Liquid Fire and Exploding Glass

This year, Spring took a long time getting here!  Had plans to shoot outdoors with a friend, but the weather did not allow for that.

Instead, we decided to shoot fire indoors…

What you need for a successful shoot:

Isopropal Rubbing Alcohol–not for human consumption

Cheap glass–perhaps from your local “Dollar Store”

Lighter–with long tip

Tripod

Wool Blankets (2)

Stool or removable Table

Remote cable–or shoot in timer mode to avoid shaking.

Fire Plan!

Best to shoot with another person:)

First of all, set one of the blankets on the floor–if carpet or wood a good plan to have something under the table.  Wool blankets tend to be fire retardent…

Next place glass on the table

Set up tripod and camera and take a few test shots to determine settings and lock them in.

Practice shot to check your settings and lock them in

We shot with our 70-200 2.8 lenses–which were a treat to use indoors!  “Fast Glass” really does rock!

Poor Isopropal Alcohol into the glass–about 1-2 inches from the top.

Light liquid on fire with a “long” lighter–this is very combustible and the longer the distance from your hand and fire–the better!

Must have LONG Lighter!

Fire away–the flames will dance as you take numerous images.

If you have a Live View on your camera–preview glass and fire via your LCD Monitor

Use your remote cable or timer and just keep shooting!

Reminds me of a Tulip

Including the set up and aftermath of our explosion, I shot 100 frames–gave me so many designs to choose from –really looking at what the flame created:)  Here are a few examples…all are out of camera images.  Did crop a few–but no change to lighting or anything else.

See a man on fire

Think half the joy is looking at the flames and really interpreting what image is created…in my eyes and brain…

Devil on fire...

With this, I see tears…

Tears of Fire

As you continue to shoot–the flames will come and go…just like the waves on a beach…

A little flame

So, the most amazing image of the day was this…

Too Hot!

Since this was my first time “shooting fire” and being the Lifetime Girl Scout I am–asked my friend if we had a “fire plan”…yes–he would open the sliding glass door and take the stool outside–plus a Wool Blanket is Fire Retardent…

Smoking Wool Blanket

Confessions are good for the soul–the shot I captured of the glass breaking was totally lucky and related to using a remote cable.

As soon as the glass exploded–I got the dogs–so they wouldn’t be near and @aceebro took the stool outside with the balnket on top.  It was not until I reviewed my images–that I realized I caught the moment of explosion!

So–could you do it?  Absolutely…we used cheap glass from the local “Dollar Store” Andrew brooks shot first…50 frames, or so.   For his blog post…  http://www.blueturban.net/BlueTurban_Photography/BT_Blog/Entries/2011/3/27_Fire_In_A_Glass.html  He then doused the flames with a plate over them and showed me his work process–am so new to Photoshop–have much to learn.  So, the glass was taken away from fire for probably 20 minutes before we reignited and I shot…