Photographing welders

Is there any precautions I need to take when photographing welders? I wont be looking through the view finder I will remotely trigger while having my mask on, but will the "light" affect my gear in any negative way?

I have done some welding work both behind the camera and the welder (this was growing up on a farm so many years ago). I shot these shots using a 1 series body and a 70-200 lens so that I could stay back from the action. On a tripod of course. Your exposures are going to be relatively short, so it is no different than any other kind of exposure, IMO. I shot these in the range of 1/60th up to about 1/500th depending on the shot. I also used a little fill flash sometimes to try and even out the exposure if you are including alot of the surrounding area. I always shoot items like this in manual as the extra ordinary bright area is going to throw off the metering. There are the common sense precautions like not being too close and you already know about not looking into the light itself. Since I was about 15 feet back there were no errant sparks flying my way but depending on the placement I might throw a cover over the camera for a little additional protection. I also kept a UV filter on the lens to protect the front element just in case. I have read some posts on other forums over the years where some were saying you can burn your sensor but this is no different than shooting at the sun and I put that more in the modern era myths than factual.

ssim wrote in post #15117766
I have done some welding work both behind the camera and the welder (this was growing up on a farm so many years ago). I shot these shots using a 1 series body and a 70-200 lens so that I could stay back from the action. On a tripod of course. Your exposures are going to be relatively short, so it is no different than any other kind of exposure, IMO. I shot these in the range of 1/60th up to about 1/500th depending on the shot. I also used a little fill flash sometimes to try and even out the exposure if you are including alot of the surrounding area. I always shoot items like this in manual as the extra ordinary bright area is going to throw off the metering. There are the common sense precautions like not being too close and you already know about not looking into the light itself. Since I was about 15 feet back there were no errant sparks flying my way but depending on the placement I might throw a cover over the camera for a little additional protection. I also kept a UV filter on the lens to protect the front element just in case. I have read some posts on other forums over the years where some were saying you can burn your sensor but this is no different than shooting at the sun and I put that more in the modern era myths than factual.

Great thank you for the info, I shot a senior last weekend and she is one of the top welders in her school. I have contacted her to do another shoot in the shop.

The following was taken last year when I'd only had the 550D 6 months.

Exif indicates:
Manual exposure, 1/2 second at f28.1
ISO 100, with the 18-55 kit lens at 35mm.

The camera (and I) was about 6' away, resting on a large stone/brick. I had watched the sparks fly for some time before deciding where was safe to pit the camera.

Lawrence

To ans your ques, no you wont burn the sensor.I spend all day welding I've never taken any shots, working on gas plants, naval shipyards and the like they tend to frown when you pull out a tripod.
Some of the best shots i've seen are of welding proceses that produce no sparks, being done in a dark shop. The welder is silouted and the shop is lit by an other worldly blue glow.
I do have access to a training school in Calgary, so when I have time I can set up and give this a try.
To ans your ques, no you wont burn the sensor.

part of our training for new welders is to pound into them that they are ultimately responsible for any damage caused by their arc flash and hot metal spray or by the gasses produced. I would hope that a professional welder would refuse to allow being photographed without being assured that they were not going to be destroying the cameras sensor.

I have never done it myself, but have seen some very close up video and such, it can be done and I would agree that it would be no worse than shooting the sun. Just be careful, the amperages and gasses and heat are a constant danger and if you are not familiar with the environment, ask first.

birdfromboat wrote in post #15127543
part of our training for new welders is to pound into them that they are ultimately responsible for any damage caused by their arc flash and hot metal spray or by the gasses produced. I would hope that a professional welder would refuse to allow being photographed without being assured that they were not going to be destroying the cameras sensor.

I have never done it myself, but have seen some very close up video and such, it can be done and I would agree that it would be no worse than shooting the sun. Just be careful, the amperages and gasses and heat are a constant danger and if you are not familiar with the environment, ask first.

Thank you for the info, I am familiar with welding, I have done a little myself and work in a shop with welding going on all day. I just wanted to make sure there was not something I was missing that would damage the camera. Think I may have to give it a shot now