For Get Pushed 9, I was challenged by Michelle to "attempt a steel wool shot!"
While I understood the mechanics of the shoot, I had two obstacles to consider. Fire danger, and location. After thinking about it for several days, I threw both concerns in the bin and just did it in my driveway. In the middle of the forest. At the heights of fire season.
I now have a large sprinkler in the area, blanketing twice as much as it really needs to. I figure a good 568 gallons on the front lawn by morning should put out any smoldering sparks!
I am now selling some of my prints!
http://aaron-aldrich.artistwebsites.com
Born in San Francisco, raised in NW Montana, traveled the world for 23... learn more
Love it! I so want to try this out one day but living in the 'burbs doesn't make it easy to consider. I love that you just did it. Keep that water going!
Oh dear, now I have a brain-worm this morning ;) thanks to you - Looks like you had some seriously-outrageously-big-boy fun and it turned out amazing! I'm sure this is not the last time you're going to attempt this!
Damn....that's balls right there. Awesome. Stunning capture Aaron. Great setup, lighting and clarity. Fav. If there's another forest fire in your area, I'm not pointing fingers. But you may wanna join a relocation program. Just to be safe. Think...My Blue Heaven.
That looks great Aaron. i'm going to a "light art" photography work shop tomorrow night...on the foreshore, so hoping there will be a bit of steel wool flying around!!
Glad you did not set fire to your lawn. What sort of rigging do you need to do this? I think I asked someone this before, but I forget. Makes for an impressive effect...did it take many tries to get the shot?
@filsie65 Thanks Phil! @ozziehoffy Thanks so much Cassandra! I will definitely give it a go, in the snow! :) @tonydebont Haha, thanks Tony! @losthorizon Haha, thanks Beau! I have a couple reliable alibis lined up just in case! :)
@markyl Thanks so much Mark! @kamb Haha, thanks Karen, me too! :) @vickisfotos Haha, it isn't as bad as it seems... really :) Everyone needs a little hot molten steel wool in their lives! :)
@ayearinthelifeof Thanks Eddie! @simon0128 Thanks so much Simon! @onie That would be SO cool if there were; on a shoreline and everything! How cool would that be? :)
@sjodell Haha Sarah, I think I lost only a few! :) Now, if I were wearing sandals you might have seen a little dance too! :) @louiesphotos Thanks Louie! @mantha Thank you Samantha! @lwain Haha, so true Lindy! Thanks!
@newbie Thanks Stacey! I had some old "0000" super fine steel wool in a bag (you need "0" or finer). I also had an old spool of heavy wire, so I manufactured a ball out of it into which I could stuff pieces of the wool. I wired an old dog leash to the ball and I was set. I only had a few pieces of the wool, so I had to get it right in just a few tries. When I had finally set the whole rig up, my first obstacle was to light the wool. It wouldn't stay lit. Turns out, it won't "burn" until it is getting swung around in the air, then look out, spark city! I took 6 shots, three of which I kept and posted here on 365. Before I used the wool, I swung some light sticks around to get the timing and composition right (since I didn't have that much wool to sacrifice, and I figured the less I used the wool the less my chances of fire)!
Great effect! Just a hint.....a 9V battery will get steel wool going pretty good. If you don't believe me, just ask my parents carpet! It' won't get the sparks going but it will get it burning real fast.
@mittens Thanks Marilyn! @shadesofgrey Thanks Shades! I had seen that done on youtube and almost went that route when my lighter wasn't getting it done!
This shot was basically what the PP was invented for... :D Wow, seriously cool (or hot) shot! I've been reading about the technique several times, I may try it in the winter. Perhaps it would be less dangerous with half a meter of snow? :D
@joa Haha, thanks so much Johanna! It would be AWESOME in a half-meter of snow! :) @sueh Thanks so much Sue, it sounds like a GREAT project to do with your son! Good luck! @socalgal Haha, I just got a haircut today (the day after this shot) so most of the bald spots are now nicely blended in! :)
I think this one's my favorite. The pov is so different & it created an interesting shape. You did a great job on this challenge...but seriously, shorts!?! I warned you about my guilt level bring in direct correlation to you getting hurt at all!! Hope you are burn free!
@webfoot Thanks Paul! I would say the sparks flew about 10 to 20 feet from me. I would start spinning it really fast to get it burning really good, then slow it down, so the first sparks went quite a ways and the later ones just a few feet!
@copperheadglass Haha, don't be too sure Meredith! I probably struggle as much as the next person with a lot of these! :) @leananiemand Thanks so much Leana! :)
Having tried this recently, I know how much fum it can be. Your results are awesome and I definitely like this one the best. I know exactly what you mean about doing it in a public place; I was afraid the police would show up at any minute. Love your photo, and can't wait to go back and try it again!
@agentzuckerguss Haha Katia, yep! :) @ltodd Haha Lyn! Somehow, no hair loss! though I did get hit in the hand a couple of times! @jcarrollphoto Thanks Jim! Your shot was great and I really liked the back story!
incredible shot! with all the fires we have here in Washington right now, I don't think you wasted any of the gallons of water you used afterward to ensure that nothing ignited!
@dhostick Thanks Donna! I was pretty careful and had everything already laid out just in case something ignited. To be honest, I was more concerned about the neighbors beating me with sticks for being so foolish than I was about a fire! :)
@nikkic Haha, I figured it would pull a few people in! Heck, I'm singing it in my head now :)
@hopess13 Haha, thanks Rachel!
@giffy Thank you Giffy!
@orangecrush Haha, thanks so much Jerry!
@ozziehoffy Thanks so much Cassandra! I will definitely give it a go, in the snow! :)
@tonydebont Haha, thanks Tony!
@losthorizon Haha, thanks Beau! I have a couple reliable alibis lined up just in case! :)
@kamb Haha, thanks Karen, me too! :)
@vickisfotos Haha, it isn't as bad as it seems... really :) Everyone needs a little hot molten steel wool in their lives! :)
@simon0128 Thanks so much Simon!
@onie That would be SO cool if there were; on a shoreline and everything! How cool would that be? :)
@louiesphotos Thanks Louie!
@mantha Thank you Samantha!
@lwain Haha, so true Lindy! Thanks!
@digitalrn Haha, I guess I'm just crazy like that Rick! :)
@sassik Thanks Sassik!
@rejasemran Thanks Reja!
@tigerdreamer Thanks so much Karen!
@stoat Thanks Debbie!
@chrismarfil Thanks Chris!
@tonygig Thank you Tony!
@shadesofgrey Thanks Shades! I had seen that done on youtube and almost went that route when my lighter wasn't getting it done!
@sueh Thanks so much Sue, it sounds like a GREAT project to do with your son! Good luck!
@socalgal Haha, I just got a haircut today (the day after this shot) so most of the bald spots are now nicely blended in! :)
@john244 Haha, thanks so much John!
@leananiemand Thanks so much Leana! :)
@ltodd Haha Lyn! Somehow, no hair loss! though I did get hit in the hand a couple of times!
@jcarrollphoto Thanks Jim! Your shot was great and I really liked the back story!