Steel Wool Light Painting

Steel Wool in the StreetAnybody who does not like fire raise their hands. What no hands up? OK, I am not really surprised that the readers of this blog like fire.

In that case you'll be happy to learn that the guys over at Photo Extremist released a video guide [after the jump] on how to make steel wool light painting. We sued to do lots of those in the boy scouts at the end of year fire display. We did not even used the whisk, just put some metal wire around the steel wool.

When you go out and do this, make sure you protect both yourself (goggles, gloves, long sleeves) and the surrounding (fire extinguisher, no dry leafs and so on). Those sparks seem small but they are nasty.

P.S. if you like playing with fire, check out all the other cool photographs you can take using fireworks.

Steel Wool Photography Tutorial via DPS.

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Oh and

Also advisable to keep a small fire extinguisher near, in case something catches a light.

hey

Hi

I've watched your tutorial 4 days ago just before getting out to do some pics!!!

I have to say that it helped me a lot, choosing the steel whole and with your trick to attach the whole to the chain (i can't remember the name of the cooking tool :)

Feel free to look at my result: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=233574166673897&set=a.23357404000...

 

Thanks for the tips dude!!

Those are awesome pics!

  • July 28, 2011
  • Anonymous

Those are awesome pics!

re: pictures

  • July 21, 2011
  • udijw

Well, technically it is not my tutorial :) it from the guys at Photo Extremist :)

that said, thanks for sharing the results and love love love the umbrella touch

My god, nearly 8 minutes of

My god, nearly 8 minutes of the guy was just way too much.

Put steel wool in whisk, attach rope to whisk, light steel wool and spin it get images using standard long shutter techniques.

I just saved you from wasting 8 minutes of your life.

...and then you find yourself

  • July 22, 2011
  • Anonymous

...and then you find yourself in jail for not advicing your audience of possible risks with fire ;)

Awesome! I would have never

Awesome!

I would have never thought of steel wool to do this! Thanks PhotoExtremist!

Excellent work, (absolutely  not a waste of time, James)

Great Tips

Thanks for the video. It has a lot of infomration in it that I would not have considered before, i.e, using a whisk.  I was going to use chiken wire. 

A couple of things: First, when making the circles/orbs, do you always spin the whick in a vertical plane? 

Second, do you pre-soak your hat, or put on damp clothing?

One suggestion, I think that I would suggest not to wear synthetic fabrics.  They could melt onto your skin.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain your creative artistry

I would definately advise

  • July 22, 2011
  • Anonymous

I would definately advise AGAINST wearing synthetic.  I had a spark land on my sholder.  I had on a black long sleeve cotton shirt.  Rolled right off...  I chose long sleeves as I am very light skinned and did not want my arms in the shots...

Wear a hat.  Nothing like the smell of burning hair.  Again, non synthetic.

Keep your nose open.  You will get to know the regular smell of burning steel wool very quickly.  We had a very minor issue when a napkin (it was overlooked in the visual sweep of the area that we were going to spin in)  fortunately, I smelled paper burning and was able to take care of it.

There are many areas of the US that are under burn bans.  It is that hot.  Use your head and stay safe and out of trouble.

Hey Kids! Wanna' Play With Fire?!?!?

Udi:  This is probably an example of my bad parenting skills, but I just showed your post to my fifteen-year-old, and she really, really, really wants to try this fire-spinning technique out.  I told her that she has my approval, just so long as I'm there at the time AND we're in an area where absolutely nothing could catch on fire.  Safety first!

I'll let you know how it all works out.

Matt

re: parenting

  • July 23, 2011
  • udijw

Matt,

those are excellent parenting skills. The mere fact that you are discussing this rocks!

GREAT Tutorial and LOVE the idea and creativity

  • July 25, 2011
  • RC

I saw this on Friday and tried that night! I was very puzzled by previous light painting photos without directions and camera setting. I truly enjoyed getting good results with my first attempt. A hot amber to the back of the neck on my 2nd attempt...made me shut down operations for the night. Will do it again soon. I need to work on making the complete circle. Here are my two attempts:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rc3blue/5965527513/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rc3blue/5965528535/in/photostream/

 

Amazing!

Amazingly awesome! I WILL be trying this in the near future. The only thing that I've tried with fire was the over done sparklers writing words in the dark. I might be trying this out tonight. I'll try and post my results if I can. Thanks!

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