Regulars to this blog might recall a post where I explored the History of Bunny Ears. Today I would like to delve into another photographic genre, that of milk sploop photography. I bet most of you haven't heard of this but it quietly surrounds our daily lives.

First of all, a definition: Milk Sploop Photography is the art of capturing the precise moment when an edible projectile strikes a pool of milk. The examples below should provide clarity for you.

Sometimes the act of pouring it is enough to cause a milk sploop. However, mothers universally frown upon this technique.

Please note the variety of sploops from subtle to downright exuberant.

Not all products are suited to wild splashes of milk.

Unlike many photographic traditions the origins of sploop photography can be precisely traced. Eadward Muybridge (1830-1904) invented the use of multiple cameras to stop motion as early as 1872. He used his zoopraxiscope to display the images he captured. This pre-dated the type of motion picture projectors we think of today. But I digress...

Harold "Doc" Edgerton (1903-1990), an MIT professor, pioneered the use of strobe lighting in lieu of multiple cameras to literally "stop" time to capture speeding bullets, golf swings, etc. One of his most famous images is the Milk Drop Coronet, circa 1957.

Thus, milk sploop photography was born.

Today, the Amalgamated Milk Sploop Photography Society (AMSPS) has advanced the skills and techniques of this profession. They have gatherings in many places around the globe throughout the year, usually in cities where there are tall structures from which to drop things. They publish their findings so they can learn from one another. Here is a recent diagram from the society's journal, Drop by Drop, illustrated by AMSPS member, Lait Éclaboussure.

We hope that this window into a little-known niche of the photography world was interesting to you. The next time you walk down the cereal aisle please be sure to notice the ubiquitous and under-appreciated work of these tireless photographers. Please feel free to share your comments below. The work of AMSPS members is not often in the spotlight and a little bit of encouragement goes a long way.

Aprils Fools Day is one week away, so you know what that means. Time to start planning. The benefit of working with good friends means some healthy trickery at the office when this day rolls around. Allow me to illustrate. You may find some ideas here for your own April Fools Day fun.

The Balloon Cubicle:

About eight years ago, we sealed a coworker's door with plastic wrap and filled it with a gazillion balloons. Note my partner in crime, Joel Rosen checking the stabilty of the plastic wrap seal.

It was a sight to behold. And smell. You could smell the latex ten cubicles away.

If you decide on this particular prank keep three things in mind.

1. Make sure the lady in the cubicle next door is not deathly afraid of balloons.
2. Do not dive into a cubicle full of balloons. They merely move out of the way and you will hit the floor... hard.
3. Be sure to have pins on hand to help the victim clear the balloons out of the way before their 10 o'clock meeting.

Here I am surveying the scene rubbing my hands together with evil glee.

The Newspaper Desk:

Then a few years later, we wrapped another coworker's desk completely in newspaper.

I mean completely. And everything on the desk too. Stapler, mouse, pens, keyboard.

It may take a village to raise a child, but it only takes a design group to wrap all your office supplies in the sports section. There is Joel again, carefully wrapping the CPU.

Here is Tina Clark delicately wrapping a pen. Oh and me... looking quite evil again.

The completed desk was quite impressive.

I am so glad I work with such creative people. Oh and such good sports!

There are 168 hours in a week and I estimate I spend about 60 of those hours at my office. Seeing how much time we spend at our corporate home away from home, it is not surprising that we like to add a festive touch to our surroundings during the holidays.

I took a quick walk around my area and here are a few displays that caught my eye.



This is at my own desk. I like how the soft glow of the santa complements the soft glow of my computer monitor.



My cubicle-mate Tina, has a tree that one of the guys down in kiosks cut out of metal. So cool.



The folks over on the technical side of the area can always be counted on for some geeky goodies. Here is a Charlie Brown Christmas tree flanked by an LED binary clock and swirly light thingy I couldn't take my eyes off of.



And here we have... bats. Hey! Someone didn't take down their Halloween decorations yet! That happens sometimes.



This is a nice display I enjoy seeing on my way to the lunch room everyday.



All the stockings were hung by the white boards with care, with hopes that the cubicle elves, soon would be there.

I appreciate these little touches that my coworkers took the time to add. It makes the days all the brighter.