Photographing smoke - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

11/24/2003 08:24:31 PM · #1

I would like to photograph smoke with a black background but the only way I found to really capture it is with flash and that ruins the rest of the shot......

any ideas????

jdw91479

Olympus E-300 EVOLT

11/24/2003 08:34:17 PM · #2

I used two flashlights for this shot. I angled them each from the side at about a 45 degree angle. It did give me harsh lighting on the ashtray, but I was trying for that. I've tried to duplicate it for other challenges, and it just didn't work the way I would have liked it to. Smoke always seems quite hard to photograph. I'd like to see tips on this as well.

Here is the image that I was able to photograph the smoke:
//www.deviantart.com/deviation/1434422/

tfaust

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/24/2003 08:38:58 PM · #3

I loved this shot by Quadrajet with smoke - there is a bit of explanation on how it was done, but a 'tutorial' of sorts on photographing smoke would be great.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/24/2003 08:39:46 PM · #4

Originally posted by tfaust:

I loved this shot by Quadrajet with smoke - there is a bit of explanation on how it was done, but a 'tutorial' of sorts on photographing smoke would be great.

Add me, loved it, and still do. Very good.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/24/2003 08:49:02 PM · #5

Originally posted by tfaust:

I loved this shot by Quadrajet with smoke - there is a bit of explanation on how it was done, but a 'tutorial' of sorts on photographing smoke would be great.

Ya but I don't have a soft box... :-( and the harsh flash is ruining the rest of the shot....

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

11/24/2003 09:12:34 PM · #6

The few times I've tried the main problem seems to be that the auto-focus (all some of us have) can't lock in on the smoke. I think prefocusing on something at the same distance and then pointing at the smoke would help a lot.

space amoeba

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/24/2003 09:33:12 PM · #7

Funny this should come up now. I spent the better portion of a night trying to photograph incense smoke for the aroma challenge. I couldn't do it either. Like you, I found that the flash was necessary to capture the smoke, but that using it ruined the rest of the shot. The best it got was when I used a very dark background and diddled extensively with the contrast/brightness settings. In the end, I didn't get a thing I was happy with and had to think of something else.

For the record, I'd love to see a tutorial on this as well.

sonnyh

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/24/2003 09:33:57 PM · #8

I didn't have any problem photographing smoke the day I took a picture of a tree and had a cigarette in my hand that was smoking right by the lens. I didn't focus on the smoke yet it came up lear and strong in my photo. In fact I didn't even notice it while I was looking through the viewfinder. Maybe that was the secret to success. Have it right up against the lens. LOL

scab-lab

Canon EOS-D60

11/24/2003 09:39:55 PM · #9

Smoke works great if you side light it. I used a 100 watt bulb in a clamp on reflector to the left of the incense bottle. I kept the black poster board background far behind to keep any light from falling on it.
I used a spot meter for the light falling on the bottle to get a decent exposure.

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/24/2003 10:09:58 PM · #10

Originally posted by kosmikkreeper:

Ya but I don't have a soft box... :-( and the harsh flash is ruining the rest of the shot....

It's quite easy to build a soft box. In fact it often needn't be a box nor attach to your light depending on the room you're shooting in. You can pick up sheer fabric at the craft store, or the inexpensive plastic table cloths at party supply stores, or even frosted shower curtains from your home store.

Once you have your material of choice you can go various routes. The simplest is to form a cone from the material and tie the top with string and suspend. Simply place your object inside and position your lights outside. Light tents like these can be $60 or more in camera stores. You can create something similar for a few dollars.

You can also build a frame out of PVC pipe. It's inexpensive and requires no skill to put together. Material can be clamped or glued to a rectangular frame or simply draped over a box shaped frame. (Hint: build a large over-sized rectangle and use it as a diffuser for outdoor portraits, flowers, still lives, etc.)

You could use heavy wire to form circles and other shapes with the material attached. They need not be perfect so it's a good use for those crappy wire hangars from the dry cleaner.

adine

Canon EOS-10D

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

11/24/2003 10:28:53 PM · #11

I just shot this in front of a black sheet, one light angled into the smoke from the side, focused with a bit of aluminum foil and a light infront and a bit below to illuminate the flute. Was just careful not to light the backdrop.

or the cleaned up post challenge version:

may have been just one light...the point is to angle it so that it catches the smoke.

Message edited by author 2003-11-24 22:30:00.

joanns

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

11/25/2003 11:05:38 AM · #12

Originally posted by scab-lab:

Scab-Lab, what did you use to product the smoke? It appears to be inscence, is that correct?

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

11/25/2003 11:27:28 AM · #13

Originally posted by joanns:

Originally posted by scab-lab:
Smoke works great if you side light it. I used a 100 watt bulb in a clamp on reflector to the left of the incense bottle. I kept the black poster board background far behind to keep any light from falling on it.
I used a spot meter for the light falling on the bottle to get a decent exposure.

Scab-Lab, what did you use to product the smoke? It appears to be inscence, is that correct?

And what were yoru settings???

Pedro

Nikon D200

11/25/2003 11:29:30 AM · #14

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:

Originally posted by kosmikkreeper:
Ya but I don't have a soft box... :-( and the harsh flash is ruining the rest of the shot....

It's quite easy to build a soft box. In fact it often needn't be a box nor attach to your light depending on the room you're shooting in. You can pick up sheer fabric at the craft store, or the inexpensive plastic table cloths at party supply stores, or even frosted shower curtains from your home store.

Once you have your material of choice you can go various routes. The simplest is to form a cone from the material and tie the top with string and suspend. Simply place your object inside and position your lights outside. Light tents like these can be $60 or more in camera stores. You can create something similar for a few dollars.

You can also build a frame out of PVC pipe. It's inexpensive and requires no skill to put together. Material can be clamped or glued to a rectangular frame or simply draped over a box shaped frame. (Hint: build a large over-sized rectangle and use it as a diffuser for outdoor portraits, flowers, still lives, etc.)

You could use heavy wire to form circles and other shapes with the material attached. They need not be perfect so it's a good use for those crappy wire hangars from the dry cleaner.

Love to see a demo photo of what you're talking about here. I kinda get it, but my brain's leaking a little of the info out.

Pedro

scab-lab

Canon EOS-D60

11/25/2003 12:03:55 PM · #15

I used inscense for the smoke. Ill have to check the shot data when I get home...I took that shot about a year ago. :)

Quadrajet

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

11/25/2003 12:10:22 PM · #16

Originally posted by kosmikkreeper:

Originally posted by tfaust:
I loved this shot by Quadrajet with smoke - there is a bit of explanation on how it was done, but a 'tutorial' of sorts on photographing smoke would be great.

Ya but I don't have a soft box... :-( and the harsh flash is ruining the rest of the shot....

I guess I failed to mention that my soft box is a cardboard box lined with aluminum foil and a plastic shopping bag (white) taped over the large opening the light exits from. It is VERY VERY primitave, but extremely effective for shots like "The Smoking Gun".

When I get a chance I'll take some pictures of it...but it probably won't be for a day or two.