Photographing welding

Ady N

Ady N

Messages
1,815
Name
Adrian
Edit My Images
Yes
Any tips on capturing this? Am doing various engineering workshop shots and would like a welding shot but not sure how best to capture..............
 
The welding arc is far brighter than any other light source. I have neve done a close up, but I think experimenting in manual mode would be a starting point.

The danger is to your Eyes even through a Reflex viewfinder... very dangerous.

I have shots taken at a moderate distance and used live view and shielded my eyes..
 
ZoneV said:
Or welding glass? :)
Click to expand...

:lol: I would of thought so.

To the op, those very high ND filters, (or welding glass) were originally developed to allow shooting of this very intense light sources, like welding or molten metal for example. They are the way to do this
 
OK thanks, suspected nd filter but have not got one at the moment.

Cheers.
 
Welding glass, NOT an nd filter, the welding glass is designed specifically to filter the arc and save your eyesight. Everyone else in the welding shop will use welding glass, and if a welding arc can burn its image (semi) permanently into a retina, I wouldn't risk a dslr sensor.:cuckoo:

Id have thought the answer would be obvious to anyone.:thinking:

A bit like; shooting skydivers - would it be best to have a parachute too?
Or
Shooting Motorsport, is it safe to stand in front of the crash barrier on the exit of a bend?
 
Phil V said:
Welding glass, NOT an nd filter, the welding glass is designed specifically to filter the arc and save your eyesight. Everyone else in the welding shop will use welding glass, and if a welding arc can burn its image (semi) permanently into a retina, I wouldn't risk a dslr sensor.:cuckoo:

Id have thought the answer would be obvious to anyone.:thinking:

A bit like; shooting skydivers - would it be best to have a parachute too?
Or
Shooting Motorsport, is it safe to stand in front of the crash barrier on the exit of a bend?
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure why the (bad) sports analogies, but if you search theres lots of photos of welding(and other very high intensity) light sources available from DSLR's, so done properly it shouldn't hurt a DSLR. The original purpose of a 10 stop filter was to allow you to shoot those very intense industrial light sources.
 
Please please please - if you wear contacts DON'T on the day. Wear glasses for the day!

The arc of a weld can and will fuse the contact to your retina, and be over cautious, even catching the weld out of the corner of your eye or squinting at it will make you suffer - trust me - arc eye is VERY painful and sitting up all night wiping 'gunge' out of your streaming painful eyes is not a fun thing to do.

.DAVID.

(Yes I used to be a welder)
 
Last edited:
Harriers9 said:
You might find the old Elf and Saftee stepping in before you get chance to shoot
Click to expand...

Did somebody call.. ..

Regardless of what the camera is wearing, you need to be protecting your eyes from the welding light. And you need to make sure that any alterations to the work area you are making for the benefit of camera angles don't expose others in the workplace to the light.

Have you got an idea of the end result you want? What the shot is to look like. With an intense point light source from welding, ambient is going to be dark. Plan B is to fake it - but it depends on the end result you're looking for.


(btw, there's a relatively recent piece of relevant legislation - The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 - that anyone involved in welding as an employer should be aware of)
 
I do a lot of welding shots for certain customers. A wireless remote is a must, experiment with and without flash, it is one of the few occasions I shoot in manual as well.
 
you can buy welding glass from ebay thats the same size as the square p-filters, and you can also get cheap holders from ebay as well.

works well for welding and steel pouring from blast furnaces.
 
The glass is the only way forward, what welding are they doing? Mig tig or arc?
Also, no one has mentioned protection for your camera, any sparks or slag hitting your kit will cause damage no question. Will there be grinding? Probably so your going to have metallic dust and grinding compounds in the air, not good.
 
David Stallard said:
Please please please - if you wear contacts DON'T on the day. Wear glasses for the day!

The arc of a weld can and will fuse the contact to your retina,(Yes I used to be a welder)
Click to expand...

You're doing something a bit wrong if your contact is touching your retina - Cornea maybe
 
Willid1 said:
There have been a few welder shots on here

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=345015&highlight=welder

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=351514&highlight=welder

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=331406&highlight=welder

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=128526&highlight=welder

David
Click to expand...

3 nice shots from the link and pretty much the sort of thing I am looking to achieve - for company website & display prints. It does not seem they used a filter, just manual set up.........
I do MIG & TIG welding so am aware of the risks re arc eye. Did some with the laith yesterday but not had a chance to edit them yet.
 
YOU dont need filters just remember to keep the arc (direct light sorce) out of the lens use the object they welding to hide the main light.
sparks fumes add to atmospher welders do not move very fast so lo iso and slower shutter speeds can be used.
I am a welder and took loads of people welding
 
Simon photo said:
The glass is the only way forward, what welding are they doing? Mig tig or arc?
Click to expand...

Do you mean welding glass?........:thinking:

If people don`t know the effects of welding sparks, arc eye or slag, then they should stay away from trying to photograph welding.
 
fracster said:
Do you mean welding glass?........:thinking:

If people don`t know the effects of welding sparks, arc eye or slag, then they should stay away from trying to photograph welding.
Click to expand...

Yes, welding glass. But now i understand what the photographer requires then welding glass is probably no good. I thought he wanted to photograph the actual weld process (stick end) and not the welder as well
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top