Yet another smoke thread...

[lbcyalater]

So I finally got my 580II and the first thing I wanted to try was the smoke shots. All of these have minor PP (levels to throw the background out and then added some color) I really had fun with these shots, its like looking at ink blotches and trying to find something in them.

I do have a question out there for you fellow POTNers who have done these shots...are they supposed to be kinda grainy or am I doing something wrong?

Anyways C&C welcome and appreciated.

1.Three Headed Snake
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/3headedsnake.jpg

2. Unicorn
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/Unicorn.jpg

3. Arabian Guard
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/arabianguard.jpg

4. Blast off!
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/blastoff.jpg

5. Red Beauty
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/voluptuousalien.jpg

6. Old Surprise
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/oldsurprise.jpg


...there are a few more if anyone wants to see them...I didnt wanna go over the max amount of pix aloud.

[Elphaba]

I enjoy smoke series imagery... the music background in my life has me seeing a directors hand with a baton, in the "unicorn" one... with the smoke acting as music being directed from the hand to wrap around the wrist.

ETA: beautiful! :D

[khnordeen]

Smoke shots always amaze me, especially with the color changes. I recently got a 580ex and would love to try something like this. Would you mind posting your setup for these shots, or any general setup? I would really appreciate it. Thanks, and very nice work. :D

Kyle

[lbcyalater]

I enjoy smoke series imagery... the music background in my life has me seeing a directors hand with a baton, in the "unicorn" one... with the smoke acting as music being directed from the hand to wrap around the wrist.
lol yeah I see that as well :)

ETA: beautiful! :D

[quote=khnordeen;5780513]Smoke shots always amaze me, especially with the color changes. I recently got a 580ex and would love to try something like this. Would you mind posting your setup for these shots, or any general setup? I would really appreciate it. Thanks, and very nice work. :D
Thank you very much. Unfortunately I don't have a set up pic but all you need to do is set up a black backdrop and something to create the smoke (I used incense) and you wanna set up the focus with something in the area where the smoke is gonna be. I used my girlfriends hand lol.
Then you wanna set your cam anywhere from f8-f14 and shutter speed to 1/200 and aim the flash directly at the smoke or straight up...seemed to work both ways.. if you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

[khnordeen]

^No more questions here; the description was good enough for me. I will definitely be trying this out very soon. Thanks again for the little write up; I really appreciate it :D

Kyle

[lbcyalater]

here is a few more...


7. Hot Fro
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/afro.jpg

8. Dragon
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/greendragon.jpg

9. Mothers Love
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/motherslove.jpg

10. Rose
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/smokeyred.jpg

[kepople]

hey those came out great for your first try.

I have not tried it again since last time, but I have a couple ideas that would be cool...

Kirby

[ViciousCircle]

wonder how that fractalizer (not sure if that's exactly it) PS plugin would work on these types of shots...

[lbcyalater]

wonder how that fractalizer (not sure if that's exactly it) PS plugin would work on these types of shots...
feel free to try it :)

[Quarantine]

very nice. especially the last 2

[lbcyalater]

very nice. especially the last 2
thank you!

so anyone out there know bout the grain?

[lbcyalater]

man the B&W/ Experimental section has really died out...

[Grande Latte]

Wow. LOVE these smoking shots!

[collierportraits]

Cool stuff! I wonder how they'd look turned sideways (landscape) as an abstract?

Really beautiful stuff...

[incendy]

6. Old Surprise
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/oldsurprise.jpg




I love this one!

[sally_tomato]

yes that ^ is really something, looks to me like a standing model. i prefer the shots like this one in white/blue.
as for graininess...I cannot see it. maybe post a portion at 100%.
--alex.

[lbcyalater]

Cool stuff! I wonder how they'd look turned sideways (landscape) as an abstract?
Really beautiful stuff...
I did do one in lanscape, then I mirrored it and it turned out pretty cool. I will post it tonight if you care to see it. :)

yes that ^ is really something, looks to me like a standing model. i prefer the shots like this one in white/blue.
as for graininess...I cannot see it. maybe post a portion at 100%.
--alex.
Like the above comment, I will try and post this tonight

[lbcyalater]

...oh wait I do have one on me but its just a bit small

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/bat.jpg

[Bill Pham]

would love to do something like this. would you mind posting your setup so i can see how it's done. love them too.


Bill

[lbcyalater]

would love to do something like this. would you mind posting your setup so i can see how it's done. love them too.


Bill
sure just set up a black backdrop then pre focus where the smoke is gonna be and use incense for the smoke and shoot the flash straight at it in a dark room

[collierportraits]

How about this? More panoramic crop and upside down...? These are so fun! Keep it up!

[bChan]

oh man, amazing pictures!

[lbcyalater]

How about this? More panoramic crop and upside down...? These are so fun! Keep it up!
I seem to like these any which way lol (not cocky, I just do lol)
oh man, amazing pictures!
well thank you very much :)

[lbcyalater]

ok, Im finally home from work...so here is the 100% crop of #6
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/oldsurprisecrop.jpg

[lbcyalater]

ok ok ok, I just had to post this new one...tell me thats not an actual face in there lol
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/lbcyadan/colorface.jpg

[Caspita]

How exactly are you getting individual portions of the smoke to change colors?!?!?!

[lbcyalater]

How exactly are you getting individual portions of the smoke to change colors?!?!?!
lol well thats photoshop, Im using a gradient mask blended with hue and I just adjust what colors I want and the pattern I like.

[Caspita]

lol well thats photoshop, Im using a gradient mask blended with hue and I just adjust what colors I want and the pattern I like.

I first thought you were just using gels with your 580...but then thought to myself NO WAY :lol:

[lbcyalater]

I first thought you were just using gels with your 580...but then thought to myself NO WAY :lol:
lol yeah Im not that skilled

[Bill Pham]

How exactly are you getting individual portions of the smoke to change colors?!?!?!

lol well thats photoshop, Im using a gradient mask blended with hue and I just adjust what colors I want and the pattern I like.


well i was gonna ask that too. now i see how. well guess i'm gonna have to plunge in and try it myself. thanks for the tip :D

Bill

[lbcyalater]

no comment about the grain?

[lbcyalater]

bump

[sally_tomato]

as for grain, its hard to tell with the smoke, its hard to judge. personally I think you may be pixel peeping...the images are fantastic.
still, you might try it at iso100. I know with my 20d there is a noticeable improvement at 100. I do not use a flash, but from what I have read you should be able to keep aperture and shutter speed same, but crank up the flash power(??)

[Avi]

very nice attempt...

Thanks for sharing the image and the tip...

Avi