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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> How would i photograph steam?
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Showing posts 1 - 18 of 18, (reverse)
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 12/19/2006 03:49:57 PM · #1
Ok well i cant get too much into it but im doing a picture, and it involves steam, its not huge but i need a way to make it steam. I thought about just using a peice of burning paper and blow it out and it will make smoke, but would that look kind of fake or too thick. I was also thinking of using insence but again, would that look fake? or how about using like a 1-2 second exposure to make it more fluid looking. Anyone who has delt with this in the past can you give me some pointers?
 12/19/2006 03:54:35 PM · #2
Any kind of smoke/steam is best photographed with a dark background and light from the sides. I have done smoke, but not steam, so I can't say for sure, although common sense and logic tell me it should be done the same way. I would think a long exposure will make it look like mist, blurry and all. With smoke to capture the shapes etc you usually use a high shutter speed.
 12/19/2006 03:58:37 PM · #3


Just as ignite mentioned. Black background with side light. No breeze from movement either.
 12/19/2006 03:59:16 PM · #4
I've messed around with a fog machine and would have to agree with ignite, stick with a dark background and some side or slightly back light. Mess around with shutter speeds too. It's neat to see its sharp shapes but it's also cool to get that fluid effect. Have fun! 8o)
 12/19/2006 04:17:50 PM · #5
Hmm ok, i was going to incorperate a LCD screen in the background with an image showing but your right about the dark background, gunna have to change things a bit. Do you think a light from below would harm the image? With that teapot, was that real steam or smoke? im trying to find a way to make the "steam" itself. Ill fiddle around with it i guess :S
 12/19/2006 04:33:38 PM · #6
That was real steam. Helps if you can do it in a cold room too. Open a window for a while (if it's winter) and then close it when you do the shot (don't want the breezes).
 12/19/2006 04:38:01 PM · #7
Hmm good idea, my garage is cold as hell lol, that'd work ;) what time do challenges usually end, the submitting period? that time during the day that is. Not sure how much time i have left lol
 12/19/2006 04:38:42 PM · #8
with a camera?
 12/19/2006 04:39:48 PM · #9
Originally posted by kawana:
Hmm good idea, my garage is cold as hell lol, that'd work ;) what time do challenges usually end, the submitting period? that time during the day that is. Not sure how much time i have left lol

Challenges end at midnight, server time (look at the bottom of every page).
 12/19/2006 04:40:09 PM · #10
Originally posted by kawana:
Hmm good idea, my garage is cold as hell lol, that'd work ;) what time do challenges usually end, the submitting period? that time during the day that is. Not sure how much time i have left lol


The challenges end at 12:00AM EST. Calculate based on where you live what time this will be for you. On the West Coast USA it's 9:00 PM, for example.
 12/19/2006 04:42:42 PM · #11
BTW: just to be picky, what you are photographing is condensed water vapor -- steam is the invisible gas between what you photographed and the spout of the teapot : )
 12/19/2006 04:45:37 PM · #12
Originally posted by GeneralE:
BTW: just to be picky, what you are photographing is condensed water vapor -- steam is the invisible gas between what you photographed and the spout of the teapot : )


BTW, just to be pedantic, that's only one definition of steam. Is it worse to be picky and be wrong, or be quiet and think you are right ? ;)

steam n.
1.
1. The vapor phase of water.
2. A mist of cooling water vapor.
2.
1. Pressurized water vapor used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical power.
2. The power produced by a machine using pressurized water vapor.
3. Steam heating.
3. Power; energy.

Message edited by author 2006-12-19 16:46:33.
 12/19/2006 04:50:21 PM · #13
Originally posted by Gordon:
... Is it worse to be picky and be wrong ...

No, otherwise you never learn anything new : )

Of course, I still get steamed when some smart-aleck posts their correction in less than three minutes.
 12/19/2006 04:59:18 PM · #14
Originally posted by kawana:
Ok well i cant get too much into it but im doing a picture, and it involves steam, its not huge but i need a way to make it steam. I thought about just using a peice of burning paper and blow it out and it will make smoke, but would that look kind of fake or too thick. I was also thinking of using insence but again, would that look fake? or how about using like a 1-2 second exposure to make it more fluid looking. Anyone who has delt with this in the past can you give me some pointers?

Do you have a steam iron? Even a non-steam iron might work. Get a towel wet, then press a hot iron onto it. That should make some steam... which would quickly turn into visible water vapor. :D

12/19/2006 05:04:46 PM · #15
a kettle is probably the easiest, most contained and simple way to make steam
 12/19/2006 05:19:05 PM · #16
ya a kettle would be best but for the object its being used on it needs to be coming from it, so ill probably just set up everything in my garage cuz its bloody freezing in there (im from Canada, its cooold here right now lol) then bring some boiling water or something similar, poor it, and shoot it quickly lol, then repeat. We'll see how this works.
12/19/2006 10:54:18 PM · #17
If the kettle isn't actually in the pic, you can get puffs by working the lid up and down. And, be careful, but Hurry!! :)
12/19/2006 11:18:06 PM · #18
Originally posted by kawana:
ya a kettle would be best but for the object its being used on it needs to be coming from it, so ill probably just set up everything in my garage cuz its bloody freezing in there (im from Canada, its cooold here right now lol) then bring some boiling water or something similar, poor it, and shoot it quickly lol, then repeat. We'll see how this works.


if its so cold, just photograph your breath. Actually being cold should help. You may have great steam effects.
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