If you are into fireworks photography then you will definitely love steel wool photography. The two are closely related in that they use long exposure photography techniques. However, steel wool photography is more risky as fire is included in the set.
Steel wool photography is taking long exposure images of streaks of lit steel wool spun in the air. This type of photography has a lot going on at the same time, so I understand if you think it is somewhat complicated. In this article, we will guide you on how to successfully conduct a steel wool photography session.
How To Prepare For Steel Wool Photography
Taking steel wool photos is as exciting as it is dangerous. Therefore, you should consider protective measures before you head out for steel wool photography.
Have something to cover your hair such as a hoodie or just a hat. The hoodie should also be a long sleeve to cover your hands. You should also wear non-flammable gloves to ensure you are well protected. Your eyes should also be protected by wearing safety goggles. Your friend who is helping you spin the steel wool should take the same measures.
Equipments Needed For Steel Wool Photography
Fortunately, the tools needed for a successful steel wool photography are easily accessible.
These include;
- DSLR or Mirrorless camera
- Steel wool
- Tripod
- Lighter
- Metal whisk
- Rope
- Torch
- Cable release
How To Take Steel Wool Photos
Now that you have all the required equipment for steel wool photography, let’s get into the techniques.
For the steel wool streaks to pop, the first thing you should consider is taking photos when it’s dark. The location where the photoshoot will take place should be away from anything that can catch fire. You should therefore rule out any location with wooden structures or vegetation that can spread fire. I would recommend taking steel wool photos at the beach or a desert where the ground is clear.
When you get to the location, it is time to set up. This will take a few minutes especially if you have a helping hand. Start by spreading the steel wool in all directions. This will create spaces within the wool for combustion to take place. Loosely stuff the wool into the whisk before attaching a rope on the other end. Hand the rope to your friend who should start practising to spin the rope.
To set up your gear, start by planting your tripod firmly on the ground and then mount your camera. The best lens for steel wool photography is a wide angle lens. You can however opt for a standard zoom lens. Once the setup is ready, it is time for the camera settings.
Best Camera Settings For Steel Wool Photography
If you are familiar with long exposure settings then this will be an easy part. If you are new to this, all you need to understand is the exposure triangle settings.
Shutter speed: A slow shutter speed shutter is always recommended when taking long exposure photos. This results in the formation of long streaks of light when the lit steel wool is being spun.
ISO: You should keep your ISO low so that the photos will not be noisy. The details of the lit steel wool sparks will also pop.
Aperture: When taking steel wool photos, you should use an aperture where the depth of field is deep. Using a very wide aperture will narrow the depth of field making it difficult to capture any useful image.
These are my recommended camera settings for steel wool photography;
- Shutter- 5-25 secs
- Aperture- f11- f22
- ISO 100-200
Note: Use the torch to point at your friend and use them as the point of focus.
7 Tips For Successful Steel wool photography
These are the quick tips to consider when doing steel wool photography;
Use the right grade of Steel wool
Different grades of steel wool will burn differently when lit. Fine grade will be the easiest to burn and also will not last for long. Medium and coarse grades are harder to light and are not recommended for steel wool photography. For the best results, I would recommend using fine grades between 0 and 0000.
Protect your lens
Just like you are protecting yourself by wearing fire resistant clothing, you should also consider protecting your gear, add at least a UV filter to your lens in case the wild sparks fall on your expensive camera lens.
Prepare for the worst
Even after wearing protective clothes, steel wool photography can take an unexpected turn of events. For that reason, you should alway have a fire extinguisher with you when taking steel wool photos. Another option will be having a bucket of water around. Stroll the area after the photoshoot to ensure no sparks fell on any material that may kater cause fire outbreaks.
Compose Your Shot before hand
Steel wool will only burn for a short while before it dies out. Therefore, there is no room for second takes. Make sure you have well estimated where to frame your shots before the action kicks off. Composition can be done while the other person is practising spinning the steel wool.
Hide the spinner
We want the focus to remain on the painting from the steel wool sparks. The person spinning the steel wool should therefore be completely out of the picture. Thanks to shooting in the dark, only the spirals formed by steel wool streaks will be visible.
Be Creative
Sometimes you can include a person in the frame while the steel wool is burning behind them. The rest of the set will continue normally but a model will pose covered with an umbrella to avoid sparks falling on their body.
Shoot in raw
There is always room for corrections when doing steel wool photography. Shooting in raw format gives you more flexibility in post production. Using programs such as Lightroom, you can make the colors of the lighting streaks more vibrant.
Conclusion
Ideas such as steel wool photography are some of the things that get me excited about this art. Not in a million years anyone could have thought that spinning a tool we use for cleaning utensils could create such beautiful images until you try steel wool photography.
Anyway folks, I hope this tutorial will be beneficial to you and as you expand your photography scope, I hope steel wool sparks don’t fall on your skin.
