son's photo assignment - fire

[ceriltheblade]

hey folks.
my son (5th grade) is doing a project of about 10 pics and we are doing a father - son thing with photography on the subject (very open) of fire.
we will be doing safe things and started coming up with ideas....

one of those ideas was trying to capture a match being lit while being struck against the box....
i was wondering if anyone had an idea how to accomplish this....
would the 100 macro with a small ET?
Any pitfalls besides missing the moment?

thanks for any other ideas

[AntonLargiader]

Not sure what "would the 100 macro with a small ET?" means but I would probably start with the 100 macro for this. I'd take some test shots to make sure the DOF was appropriate, then take some more shots to get the timing right (based on the position that I wanted the match to be in), then I'd take some actual match strikes and tweak the exposure. I'd put the camera on a tripod and hit a remote trigger as I struck the match, then adjust my own timing to get the right match position.

You will probably find that the match doesn't do a whole lot of burning while it is still against the matchbox, so you'll end up re-evaluating the desired match position. And the motion will be a problem, especially with the small DOF. It would be easiest if the motion were all in the same plane as the DOF, but I can't see that being practical (or interesting) as a shot.

[ceriltheblade]

sorry - small ET would be like the 12mm one - i.e. not getting to 2:1 but slightly larger than 1:1
though again....I am not sure.
your testing methods seem sound. I will have to try some of that this week I think. and truly the DOF is one consideration. I read one place on the net who used a 24-70 and then cropped a whole bunch....i might try the 1:2 or 1:4 of the 100mm first than something of that ilk. but i guess that's why we can always press "delete"

thanks for the ideas and for repsonding!

[B Koo]

If you don't need the actual match box in the photo you can use some sort of stand/holder for the match and light it with something else.

[ceriltheblade]

B Koo - that's an also idea too.
i was sort of hoping to catch the spark of the initial flame....though since it is for a fifth grade project....it may be that i will use that idea....
thanks

[AntonLargiader]

With a match held in a stand, you can light it pretty fast with a MAPP torch, meaning that you have control over the timing. It's a shot that's been done a thousand times already, but still a cool project.

It's all about the timing: managing the shutter lag along with the time it takes the flame to spread on the match head. The flame propagation will be pretty constant, so it really comes down to when the ignition starts and how you time the shutter press. A very hot torch will start the ignition at a more consistent time. Then you can tweak the timing to get the match when 30%, or 50%, or 75% of the surface is burning.

[B Koo]

^^^ That's basically what I was thinking. Having the match in a stand and the camera setup you eliminate having to deal with focus since the match is stationary. I'd try to use a remote if you can.

[gmillerf]

You could also hold the match stationary and drag the striker across it, which would make it seem more "real world". Another option is to strike the match along the plane of focus, so that it's always in focus.

Matches are cheap, so don't waste too much time coming up with a reliable process. Just start shooting and rely on some luck.

[Numenorean]

You got a 7D. Set it to high speed and the just fire off a ton of shots while someone is striking a match in the right spot. Clamp down the match box so it's exactly where you want, and then just repeatedly drag the match over it while shooting. You should get some interesting shots at some point I would think. Get your lighting and everything nailed down first.

[tonylong]

And, be prepared to do a lot of "test" shots!

[samsen]

I say go reverse.
Try keeping match stick hold steady at base by a tool such as mini bench clamp.
Focus on the top of stick as composition needed when camera on manual focus/exposure on a tripod.
Be picky for the background that shows your action best.
Drag the match box on the match stick to ignite.
Invert the image and should be a trial worth to go through.

[Thailander]

http://photography.nationalgeographi...ce=photomaindl

Came across this and it might help

[ceriltheblade]

thanks everyone for the suggestions. This week I am going to be buying a lot of matches for some experimentation with my son - i will use an amalgam of all the suggestions here. I will let y'all know what worked for us, when we get there (if!).
thanks for the link about photography around fire in general. It was indeed an interesting read. I think in my first set of experiments however, I will be shooting in full light and look to do something fancy of lighting a match in the low-light/dark. I expect it would need an expertise far greater than mine (and a patience far greater than my son's) to capture too much in such cases.