Smoke Photography

[tortuga]

To anyone inerested, shooting smoke is a fun thing to do, especially if you are feeling creative and stuck indoors. Here's something I posted a while back on another forum while I was experimenting with smoke photography. The basic setup is to burn incense in a dark room with a black background. Shine light on the smoke and/or use a flash, then play away in PS. Lots of trial and error.

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I was playing again last night and I agree about the lots-o-lite. I darken the room and use a LED flashlight to shine on the smoke for framing and focus. I use a cheap external flash to light the frame so I can point it from the side or even from behind. I would rather not use the onboard flash because it tends to light the BG but I have to use it to trigger the flash. I have it set to the minimum manual setting for this. I also found that putting some distance between the camera and the smoke is a good way to add to the DOF and since the flash is separate, it can be close.

Also, distance from the smoke to the BG will give you a darker BG.

Don't try to use a higher ISO for more light cuz smoke is pretty noisy already. With this setup, I was able to shoot with my D300 at ISO 200, 1/320 (as fast as I can synch) and f11. I think I'm gonna try one of my more powerful underwater strobes next time.

Then there's Photoshop.....

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...and here are a couple examples of the results:


Escape from a Burning Building




Blue Nude




Confusion




Desire




Rasta Couple

[Sylvias]

wow, absalutely amazing! i will have try that@ unfortunatly i dont have photoshop...or photoshop skills for that matter lolbut i will still try to photographthe smoke

[gldiana]

Absolutely fantastic! And thanks for the tips, I never photographed smoke.
But... weren't you banned from posting nude photos? LOL

[Bonish Photo]

Mike, thanks for the quick tutorial! This will be something I'll have to try while I'm stuck indoors on a rainy day

That would make an awesome series

[Sylvias]

so you have any shots that are more..raw? like without the added colors and all cause some of us...namely me...are technologically inept and can't use photoshop..or don;t even have it lol and i wonder what juswt the plain smoke looks like

[Tom B.]

Mike - nothing short of awesome! The clarity and crispness is just great! Thanks for sharing the details...

Tom B.

[Pokie]

Mike - those pics are ... sorry, I can't help it ... smokin'...

Definitely on the gotta-try-it list!

Pokie

[tortuga]

so you have any shots that are more..raw? like without the added colors and all cause some of us...namely me...are technologically inept and can't use photoshop..or don;t even have it lol and i wonder what juswt the plain smoke looks like

Here is what you can expect from a well exposed smoke shot with no post processing.

If you are really interested in digital photography, you have to get - and learn to use - some editing software. It's just as much a part of digital photography as your memory card or camera. Costco sells photoshop elements for about $70. That does most anything you need to do. I believe their is even free software that will work. Going without is like saying you are interested in tennis but can't play because you don't have a racket.

[kombizz]

indeed you captured very beautiful series.