rachelheimerman

Steel wool and a broken umbrella

Canon EOS 5DS

settings

Aperture f/5.6 ISO 320 Shutter 6/1 Focal Length 15/1

upload_date

Aug, 2017

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1136

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+225

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Incredibly awesome! Props to you for such an amazing photograph!!!!????

Stunning shot excellent capture

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I would like to invite you to join my challenge ‘Burning Steel Wool’. To find this challenge please go to my profile and click on challenges. Then choose created. Thank you in advance.

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken at Dockweiler Beach in California. We did not ask permission, but I imagine they would have said no. So keep an eye out for the beach patrol

Time

Steel wool and long exposure photography requires the sun to be down. So this image was taken around 10pm

Lighting

For a few months my other photography friends and I were super into Steel Wool Photography. Safety is key! We always chose the beach because the fibers of the steel wool can fly up to 50 feet away. Our trick was to use a kitchen whisk as a cage. Then we took a handful sized clump of steel wool and put it inside the cage. Then we tied a 3 foot string to the end of the whisk and used a lighter to spark it up. Once its lit you swing it around your head like a cowboy. It burns quick, so if you are doing a 2 or 3 second exposure you can maybe get three shots in. There needs to be a lot of communication between the fire starters and the photographer. My friend Heather had a broken umbrella and she didnt mind if it got burnt. So that is her underneath the lifeguard tower. But the images are very experimental and a fun surprise to look at when you are huddled around the camp fire.

Equipment

I hate tripods. I have a horrible habit of leaving them at jobs. For this shot I balanced my camera on a stack of firewood in the sand. This was shot with the Canon 5Ds and my wide angle lens. I wanted to get as close as I could to the tower, but still have it be a wide image. I also chose to shoot it at 5.6 so more of the sparks would be in focus. Its a tricky balance because most night time photography you set your ISO super high. But the fire from the steel wool quickly lights up the area, so my ISO was just at 320. It is a lot of experimenting with exposure.

Inspiration

Our group at the time would shoot together. Heather and I are still besties. But the others have since drifted out of our lives. We would plan a big bonfire on the beach and bring snacks and we would all bring a ton of photography props. This image just all came together as we were walking along the beach at night. Somebody suggested using the lifeguard tower, another person suggested using the umbrella for a few frames. This wasnt a planned image, it just kind of happened.

Editing

I run all my images through my Lightroom processing. I didnt do any photoshop manipulations to it. This is how I shot it, I just brightened it up a little.

In my camera bag

I try to keep my bag light and simple. Mostly I shoot portraits for a living. So my Canon 5DS and my 85 1.2 lens are always with me. Sometimes I will throw in my wide angle lens if I think there will be a cool landscape or architecture angle to capture. I rarely use my flashes. My friend Heather (The umbrella girl) actually has all my lighting gear right now for a few gigs she has coming up. I also always have my journal, planner, multiple pens and pencils, and an emergency tiny watercolor set up. Sometimes I just need to sit an watercolor an idea real quick.

Feedback

Safety first. I am not a fire expert, this can be dangerous. Make sure you are with people you trust and in an area that will not catch on fire from the sparks. We like to shoot near water. Big empty parking lots are a good place for these. Also be patient with it. There were some nights where I only got a handful of usable shots. I think they are more fun to make then to do anything with. Im a little shocked this image keeps getting so many likes. So thank you to everyone who admires it. It means a lot to me :) You also want to do a few test swings around your head before you light it on fire. Get a feel for the tension in the rope. Like a cowboy and his lasso. The faster you spin it around your head the brighter and farther the sparks fly. Its the combination of oxygen and fire. If there is slack in the rope while you are swinging it around it could end up hitting you and burning yourself. Its best to wear jeans and a hoodie your first few times. Something you dont mind a few burn holes in. After you and your group get a good system going then you can start bringing fun outfits. There are also different kinds of steel wool you can buy. The super thin ones tend to burn too fast, but its cheap and easy to experiment with all kinds. You want it a little fluffy inside the kitchen whisk cage. Dont pack it in too densely.

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rachelheimerman

rachelheimerman

Steel wool and a broken umbrella

Behind The Lens

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