Harold Edgerton

Bullet through Candle Flame

1973, printed 1984–90

A striking artistic photograph depicting a lit match with a vibrant flame, casting a colorful, abstract silhouette resembling a dancing figure against a red and orange backdrop.

A striking artistic photograph depicting a lit match with a vibrant flame, casting a colorful, abstract silhouette resembling a dancing figure against a red and orange backdrop.

Not on view

Date
1973, printed 1984–90

Classification
Photographs

Medium
Dye transfer print

Dimensions
Sheet: 20 1/16 × 16 1/16 in. (51 × 40.8 cm) Image: 18 1/4 × 12 1/4 in. (46.4 × 31.1 cm)

Accession number
96.126.10

Edition
109/150 | 26 APs, 30 SE sets

Credit line
Gift of The Harold and Esther Edgerton Family Foundation

Rights and reproductions
© 2010 MIT. Courtesy of MIT Museum.

API
artworks/10936

Part of a series:
Ten Dye Transfer Photographs
10 works

A striking artistic photograph depicting a lit match with a vibrant flame, casting a colorful, abstract silhouette resembling a dancing figure against a red and orange backdrop.

Three white doves in mid-flight against a black background, with the closest dove being released from a person's hand, which is clad in a blue sleeve.

A high-speed photograph capturing the moment a bullet passes through an apple, which is mounted on a pedestal against a blue background. The bullet is entering from the left, with a visible white puff of impact, and apple fragments are explosively ejecting to the right.

A photograph of a banana impaled on a stick, with the fruit appearing to be in motion or exploding, creating a cloud of particles around its burst end, against a blue background.

A Jack of Diamonds playing card is pierced by a bullet in mid-air against a dark blue background, with the bullet captured on the right side of the image showing motion blur. The card and bullet are reflected on a surface below, creating a symmetrical composition.

A dynamic circus performance captured in a photograph, showcasing acrobats in blue costumes performing high-flying stunts on trapezes and poles. The audience fills the stadium seats in the background, under the glow of bright stage lights and an American flag hanging from the ceiling.

A high-speed photograph capturing a single drop of red liquid mid-splash against a solid blue background, creating a thin, elongated droplet shape above a rippled liquid surface.

A high-speed photograph capturing a single drop of milk creating a crown-like splash upon impact with a red surface, with a white border framing the image.

Three synchronized swimmers are captured in mid-air during a dive, with their positions staggered to create a cascading effect against the backdrop of an indoor swimming pool. The first swimmer is closest to the water, followed by the second and third who are progressively higher up. The image is well-lit, highlighting the swimmers' athletic forms and the calm surface of the pool below.

A close-up of a person's lower body dressed in American football gear with gold pants and red socks, kicking a football on a dark background.

Harold Edgerton
122 works in the collection, 6 exhibitions

View artist