Which picture format do you like most for Ballistic Gelatin blocks>

[Brass Fetcher]

Recently, I've started taking photos of Brass Fetcher gelatin blocks indoors as well as outdoors at the test site.

The indoor photos are taken in the interest of standardizing on a format for the pictures, so it makes it easier for viewers to compare the wound tracks between cartridges.

The outdoor photos are done at the test site, to capture the image of the track immediately after it was shot, in case something happens to the block before it can be brought back for analysis.

Please let me know which you like best and why!

 

[Oleg Volk]

Put a white paper backing on the block to diffuse the indoor lights and you'd get the contrast you need for details.

 

[Superlite27]

I'm no photo expert, but I like the indoor one better. It might be better to screen the lighting with a white filter of some sort behind the block because the areas near the lights are blurry. I also like the ruler on the outdoor photo that adds a reference to penetration measurement. I would use it on the indoor photo as well, although a full length measurement would be more accurate. Also, maybe a little card listing bullet weight, caliber, brand, chrono'd velocity, type of firearm, barrel length and distance from gelatin would be nice.

 

[mattsb2000]

Lighting it from above might look better.

Getting some dye in there somehow could help too.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

There is dye applied in the track.

+1 on the white diffuser idea.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

It's looking like the indoors picture is going to be the way to go.

Quick question : What are you looking for, when you look at the photo of the block? The damage, damage location or maybe what the bullet looks like in the block?

Thanks!

 

[mekender]

pretty much all 3... i kinda like both pics, so im bad to ask...


great site by the way... i really appreciate it

 

[chris in va]

I personally look at how large the bullet expanded, the width of the track and how deep it went.

If you could combine the two somehow, that would be great. Backlit is nice but all that does is shows the silhouette. I really appreciate your efforts BTW, very informative.

 

[Vonderek]

I think the outdoor shot shows more detail of both the cavity and actual bullet. However, I think seeing the outdoor scene behind the block is distracting. I think you could extend the white diffusion technique mentioned for indoors to the outdoor shot to mask what we're seeing behind the gelatin block. BTW-I appreciate your efforts.