Rob, I'm loving your smoke work! What do you use to produce the smoke? Do you use anything to control/alter the currents the smoke follows? I'd like to try this sometime, just never did it yet... I'll be pretty happy if my efforts turn out as well as yours!
I used incense sticks. Either one or two depending on how much smoke I want.
I have it about 2 feet from my black background and use my 50mm f/1.8 set at f/8.
Because I don't have a good off camera flash I use a 2 second exposure and manually fire my old flash directed across the frame.
To get different colored smoke you can use colored gels over the flash or if you just want blue or yellow use sunlight or fluorescent light white balance instead of flash white balance.
I don't really use anything to control the smoke. I have a small light on so I can see what the smoke is doing and open the shutter when the smoke is doing something I think would be interesting. Expect to take lots and lots of shots. :)
Hi Rob, thanks for the 'strobist info' - I tried the same thing myself, but did only use lamp lighting, not flash. I don't have a black background yet, only on cam flash, and that just doesn't look good.
Next time I'll try the same trick you did - total darkness and a separate flash. See if I can make it look as good as in your photos.
Coincidentally, I did my (not so good) version on the same day as you did the first in this series, I swear I didn't know that until today :-)
Thanks for the comment agellerphoto. Since you're here in Marina feel free to e-mail (see my profile for e-mail) sometime. I'm always looking for fellow photographers to go out on photo walks with.
10 comments:
Love that whorl at the bottom.
Rob, I'm loving your smoke work! What do you use to produce the smoke? Do you use anything to control/alter the currents the smoke follows? I'd like to try this sometime, just never did it yet... I'll be pretty happy if my efforts turn out as well as yours!
I used incense sticks. Either one or two depending on how much smoke I want.
I have it about 2 feet from my black background and use my 50mm f/1.8 set at f/8.
Because I don't have a good off camera flash I use a 2 second exposure and manually fire my old flash directed across the frame.
To get different colored smoke you can use colored gels over the flash or if you just want blue or yellow use sunlight or fluorescent light white balance instead of flash white balance.
I don't really use anything to control the smoke. I have a small light on so I can see what the smoke is doing and open the shutter when the smoke is doing something I think would be interesting. Expect to take lots and lots of shots. :)
Wrote all that and forgot to thank you both...so thank you :)
love it. looks like one of those swirly compact fluorescent light bulb's ghostly cousin.
These smoke photos are awesome. I love all the curly Q's. And our garage smells great! Wouldn't mind seeing some additional colors.
Hi Rob, thanks for the 'strobist info' - I tried the same thing myself, but did only use lamp lighting, not flash. I don't have a black background yet, only on cam flash, and that just doesn't look good.
Next time I'll try the same trick you did - total darkness and a separate flash. See if I can make it look as good as in your photos.
Coincidentally, I did my (not so good) version on the same day as you did the first in this series, I swear I didn't know that until today :-)
Els...your "not so good" version is still pretty cool. Much like my very first attempt several months ago but yours is better :)
you sir are a photographer. I like your photos and your style. You have definitely inspired me and I'm in Marina as well.
Thanks for the comment agellerphoto. Since you're here in Marina feel free to e-mail (see my profile for e-mail) sometime. I'm always looking for fellow photographers to go out on photo walks with.
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