore , using a smoke machine is much more safe and eco-friendly .
“ Clouds are quite universal ,” says Smilde . “ Everyone can relate to them , but by putting them indoors you kind of change the context . It can become strange or even threatening . They not only stand in for the divine , but also for misfortune .
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