When my friend Brian decided to get a fire pit, he sent me a direct message on Twitter saying, “I want a big fire pit. Can I get something special? Not price, I mean an artistic flourish.”
I sent back a message asking if he had anything particular in mind and he responded, “No, I want whatever you think. Do it, ship it, and I’ll happily pay for it. You obviously don’t know how much I love your work. I really dig the flames, so do something around that theme.”
With free reign to do whatever I wanted around a fire theme, I decided to try an idea that I had been toying with in the back of my mind for quite some time… Cutting outlines of flame shapes withing the flame designs of the Phoenix + Flames Sculptural Fire Pit . The idea being that the fire would show through these cutouts and achieve an effect of depth that might more closely mimic a real fire. Here’s a video of how it turned out.
VIDEO
After the test burn captured in the video above, I decided that the lines of the inset cutouts weren’t thick enough to really show up as well as I wanted when lit, so I re-cut them to let a greater amount of light through. I didn’t get video of the new cuts before I shipped, but you can make out the shapes pretty well in the slideshow of “in progress” photos below.
{
AEAverage = 200;
AELimitsReached = 0;
AEStable = 1;
AFStable = 1;
AFStatus = 4;
AGC = 351;
AWBBGain = 149;
AWBGGain = 64;
AWBRGain = 181;
AWBStable = 1;
AccelerometerDeltas = “(0.0063 0.0043 0.0106) @ 0.0200”;
ApertureValue = 3;
BrightnessValue = 5.217397340849245;
CurrentFocusPosition = 81;
ExposureBias = 0;
ExposureTime = 0.008334939130434782;
Fnumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
FocusBand = “78.08 in [42.52, 123.40]”;
FocusMode = 1;
FocusPeakSumArray = (
168452,
169904,
171407,
172973,
393321
);
FocusScan = “(0,41.79) (29,48.48) (56,67.10) (81,71.93) (105,50.54) (127,35.83) 1.7s ago”;
FocusScoresArray = (
6187941,
6295954,
6394310,
6485884,
19343782
);
FocusWindow = “350/300 300×400”;
FullyExposed = 1;
ISOSpeedRating = 97;
NoiseReduction = “S:4 C:8 Y:0”;
OneFrameAEMode = 0;
Orientation = 6;
OverflowOccurred = 0;
PreviousFocusBand = “39.28 in [0.00, 0.00]”;
PreviousFocusScan = “(0,40.40) (29,56.01) (56,48.60) (81,46.15) 9.5s ago”;
SNR = 36;
SensorID = 13904;
Sharpness = 9;
ShutterSpeedValue = 6.906612621328084;
ispDGain = 256;
sensorDGain = 256;
“{Exif}” = {
ColorSpace = 65535;
DateTimeDigitized = “2009:09:09 17:44:52”;
DateTimeOriginal = “2009:09:09 17:44:52”;
ExposureTime = 0.008333333333333333;
FNumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
ISOSpeedRatings = (
97
);
PixelXDimension = 2048;
PixelYDimension = 1536;
Sharpness = 1;
};
“{TIFF}” = {
DateTime = “2009:09:09 17:44:52”;
Make = Apple;
Model = iPhone;
XResolution = 72;
YResolution = 72;
};
} {
AEAverage = 199;
AELimitsReached = 0;
AEStable = 1;
AFStable = 1;
AFStatus = 4;
AGC = 362;
AWBBGain = 149;
AWBGGain = 64;
AWBRGain = 181;
AWBStable = 1;
AccelerometerDeltas = “(0.0153 0.0087 0.0109) @ 0.0200”;
