Mr Sailer records the moment a bullet enters a radish.

This is one photographer who knows what a real photo shoot is.  Using a loaded weapon and a home-made camera, Alan Sailer captures the moment a series of everyday items explode on contact with a bullet. (Photos)

 

Among the mundane props he turned into spectacular works of art are a foam sponge, a radish and Christmas decorations.

California-based Mr Sailer, 55, is an expert at high-speed photography.

These transparent Christmas globes filled with water bear the brunt of a bullet.

He takes his pictures in a dark room while positioned about 20cm away from the target.

A laser triggers his Nikon D40’s shutter, while a special flash films the action in slow motion, despite the .177 pellet travelling with a velocity of about 500ft per second.

Ten thin glass capillary rods shatter on impact.

Photography that requires a microsecond flash to capture action moving near the speed of sound is usually high-risk.

To buy a fast flash is expensive, often costing many thousands of pounds, but Mr Sailer was able to build one for about £200 after buying parts off eBay.

A row of elastic hair bands feels the force of another bullet.

He said: ‘The shooting is stressful. It takes time to set up the shot and then, it’s all over.

‘You may or may not have got a good picture and now there is a mess on your set-up, your camera, the garage.

The moment a Christmas decoration filled with colored sand explodes on contact with a bullet.

‘I have variable delay after the trigger. So if there is too much mayhem, I lower the delay. Not enough exploding parts, raise the delay.’

A bullet tears through a piece of rubber foam.

Via Daily Mail