The first experiment with the off camera flash was to revisit smoke photography. I found following the tutorial at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2d281_HoEQ quite easy to follow.
The set up had the flash abut 40 cm from the smoke (quite a lot closer that I expected) and it is important not to get light on the background (the black background about a metre behind an incense stick).
Processing
This shot just required some levels and minor curves adjustment. If you dont use layers you could increase contrast and then invert the shot in Picnik, and then check contrast again.
It is surprising how much 'colour' is in smoke. I have not applied any fancy filters or colours to this shot.
I'm experimenting with smoke coming out of my incense holder at the moment but I just haven't got the mood of the shot right yet. Unlike your shot, this is brilliant. Well done. fav.
@bdb3471 thanks Brian! will add more set up details later, but the main difference to my attempts in July were a blackened room and fastidiously avoiding any light on the black cardboard backdrop. I used a small side desk lamp (other side to the flash) which made the smoke just visible enough so auto focus could work. I had " cardboard blinkers" on both the flash & the lamp to avoid any stray light. Apart from getting asthma from the incense, it was pretty straight forward to shoot. This is the first in the series I'm going to post.
@aspada thanks Amy - the August Abstract exercises did broaden my preferences in visual art. Thank-'you'!
I am not sure about the little wisp on the left, but this shot was chosen at random, to show the simplicity of smoke photography, so I deliberately did not clone it out.
I am not sure about the little wisp on the left, but this shot was chosen at random, to show the simplicity of smoke photography, so I deliberately did not clone it out.