ApertureValue = 3;
BrightnessValue = 5.165647104839525;
CurrentFocusPosition = 81;
ExposureBias = 0;
ExposureTime = 0.008334939130434782;
Fnumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
FocusBand = “82.38 in [50.12, 133.84]”;
FocusMode = 1;
FocusPeakSumArray = (
195439,
197968,
199950,
202481,
385751
);
FocusScan = “(0,51.76) (29,56.68) (56,73.35) (81,80.56) (105,58.42) (127,38.48) 1.1s ago”;
FocusScoresArray = (
5026353,
5118025,
5206348,
5289793,
18782131
);
FocusWindow = “350/300 300×400”;
FullyExposed = 1;
ISOSpeedRating = 100;
NoiseReduction = “S:4 C:8 Y:0”;
OneFrameAEMode = 0;
Orientation = 8;
OverflowOccurred = 0;
PreviousFocusBand = “55.59 in [0.00, 0.00]”;
PreviousFocusScan = “(0,41.79) (29,48.48) (56,67.10) (81,71.93) (105,50.54) (127,35.83) 6.7s ago”;
SNR = 36;
SensorID = 13904;
Sharpness = 9;
ShutterSpeedValue = 6.906612621328084;
ispDGain = 256;
sensorDGain = 256;
“{Exif}” = {
ColorSpace = 65535;
DateTimeDigitized = “2009:09:09 17:44:57”;
DateTimeOriginal = “2009:09:09 17:44:57”;
ExposureTime = 0.008333333333333333;
FNumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
ISOSpeedRatings = (
100
);
PixelXDimension = 2048;
PixelYDimension = 1536;
Sharpness = 1;
};
“{TIFF}” = {
DateTime = “2009:09:09 17:44:57”;
Make = Apple;
Model = iPhone;
XResolution = 72;
YResolution = 72;
};
} {
AEAverage = 188;
AELimitsReached = 0;
AEStable = 1;
AFStable = 1;
AFStatus = 4;
AGC = 260;
AWBBGain = 157;
AWBGGain = 64;
AWBRGain = 175;
AWBStable = 1;
AccelerometerDeltas = “(0.0172 0.0073 0.0092) @ 0.0200”;
ApertureValue = 3;
BrightnessValue = 3.976406890816819;
CurrentFocusPosition = 81;
ExposureBias = 0;
ExposureTime = 0.02499996521739131;
Fnumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
FocusBand = “67.65 in [42.10, 117.23]”;
FocusMode = 1;
FocusPeakSumArray = (
153942,
155632,
157688,
159641,
385380
);
FocusScan = “(0,42.80) (29,46.99) (56,48.72) (81,69.42) (105,61.61) (127,53.47) 0.1s ago”;
FocusScoresArray = (
3770982,
3844216,
3916199,
3973222,
14800292
);
FocusWindow = “350/300 300×400”;
FullyExposed = 1;
ISOSpeedRating = 71;
NoiseReduction = “S:5 C:8 Y:0”;
OneFrameAEMode = 0;
Orientation = 1;
OverflowOccurred = 0;
PreviousFocusBand = “43.83 in [0.00, 0.00]”;
PreviousFocusScan = “(0,121.40) (42,25.09) (81,8.01) (116,7.14) (149,6.06) (178,5.37) (206,5.42) (231,5.44) (255,4.76) 25.5s ago”;
SNR = 36;
SensorID = 13904;
Sharpness = 9;
ShutterSpeedValue = 5.321930102116641;
ispDGain = 256;
sensorDGain = 256;
“{Exif}” = {
ColorSpace = 65535;
DateTimeDigitized = “2009:09:09 17:55:07”;
DateTimeOriginal = “2009:09:09 17:55:07”;
ExposureTime = 0.025;
FNumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
ISOSpeedRatings = (
71
);
PixelXDimension = 2048;
PixelYDimension = 1536;
Sharpness = 1;
};
“{TIFF}” = {
DateTime = “2009:09:09 17:55:07”;
Make = Apple;
Model = iPhone;
XResolution = 72;
YResolution = 72;
};
} {
AEAverage = 200;
AELimitsReached = 0;
AEStable = 1;
AFStable = 1;
