advice on using dry ice with curling stone pic

I curl in a league here in Orange County, (yes, I know, we are like the Jamaican Bobsled team) and want to shoot some fun pics for an upcoming Bonspiel fundraiser project. I've used dry ice before so I know how it needs to be handled etc., and about using hot or boiling water.

What I'm trying to think through is how to shoot the stone with the mist swirling around it, given that I need to pour water over it. Do I lay out a bed of dry ice and put the stone on top it and then pour water? OR does the ice have to be in a container of some sort so that the water "surrounds" the dry ice pieces? Anyone have any experience with this sort of stuff? What are the things I need to consider in regards to the dry ice, as far as setting up the shot? And what do I need to consider as far as the lighting goes?

I'm thinking that I'll use a black backdrop (i have both seamless and black muslin), and I have lighting gear, but think I might want to use a snoot to direct the light? I'll shoot in a completely dark room so there is no ambient, and I might add a gel to color the light. Any thoughts, creative or technically speaking? I"m picking up the stone on Saturday, May 5th and shooting the next week.

I have always wanted to try curling. I would love to see your results.

I'll post the results for sure. I just wish I could convince them to let me set the stones on fire! I've done flame shots on martini glasses and matchbox cars, using rubber cement and they survived my bouts of pyromania. Yet, I can't convince my curling club to let me set fire to a 42 pound piece of granite...

sue, tell them no guts, no glory.

i'd experiment with a small piece of granite and some dry ice, it shouldn't much experimentation to get what you want.

Just thinking "aloud"/stream-of-consciousness-type typing here:

I helped on a shoot a few months ago with a couple shots where the clients wanted a foggy sort of feel, so we rented a dry ice fogger. The water got warmed up, was pumped over the ice, and the fog came out a long tube to where we wanted it. The trick was keeping the water warm enough to create enough fog, but not over-using the water, making it too cool to make a good amount of fog. I guess the point to this one is to make sure you keep refreshing your water regularly to make sure you get the amount of fog you want/need.

The fog will also have a tendancy to flow down, CO2 being heavier than the surrounding air. You (or a lovely assistant) may need to fan a bit to get the fog to swirl around the stone. Alternately, you can build something up-stream a bit, so-to-speak, that will allow the fog to fall down and around the stone.

You could definitely make the container for the ice big enough for the stone. Two things I can think of being problematic that you'd want to build-in to the container: 1) a way to drain the water, and 2) a way to get the fog moving a bit (if indeed you want that motion). I'd think you will want the fog moving a bit, if for no other reason than to create some texture.

I think it would be very cool to have a gelled light on the fog, probably from behind. If it is a contrasting color to your main light, which could be gridded/snooted/etc. on the stone, you can get something that would really pop.

Another idea: Would you have access to anything about the size and shape of the curling stone that you might be able to light on fire and apply to the stone later? Combined in appropriate amounts with the fog could be a bunch of fun!

Hope you followed that. But moreso, I hope it helps a bit!

I've used dry ice a fair bit at Halloween time and have found that you have to keep it fairly concentrated and add small amounts of water to get the right amount of mist/fog effect. Have you considered renting a smoke machine for the shoot. The results may be more predictable.

I sure wish my knees were good enough to curl again, I had a blast when I was younger and doing that. While some may equate it to watching paint dry it does take a fair amount of physical strength and skill. I hope you post the results of what you doing.

Too new to photography to offer any advice but curling is all kinds of awesome! The stones are crazy expensive which is why they probably aren't too thrilled at the idea of setting one on fire, but that would look awesome. Gives new meaning to a "burned stone"

Use fans to help guide your smokiness

I've used dry ice a bit. You might consider putting a small container behind the stone,filled with warm water and adding dry ice to that. Use/wave a small card to direct air-flow, with some practice you can get the 'smoke' to curl. You can also use a colander filled with DI over the stone and the smoke will drop down, though not as heavy without the addition of warm water...maybe mist the DI from a warm water spray bottle to generate more smoke this way?

