Podcast #56 how to photograph smoke

[clusty]

Hey,

Was wondering if you had any experience or ideas about how to photograph smoke.

This is going to be my next tryout anyways and would love all the help I can get.

[Marko]

A very good suggestion clusty!

I'm sort of behind on the podcasts because each one takes a bit of work and suggestions seem to be coming in rapidly...but this one really floats my boat so I'll see how quickly I call pull it off.

Thanks much!

[Marko]

This podcast just went live.
http://www.photography.ca/blog/?p=155
Thanks so much again Clusty!

[PKMax]

I'm a numpty, I didn't realise there was a new podcast hehe, wondered where the smoke pics came from :)

and just because you asked to prove you wrong regarding using continuous lighting heh..

This was taken in a homemade cardboard softbox, lit from behind with a 50w desklamp (I am a fan of the desklamps lol)

had to up the ISO, but still, it's possible heh.

820

[Marko]

Nice shot PK! Thanks for proving me wrong!
Actually I know it can be done with continuous light source. It's just harder...and you have less control (can't easily make the light much brighter or much weaker). This is useful for smaller DOF and/or faster shutter speeds to get better sharpness throughout.

[Richard]

Firstly,well done for these great podcasts, I only discovered them last week, so I am on listening catch up.

This is a shot from my first smoke shoot, I'm saving for a speedlight so had to lightup with household bulbs, and raise the iso.

http://content.snapixel.com/content/EBS1/m/Richard_d2b54e103452.jpg?c=1712

For my set up I used 3 35 watt compact fluorescents, one from each side, and the third one I placed under an up turned glass bowl.

I placed my candle on top of the glass bowel, and then got the camera focused on the tip of the candle. In order to get a fast(ish) shutter time to freeze the smoke and a small(ish) aperture to try to keep it all in focus, I had to set the iso to 400 which is a little bit too grainy. (I will have another go when I get more powerful lighting.)

I placed some black cardboard for my back drop and tried stop my lights from spilling onto it. Then I blew out the candle and shot on continuous drive till the smoke ran out.

[Marko]

Nice play Richard - I like! For even more fun, try incense; it's easier.

[Stroke]

Hey Marko,

Thanks for taking the time to do these Podcasts! Its pretty tricky but I got a few that worked.

[Marko]

Thanks Stroke! Glad you are having fun with it!

That's one of the amazing things about podcasts....I did this one well over a year ago and people will still be learning from it in a few years. (Pat, pat :))