Alien Tango

For "get pushed" this week Mike Gifford challenged me to do some smoke photography which, he'd rightly pointed out, i'd never tried before...

Tonight was my second attempt and I think I managed to improve on a couple of things...

1. Whether it was @humphreyhippo's suggestion to use the 50mm lens, or whether i did a better job at aiming the flash, or whether the teeny tweaks i did in lightroom paid off, i think i ended up with better usable images tonight...

2. i picked up a more true black bristol board from an art supply store which i think has helped with the background somewhat...

3. i used the colour mode instead of hue mode in the adjustment later...

The above is a composite - the same shot, each coloured up differently and one of them flipped...

A second smoke shot, processed in nik silver efex, in my other album...
http://365project.org/northy/just-because/2012-10-24

Thank you so much for all the views, comments, encouragement, suggestions and favs with this push...

[☠northy]

@mikegifford

[Jeff Walker]

um, I see a uterus and ovaries

[☠northy]

@jsw0109 ba haaaa! that prolly explains a lot about my kids ;p

[Caryn]

Love this. Didn't see the uterus, but now I do. Thanks, @jsw0109. Fav for me. Love the colors!

[Carla]

I see two deep sea creatures coming face to face. I will have to get some bristol board. Thanks for sharing your process.

[Sharon Lee]

love it... proud of you!

[KWind]

I really like this one and its two colours.

[Maggiemae]

Its very beautiful! I can't even see a face in it!

[Mike Gifford]

This is awesome! Excellent selection of colors! I see all sorts of things....for one a Fav! ;-) Hope you had fun!

[☠northy]

@mikegifford oh yes! lots! wonderful way of dispelling the stress of the day... i just wish i was more proficient and patient in PSE because i think that's where most of the artistry comes in... thank you so much for the push!

[Kerri]

So cool

[Sharyn's Shots シ]

Fantastic shot and processing. I hope to try this one day and be half as successful as you have been. Well done and fav.

[Lisa Pouncy]

I love these colours. You've managed to get a clear and perfect smoke shot on your second attempt! *applauds* xx

[John]

Looks like a lady garden :D

[Jo]

Love the colours and the composition. Well done.

[Humphrey Hippo]

Such cool shapes. Love the colours. :)

[Brenda T. Schwartz]

I like this one better than the 1st attempt. I see a uterus or two spines. Nice job!

[Peter de Graaff]

This is terrific

[Therese]

Awesome! Fav!!!

[Mike]

Excellent. Fav

[Janna Dawn Goldrup]

Yesterday's pattern was super cool, but colours and contrast on this one far superior (whoops...stating the obvious - not very helpful!)

[❀ Lynn]

I like this....haha @jsw0109 ...uterus and ovaries....hmmmm (I work the OR, I'm thinking not so much! lol) Seriously though...I love this. Whatever you see it's lovely (Ink blot tests?). Question....do you add the colour in post processing? (might be obvious, but I'm a novice).

[Karen H]

Better and better

[☠northy]

@lynnb yep... altho' some smoke can end up with very pretty colours that just need tweaking, for the most part i've been colouring in PSE after the fact...

[Simply Amanda]

Love it. A fav!! Your title is awesome, too!!!

[Stacey]

Now I can't stop thinking of biology class. Well done, love the colors you chose for the smoke.

[Cassandra Hoffmann]

Very cool! Love the colours and it's great smoke! I've only tried smoke once, aaaaaaaaaaaages ago and failed... will have to try again :)

[Velina]

Congrats on the PP! Perfect capture and processing!

[Nikki]

Well done. Looks awesone

[Jan Hall]

that's great! I think it looks like vertebrae

[Nada A.]

Awesome and a fav.