Was trying to do some of the "abstract" smoke photography, but failed more than I thought possible.
I don't have any "studio" caliber lights, but is there anything else you guys could recommend using?
Or if any of you have actually done these shots, let me know because I'm really interested in learning how. [Yes, I've Googled tips, but most of them weren't very specific/hands on.]

This post was edited by Virtue on Nov 30 2010 10:29pm

Easiest way to capture it is to back light it on a dark background to make it pop out and use a fast shutter speed. That's the general technical procedure.

Interesting idea. I'd like to see some work

Black light it with an actual black light, or?
And I read some article on smoke photography, and the guy that they were quoting was apparently really known for smoke photography.
Anyways, he said he uses a 1/250 shutter speed with the narrowest possible aperture on the camera, and the same with the ISO.
I used a normal room light with another office/lamp light next to a black sheet, and with the 1/250 shutter speed it still turned up completely black.
I can't figure this out :[

Back not black

Meter your exposure for the smoke. Shine the lamo through the smoke (side lit or back lit). This just makes it pop off the background easier.

I tried putting the lamp right next to the side, didn't do much.
I guess I can try it in the back.
But the problem with the lamp being so close, the light made it way too bright to see the smoke.
I am doomed to fail at this :[

i think you will need a flash

I tried the on-camera flash, it just made things too bright as well :\

external ofc. use a black background, flash hitting from one side and something to block the light hitting the background

lol then move the light back... Make sure the smoke is sparse and not just a wad because there won't be any definition