Seeing The Invisible, Schlieren Photography

Gary Settles, professor of the University of Pennsylvania, makes an unusual kind of photo art, Schlieren photography.Schlieren is German for “streaks”; in this case it refers to regions of different densities in a gas or a liquid, which can be photographed as shadows using a special technique.


A cough.

The firing of an AK-47.

A simulated explosion in a full-scale mockup of an airplane cabin.

A small firecracker explosion. The bright flash is a result of the cardboard shell of the firecracker blowing out both ends.

An invisible gas leak is captured on film.

A revolver being fired. Gases originate first from the cylinder and then the muzzle of the firearm.

A hair dryer's effects are more than just hot air.

Shimmering world around a candle burning in a breeze.

A water strider, an insect that walks on water and can carry 15 times its body weight and stay afloat.

Dog sniffing a small flower, which was warmed to help make the airflow visible.


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