Playing with the Photographic Possibilities of Steel Wool...

[Remorhaz]

Another post sunset shoot - thanks Suren, Gerry and Cam a most enjoyable and enlightening evening.

Gerry gives us a great show - 6:20PM and about the end of twilight

Whirling Dirvish

NIKON D7000 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm, 30 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Ring of Fire

NIKON D7000 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 19 mm, 35 sec at f/8, ISO 200

We then try with Gerry up on the cliff tops swirling fire down onto the rocks below - which works a treat except for the very small grass fire we're putting out down below...

Fiery Outcrop

NIKON D7000 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 19 mm, 120 sec at f/11, ISO 200

Last shot of the evening (7:05PM) and we've moved back down onto the flat rock area so we can see where all the sparking material lands and bounces around on the rocks

Fiery Fountain

NIKON D7000 + 17.0-50.0 mm f/2.8 @ 42 mm, 120 sec at f/11, ISO 200

[Stolky]

Wow!

[aim54x]

Rodney your images turned out really well!

[Remorhaz]

Rodney your images turned out really well!

Thanks Cam - other than some cropping work (had no idea really where the stuff was going to fly or how big) and some relatively simple PP I didn't have to do any major PP which was I though pretty good considering all the exposure guessing we were doing.
Once it got dark though (e.g. the last two images) I think we were pretty safe - the steel wool only lasted like 15-30 seconds so the rest of the time is just starting before anything happens so you catch the start and exposing a little for what minimal background light there was or light painting as we kind of tried to do with the cliff shot (so bulb mode and having a programmable remote really made this much easier)

[Matt. K]

Rodney
They are crazy and bizaar and rather excellent images! I'm wondering how much further that you can take that technique? IE, using colour filters or adding some flash to introduce another element of the subject. Portrait maybe?

[Remorhaz]

Rodney
They are crazy and bizaar and rather excellent images! I'm wondering how much further that you can take that technique? IE, using colour filters or adding some flash to introduce another element of the subject. Portrait maybe?

Suren had some great ideas (we actually brought flashes, light stands, light modifiers and other gear) and had even drawn some lighting diagrams, etc - but unfortunately we ran out of time before trying them - there's always next time however and I think we've already learned some things this time for next time.

[biggerry]

The first one is by far the best imo, the twilight sky coupled with that really defined rock profile works a real treat. I reckon this one works just as good even with the wind blowing all the debris behind rather in front. That said I reckon it would have looked pretty mad with the rocks in te foreground covered in the debris.

The second last one is the next best one. The one from my camera worked quite well on this one and that little bit of accidental light painting on teh foreground rocks works very well. I think Suren was on the right track to really light paint those foreground rocks that would have made it really special.

All in all its not that terribly difficult, I think with a bit of thought about where to position the person (ie on isolated rock like teh first) and couple this with a good blue twilight sky and one other key element, maybe the foreground sprayed with debris? and you have a winner.

[Remorhaz]

The first one is by far the best imo, the twilight sky coupled with that really defined rock profile works a real treat. I reckon this one works just as good even with the wind blowing all the debris behind rather in front. That said I reckon it would have looked pretty mad with the rocks in te foreground covered in the debris.

Yep for me too

The second last one is the next best one. The one from my camera worked quite well on this one and that little bit of accidental light painting on teh foreground rocks works very well. I think Suren was on the right track to really light paint those foreground rocks that would have made it really special.

For me I think I like the second and last next best - I don't much care for the compo of the last but I like the spray of sparks on the ground . In my version of #3 I darkened the light painting at the bottom as I found it too bright (plus I'd rather we used warmer lights rather than cold LEDs - perhaps CTO next time?)

All in all its not that terribly difficult, I think with a bit of thought about where to position the person (ie on isolated rock like teh first) and couple this with a good blue twilight sky and one other key element, maybe the foreground sprayed with debris? and you have a winner.

Yep - as I mentioned about the last you're idea of seeing the sparks fly in the foreground was a good call.

[colin_12]

Was Gerry wearing woolen undies?
Nice efforts gents

[biggerry]

Was Gerry wearing woolen undies?
Nice efforts gents

nope...but i had safety glasses...

[Willy wombat]

Love these images

[surenj]

Was Gerry wearing woolen undies?

Damn, we forgot to do that routine check.

[Remorhaz]

Was Gerry wearing woolen undies?

Damn, we forgot to do that routine check.

Uhh yeah... checking down Gerry's pants - I don't think so

[aim54x]

Uhh yeah... checking down Gerry's pants - I don't think so

[biggerry]

Was Gerry wearing woolen undies?

Damn, we forgot to do that routine check.

Uhh yeah... checking down Gerry's pants - I don't think so

Uhh yeah... checking down Gerry's pants - I don't think so

awww c'mon...on second thoughts....nahh..plus, you clowns have enough pictures of my ass already.

are we off topic yep, i even forgot what thread i was in

[zafra52]

Haven't we see this before?
But, I agree with biggerry that' the first
one has more detail and is the best.

Ooops! I had one glass of wie too many.

[Geoff M]

First for me too. The contrast of the deep blue in the sky with the glow of the burning steel wool works very well. Very much a hit and miss with framing, exposure and timing I would think.

[Remorhaz]

First for me too. The contrast of the deep blue in the sky with the glow of the burning steel wool works very well. Very much a hit and miss with framing, exposure and timing I would think.

Framing yes but exposure and timing was reasonably OK even with mostly guessing.

Basically just exposed for the twilight light when it was there so the background exposure was reasonably OK and let Gerry do his thing. Once the sun was completely gone it was actually easier - I was just running some 2 min exposures to gather a bit of extra ambient light and as long as the light show (which only lasts about 20-30 seconds) was anywhere inside that we were good.