Ballistics photographer captures images of the microsecond a bullet leaves a gun (19pics)

High-speed ballistics photographer Herra Kuulapaa, from Finland, has spent the last 7 years perfecting his technique for capturing images of the microseconds after a bullet is fired. Here a specially adapted .44 Magnum ( with shortened muzzle for extra flame) is fired in the studio.

 This complicated-looking weapon is in fact a very modified Glock pistol

 Bullets are travelling at more than 1,200 feet per second, which is more than 800 mph

 Herra's project has grown in size over the last 7 years.

 Gun and ammunition manufacturers use the information about gas flow and temperature distribution to improve their products

 The photographs capture the split milliseconds that the bullet leaves the muzzle and the surrounding flaming powder

 In many frames, the flash of flame seems to engulf the shooter. Data from the photographs can be used to improve recoil and muzzle flash.

 Data from the photographs can be used to improve recoil and muzzle flash

 This king of handguns, the Smith & Wesson Model 500 Magnum revolver, is the most powerful handgun in the world

 This sequence shows a .308 rifle bullet leaving the barrel. Pictures are from separate shots and delay has been adjusted to illustrate bullet position and gas behaviour.

 A Russian 7.62x39 bullet is fired from an American AR15, made by Colt.

 Herra says: Our latest method is taking stereoscopic 3D ballistics images, where you can really see the three dimensional structure of the blast and how the gas is flowing.

 The cloud of smoke can be analysed to reveal details of the pressure of gases around the gun as it is fired

 A high velocity pressure bubble forms when bullets exit the barrel

 Bullets from the popular AR-15 rifle travel faster than those from handguns, reaching roughly 2,800 feet per second, approximately 1,900 mph

 The Desert Eagle .50AE uses a gas-operated mechanism normally found in rifles, as opposed to the short recoil or blow-back designs most commonly seen in semi-automatic pistols.

 One second you are looking at a lump of metal, a millisecond later it's a burst of flame

From left: the speeding bullet and tiny traces of lead that have left it during the firing process, a pressure bubble of gas and then the flaming gunpowder exiting the barrel