Where: Pforzheim, southwestern Germany

When: June 8, 2005

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What: Inside a Dishwasher
Josephine Cochrane was a wealthy woman tired of servants chipping her good china, so invented the first useable hand-operated mechanical dishwasher in 1886, in Shelbyville, Illinois. After measuring her dishes she built wire compartments specially designed to fit plates, cups, and saucers, then placed the compartments flat on a wheel inside a copper boiler. A motor turned the wheel while hot soapy water squirted up from the boiler and down onto the dishes. She unveiled her invention at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, and won its highest award, however only hotels and large restaurants were buying her idea. She patented her design and founded a company to produce it, now the well known kitchenware giant KitchenAid.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that dishwashers caught on with the general public when they became cheaper and a more usable size.

Why: Thomas was toying with water-themed panos for the latest World Wide Panorama series when he came up with the idea.

How: The camera and head were too big so the trays were removed and lighting was done with a normal mounted flash rotated 90° downward. Equipment and software - Sigma SD10, Flash, Sigma 8mm Fisheye, Manfrotto 303SPH, Berlebach Mini-tripod

Email: synsepala[at]gmx[dot]de