GeordieBoi

Black Arachnoid Eyes

One of my many Smoke & Mirrors images created by photographing incense smoke and then manipulating - blending in Photoshop. In this the blend is with an im...
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One of my many Smoke & Mirrors images created by photographing incense smoke and then manipulating - blending in Photoshop. In this the blend is with an image of my grandson's eyes
Read less

Nov, 2017

Views

748

Likes

+75

Awards

Zenith Award

Top Shot Award 21

Contest Finalist in Epic Abstractions Photo Contest

Outstanding Creativity

+25

Absolute Masterpiece

+15

Top Choice

+12

Peer Award

+11

Superb Composition

Superior Skill

Genius

Virtuoso

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

At home, in home office aka 'processing lab' with curtains closed and in darkness

Time

It was dark outside to minimise 'light interference' in the process but if you have a good way of sealing the room, anytime is OK ?

Lighting

Needs to be pretty darn dark

Equipment

Black card behind subject, flash on tripod, camera on tripod, incense sticks in a static burner. Small piece of card to 'waft the smoke' which tends to create whorls, curls and unique shapes, otherwise you simply get a straight rising image and a single line of smoke. Waft, wait a second and then fire.

Inspiration

I liked the idea of capturing the wisps of smoke as they rose from the incense sticks. Loved the challenges it posed and the thought I might be able to manipulate them to create some unique abstracts which I now call my "Smoke & Mirrors" series of images - see website for quite a few examples of the finished product: http://www.bgdigitalphotographs.co.uk/smoke-and-mirrors.html

Editing

This is the key. You need a crisp and reasonably sharp original image of the 'smoke rising'. Clean up any background to leave only the 'wisp you want'. Take it into PS and let your imagination run riot. Replicate the image, rotate, copy, blend with other images like peacock feathers, sunset or cloudy skies, human eyes [in this case, from my Grandson Jack] or just with a colour layer. Sometimes the manipulated image is great in the somewhat blue-tinged native colour? Occasionally, I combine the shapes I photograph to make a different abstract image.

In my camera bag

Nikon D800E (or D810), 24-85mm kit lens. At events or distance 'stuff' I use a Nikon 70-200mm - top notch piece of glass

Feedback

Experiment with flash settings to get slightly shapes & effects. Black card background is vital. Watch you don't burn out your flash unit by trying to fire to often/frequently...I DID on one occasion!!!

See more amazing photos, follow GeordieBoi

GeordieBoi

GeordieBoi

Black Arachnoid Eyes

One of my many Smoke & Mirrors images created by photographing incense smoke and then manipulating - blending in Photoshop. In this the blend is with an im... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow GeordieBoi

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes. Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

One of my many Smoke & Mirrors images created by photographing incense smoke and then manipulating - blending in Photoshop. In this the blend is with an im...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.