AFStatus = 4;
AGC = 300;
AWBBGain = 151;
AWBGGain = 64;
AWBRGain = 179;
AWBStable = 1;
AccelerometerDeltas = “(0.0066 0.0057 0.0121) @ 0.0200”;
ApertureValue = 3;
BrightnessValue = 3.859223351446483;
CurrentFocusPosition = 105;
ExposureBias = 0;
ExposureTime = 0.02499996521739131;
Fnumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
FocusBand = “61.33 in [47.53, 90.56]”;
FocusMode = 1;
FocusPeakSumArray = (
128114,
130980,
133863,
137177,
417113
);
FocusScan = “(0,32.89) (29,52.55) (56,44.94) (81,62.92) (105,63.18) (127,52.42) (149,37.90) 3.0s ago”;
FocusScoresArray = (
3355009,
3414675,
3474498,
3551350,
13901421
);
FocusWindow = “350/300 300×400”;
FullyExposed = 1;
ISOSpeedRating = 82;
NoiseReduction = “S:5 C:8 Y:0”;
OneFrameAEMode = 0;
Orientation = 1;
OverflowOccurred = 0;
PreviousFocusBand = “44.50 in [0.00, 0.00]”;
PreviousFocusScan = “(0,42.80) (29,46.99) (56,48.72) (81,69.42) (105,61.61) (127,53.47) 10.9s ago”;
SNR = 36;
SensorID = 13904;
Sharpness = 9;
ShutterSpeedValue = 5.321930102116641;
ispDGain = 256;
sensorDGain = 256;
“{Exif}” = {
ColorSpace = 65535;
DateTimeDigitized = “2009:09:09 17:55:18”;
DateTimeOriginal = “2009:09:09 17:55:18”;
ExposureTime = 0.025;
FNumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
ISOSpeedRatings = (
82
);
PixelXDimension = 2048;
PixelYDimension = 1536;
Sharpness = 1;
};
“{TIFF}” = {
DateTime = “2009:09:09 17:55:18”;
Make = Apple;
Model = iPhone;
XResolution = 72;
YResolution = 72;
};
} {
AEAverage = 201;
AELimitsReached = 0;
AEStable = 1;
AFStable = 1;
AFStatus = 4;
AGC = 259;
AWBBGain = 156;
AWBGGain = 64;
AWBRGain = 175;
AWBStable = 1;
AccelerometerDeltas = “(0.0074 0.0179 0.0177) @ 0.0200”;
ApertureValue = 3;
BrightnessValue = 4.078429255660014;
CurrentFocusPosition = 81;
ExposureBias = 0;
ExposureTime = 0.02499996521739131;
Fnumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
FocusBand = “63.21 in [34.75, 105.55]”;
FocusMode = 1;
FocusPeakSumArray = (
138251,
139958,
141495,
142645,
409357
);
FocusScan = “(0,46.25) (29,46.73) (56,53.36) (81,60.49) (105,41.77) (127,35.68) 2.0s ago”;
FocusScoresArray = (
3767384,
3858559,
3943231,
4012342,
18491031
);
FocusWindow = “350/300 300×400”;
FullyExposed = 1;
ISOSpeedRating = 70;
NoiseReduction = “S:5 C:8 Y:0”;
OneFrameAEMode = 0;
Orientation = 1;
OverflowOccurred = 0;
PreviousFocusBand = “29.44 in [0.00, 0.00]”;
PreviousFocusScan = “(0,32.89) (29,52.55) (56,44.94) (81,62.92) (105,63.18) (127,52.42) (149,37.90) 49.9s ago”;
SNR = 36;
SensorID = 13904;
Sharpness = 9;
ShutterSpeedValue = 5.321930102116641;
ispDGain = 256;
sensorDGain = 256;
“{Exif}” = {
ColorSpace = 65535;
DateTimeDigitized = “2009:09:09 17:56:04”;
DateTimeOriginal = “2009:09:09 17:56:04”;
ExposureTime = 0.025;
FNumber = 2.8;
FocalLength = 3.85;
ISOSpeedRatings = (
70
);
PixelXDimension = 2048;
PixelYDimension = 1536;
Sharpness = 1;
};
“{TIFF}” = {
DateTime = “2009:09:09 17:56:04”;
Make = Apple;
Model = iPhone;
XResolution = 72;
YResolution = 72;
};
}
