'Playing with Fire'

[Kev Pugh]

Not really playing with it as such, that would be daft and me an ex fire officer too. But the theme I set myself today for a little bit of experimental work was smoke.

I wanted to create something using smoke that would give a bit of depth and meaning to the shot. Well as I still had some of my old Fire Kit, I thought it would make a nice set so here are two finals.....with slightly different lighting.

I also wanted to keep the kit down to a minimum so...

Black backdrop, D80 tripod mounted Flash set to commander mode, off camera speedlight Metz AF 48 set to Slave, 1/200 f11 ISO 100. PP PS CS3

FX Lab Smoke Machine plus tubing to direct smoke under pre burned timber flooring.

Thanks for looking

 

[Glen Roberts]

I don't know what it is but I really like the first one. I think the sepia? tint really bring our the smoke in that one more.

 

[Dave Moss]

I prefer the first one as well seems more atmospheric

 

[Pete Askew]

Yes, it's the first one too (and not just because it's square!). I suspect that the second is more realistic and therefore 'on-theme' but I like the patterns in the smoke in the first (especially around the nozzle) and the slightly greater dynamic range.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Yep, the lighting has really picked up the smoke in #1 - very effective

You could play with strong side or back lighting to really make smoke stand out from a black backdrop

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Number one for me dude!
Was getting my hopes up, I was ready too witness an ex fire officer playing with fire! Doh!
Lol. Great set up and treatment

 

[Kev Pugh]

Thanks for the feedback guys and Dan! me! play with fire! been burnt too many times!.............. and metaphorically speaking too

 

[Hamish Gill]

They ate really good Kev! Great atmos!
I have one comment ...
You have a smoke machine ... I didn't tell me ...
Does it run off 12v?

 

[Kev Pugh]

Cheers Hamish, I do indeedie have a smoke machine........it doesn't run off 12v but;
1. I have a portable gene, well it's not that heavy, and
2. I have a 12 - 240 converter for the car..

and finally I wanted to punch it up a bit to bring out the polished aluminium Branch (Techie Fire Service Jargo for a water squirting device)....................comments please. Interestingly I may have sold number 1

 

[Hamish Gill]

I def prefer this one... looks more "real"!
Good work on the sale!

 

[Pete Askew]

I like the highlights much better in this version although it is a very different image - the first was more subtle in some ways - but I think I like it more. I find the border a bit too wide in this version though.