Smoke art? How do you do it?

[BGilbert]

Hi guys,

As above really. Ive seen some great stuff posted on here of smoke art, and have always wanted to learn how to do it. Anyone out there willing to offer some advice on setups and how to actually do it?

Thanks in advance.

Ben

 

[ka$h]

Have you had a look here Ben?

 

[BGilbert]

Thanks for that.

 

[Keenbfb]

Youtube is your friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2d281_HoEQ&annotation_id=annotation_876797&feature=iv

 

[John.D]

Yay for Photogavin!

 

[Rob.Richards]

For anyone not bothered to look at the links, in a dark room Inormally use black matt background, incense stick in front of it with a flash just behind it and to the left pointing in the direction of the smoke. Use a wooden spoon or such like to manually focus on the area where the smoke will go then experiment with aperture etc and moving the air around to create interesting patterns! HTH.

 

[BGilbert]

The youtube videos are very helpful. Im going to give it a go tonight, might try and watch a few of his other tutorials, very easy to follow and very informative. Thanks for the link.

 

[BGilbert]

Just home, and thought about trying this out, but I think im stuck. I dont have a wireless or cable flash release, I have the cable release for the shutter, but not the flash.

Is there any way I can do it with the gear I have? Or will I have to buy a flash release cable?

 

[anwa]

Just home, and thought about trying this out, but I think im stuck. I dont have a wireless or cable flash release, I have the cable release for the shutter, but not the flash.

Is there any way I can do it with the gear I have? Or will I have to buy a flash release cable?

The first time I tried smoke photos, I bounced a camera mounted flash off a mirror to light the smoke from the rear and to one side. I used some cardboard taped to the flashgun head to snoot the flashlight and swivelled the flash head towards the angled mirror:

 

[john_s]

Just home, and thought about trying this out, but I think im stuck. I dont have a wireless or cable flash release, I have the cable release for the shutter, but not the flash.

Is there any way I can do it with the gear I have? Or will I have to buy a flash release cable?

If you can get the room dark enough, you could set a longish shutter speed, trip the shutter release, and hand-holding the flash, pop the flash manually with its button.