HOW TO DO SMOKE PHOTOGRAPHY 1. Set up in a dark room on a table with a black cloth and a black backdrop - either fabric or cardboard 2. Set up an off-camera flash directly next to the incense stick. Ideally the flash should be turned on its side to create a narrow, focused light on the smoke only. 3. Attach a flag (barn door or improvised black cardboard) on either side of the flash to contain and direct the light. 4. Flash settings: Manual, quarter power. 5. Camera Settings: ISO 100 or max 200, Shutter: 1/125 or max 1/160, Aperture F8 or F110. 6. If the shot is too bright first lower the flash settings or go to F11. Note that bringing down the shutter speed will not make a difference because the light freezes the action not the camera shutter speed. 7. Put up a constant light source on the opposite side ie. torch or bedside lamp, to set up and focus before shooting. 8. Using Auto Focus, focus on the burning red tip of the incense stick while the light is on. Then switch to manual focus and switch off the light. 9. Aim to shoot just above the incense stick. 10. Move your hand gently around the incense to change the smoke pattern. 11. Start shooting!
LIGHT MAKES PHOTOGRAPHY. EMBRACE LIGHT. ADMIRE IT. LOVE IT. ABOVE ALL, KNOW LIGHT. KNOW IT FOR ALL YOU ARE WORTH & YOU WILL KNOW THE KEY TO PHOTOGRAPHY. G. Eastman
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