There was a time when you could purchase 'steam chips' through Trengove in NY. Not sure they're still available or what the chemical composition was. They produced smoke with the addition of water and it was a heavier more smoke like than DI.

Takes a lot of experimenting, lots of hands and lots of exposures to get the one you want as I'm sure you know.

Post pictures, looking forward to your results...sounds like fun.

Curling is a blast. Did it for many years.I guess I have a different question. Will the person who looks after the ice going to let you do all of that?

Thank you, foodguy! It never occurred to me to hide the DI in a container behind the stone, that might just be the answer. I'm thinking I'll lay a bed of dry ice, put the stone on top, hide a container of ice as wide as the stone behind it, and add the hot water to it, while merely spraying the rest of the ice. I don't know if spraying the ice will make it mist up much, or if I'll have to rely on the stuff coming out of the hidden container, but I now have a starting point so thank you!

Foodguy wrote in post #14359101
I've used dry ice a bit. You might consider putting a small container behind the stone,filled with warm water and adding dry ice to that. Use/wave a small card to direct air-flow, with some practice you can get the 'smoke' to curl. You can also use a colander filled with DI over the stone and the smoke will drop down, though not as heavy without the addition of warm water...maybe mist the DI from a warm water spray bottle to generate more smoke this way?

There was a time when you could purchase 'steam chips' through Trengove in NY. Not sure they're still available or what the chemical composition was. They produced smoke with the addition of water and it was a heavier more smoke like than DI.

Takes a lot of experimenting, lots of hands and lots of exposures to get the one you want as I'm sure you know.

Post pictures, looking forward to your results...sounds like fun.

digital paradise wrote in post #14359146
Curling is a blast. Did it for many years.I guess I have a different question. Will the person who looks after the ice going to let you do all of that?

I'm not doing it at the rink, I'm taking the stone home and shooting there on a black backdrop. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim sponsor our team, and we use their practice rink which is near my house. We wear their colors (orange/black/gold) they pimp our club out on the jumbo tron at games, and they paint four lanes/8 houses for us on their ice. It is a riot and even though my husband and I both grew up in Canada, we didn't curl until we moved here. About 1/2 the league are Canadian and the rest joined after watching the Norweigan's and their crazy pants at the Olympics.

Oh I see. I curled for many years and the ice makers are pretty particular about the condition of the ice the work on. As you know they would string us up if we messed up their pride and joy. Mighty Ducks. That is far too cool. I was not too sure what to think the first time I saw those pants. You gotta love Dordi Nordby.

http://olympics.thesta​r.com …n-pair-of-loudmouth-pants

Sorry I can't help with the dry ice. All I know about it is it kept my beer cold on extended northern fishing trips.

Sue, I'm thinking the the fog machine might give you more control over the fog environment than would the "dry ice and water" technique.

Some of our teams curl in shorts, and some of them have the same argyle pants that the Norweigan team uses, except in Orange and Black. It sounds like a lot of people think I should use a fog machine, instead of dry ice. I probably won't do that, because I know where to buy dry ice and don't have a fog machine. There is only so much effort I'm willing to put in to this and it doesn't extend to renting a fog machine, so I'll just have to make it work with ice. I may regret that choice once I get working with the dry ice, but....that's what cuss words are for. I know a few of those and am not afraid to use 'em. : )

digital paradise wrote in post #14360516
Oh I see. I curled for many years and the ice makers are pretty particular about the condition of the ice the work on. As you know they would string us up if we messed up their pride and joy. Mighty Ducks. That is far too cool. I was not too sure what to think the first time I saw those pants. You gotta love Dordi Nordby.

http://olympics.thesta​r.com …n-pair-of-loudmouth-pants

Sorry I can't help with the dry ice. All I know about it is it kept my beer cold on extended northern fishing trips.