Wanting to generate mist/smoke effect outdoors...

theMusicMan

theMusicMan

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Hi All

I've been asked if I'd consider taking on a late evening outdoor model shoot, with several strobes etc, and with mist/smoke effects.

Simple question... can anyone advise how I'd generate this mist effect please...?

Thanks.
 
A smoke machine would be your best bet, it depends on your budget though. A cheaper, but less effective, alternative would be smoke bombs, either the ones used in paintballing or (even cheaper) the ones used to check for blocked chimneys/flues etc.
 
I use a 'Low Fog Machine', John, but if it's outside there's got to be practically zero wind... even a slight breeze and it's gone! Not really cost effective to buy a machine for a one off but have a google and maybe you'll find one for hire.

Otherwise, for a one off, dry ice may be a better bet. dryiceuk.com have a minimum order of 10Kg for around £50 plus VAT.
 
Either a smoke machine or a Hazer - but as said - zero wind. Contact a stage lighting hire company - they have them. Dry ice lies too low on the ground.
 
awp said:
Dry ice lies too low on the ground.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you're right of course, I should have qualified that. A great effect but maybe not what the OP is looking for.

Incidentally, a low fog machine has a similar effect by chilling the smoke either with ice or, on more expensive machines, built in refrigeration. This makes it hug the ground (although not as dramatically as dry ice). The smoke can be made to rise more by leaving out the ice.
 
Would it be possible to do it in post, or is it not really doable? (to an acceptable level that is).
 
Great advice here thanks all.

I couldn't really do the mist thing in post processing, as the location for the proposed shoot is a forest - which is great for natural mist, but not so great for PP'ing mist into the scene.

I've seen some smoke capsules which I must admit look great, not sure about the spread or density though... they do look pretty concentrated.
 
Build a small fire of to one side and bung on wet green grass plenty of smoke..
 
theMusicMan said:
Great advice here thanks all.

I couldn't really do the mist thing in post processing, as the location for the proposed shoot is a forest - which is great for natural mist, but not so great for PP'ing mist into the scene.

I've seen some smoke capsules which I must admit look great, not sure about the spread or density though... they do look pretty concentrated.
Click to expand...

Outdoors you'll really need a machine and a decent one at that. Have a read here, Joe McNally's quote sums it up really though 'using smoke machines on location is like herding cats' :lol:
 
With a smoke machine/Hazer- you'll almost certainly need a generator too.
 
Dry ice requires an almost constant supply or warm water. dropping the pellets in the water cools the water quite quickly and the effect doesn't work very well in cold water, if you put too much in the water will freeze.

If you can do that then contact BOC gasses, we just call in at their local place in Worsley and pick up a few bags of pellets.
Bucket of warm water and half a cup of dry ice gives you this
12850_167622183386_673418386_2899814_6897488_n.jpg

12850_167622188386_673418386_2899815_417381_n.jpg


about 3 cups and a bucket of hot water and you get this
12850_167622198386_673418386_2899816_6702489_n.jpg

But after the 3 cups the water was cold and began to freeze. 10 litres of hot tap water and a full kettle to cold with just 3 cups of dry ice. We had about 25kg (bought 30kg but it sublimes) of the stuff and it lasted 3-4 hours using half a cup at a time.

Personally get a fog machine, if you want the smoke to be lie low like dry ice then get a few lengths of 4" plastic bathroom waste pipe and cut some holes in, half fill it with ice and feed the fog machine nozle through the pipe, the ice cools the smoke/fog so it huggs the ground better.
 
Last edited:
RGD-2?

rgd2.jpg
 
Take a bag of charcoal and get a wee fire going nearby? This would be dependant on where your location is and the risk of setting fire to it of course...
 
John - a portable smoke machine is by far your best bet.

These people are one of the leaders in the field - http://www.lemaitreltd.com/productCategory.aspx?UKeyCategory=8 (see Mini Mist and Microfog).

Give the smoke plenty of backlighting and it'll work a treat for both stills and moving pictures at night. Zero wind is best (as others have said). You'll need an assistant to operate the machine (a smokeperson!) otherwise you'll gobble up fuel canisters at a rate or knots. Carry the machine in one hand and use a sheet of hardboard or stiff cardboard in the other to waft the smoke where you want.
 
PS. Just noticed the proposed location is a forest. Mini Mist and Microfog are mains so you'd need a portable generator. You can get battery powered smoke machines but they generally have less wellie and they take longer to get going.
 
Little John said:
Dry ice requires an almost constant supply or warm water. dropping the pellets in the water cools the water quite quickly and the effect doesn't work very well in cold water, if you put too much in the water will freeze.

If you can do that then contact BOC gasses, we just call in at their local place in Worsley and pick up a few bags of pellets.
Bucket of warm water and half a cup of dry ice gives you this
12850_167622183386_673418386_2899814_6897488_n.jpg

12850_167622188386_673418386_2899815_417381_n.jpg


about 3 cups and a bucket of hot water and you get this
12850_167622198386_673418386_2899816_6702489_n.jpg

But after the 3 cups the water was cold and began to freeze. 10 litres of hot tap water and a full kettle to cold with just 3 cups of dry ice. We had about 25kg (bought 30kg but it sublimes) of the stuff and it lasted 3-4 hours using half a cup at a time.

Personally get a fog machine, if you want the smoke to be lie low like dry ice then get a few lengths of 4" plastic bathroom waste pipe and cut some holes in, half fill it with ice and feed the fog machine nozle through the pipe, the ice cools the smoke/fog so it huggs the ground better.
Click to expand...
Hi Little John, Really liking your pictures. How much does BOC gases charge for the pellets

Thanks
 
I can't remember exactly but it was less than £50 for the 3 bags possibly about £12 per bag I think.
 
EL wire on long exposure can give a smokey effect but needs practice to get it right.

Presumably you'll all be driving to this forest? Go there on a cold night and leave the engine running lol
 
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