Smoke 1
June 2, 2011 | 
Author Check out these smokes images:
Smoke 1
Image by bowtoo
Assignment: PCA69– SMOKE.
Deadline: June 21st, this is a one week assignment start date June 14th
Image Tag: pca69
From: Fastball95—- Steve
Been wanting to do something with Smoke for a while now and I guess this is the best motivation.
Here is how I am going to define SMOKE for this one, so everyone can play….
Smoke is any particles in the air. Mist, FOG, Dust in the Sunlight coming through a window. Anything where you get those particles reflecting light.. I want to exclude anything like water drops or water spray,, those are too big.
I also want to allow the full gambit of creativity here, so Photoshop work is TOTALLY acceptable for those who are software manipulation oriented. Point and Shoot guys can get the candles out and snuff the flame, DSLR crew,, knock yourself out with long or short glass out.
Main thing here is to really look and work the relationship between the light source and the smoke to get max effect and mood. Feel free to use artificial light, colored light, natural light, bright sun or very low light and long exposures, BUT be very aware of the relationship between the light and the fog here.
WIT
My sons are doing finals and are studying in the sitting room. Some filtered sun was coming through the window (it has been overcast the past few days) and I decided to shoot some images of the smoke from a stick of incense with them studying in the background.
I shot a few with my 50mm on 1.8 and then put on the smallest macro extension tube that I had and came in even closer. Of course the images in the background are not discernible at that range.
One image had smoke that reminded me of a woman’s torso and with Steve’s suggestion that we get creative in mind, I got to experimenting with overlaying layers and using selective erasing to bring out different shapes in the smoke to eventually form a kneeling woman. I found a piece that had what looked like the bottom of a dress and another that suggested a profile of a face.
Then I touched up with some darkening to enhance the shadow of the cheek and legs and used a light brush to fill in some "hair" to make the image more convincing. At the end I backed my adjustments out a little by reducing the opacity of the touchups (because I decided that I didn’t want the figure to be too obvious).
I included two other smoke images in my stream to show what some of the untampered images were like. My original attempt had the figure filling the frame but when I showed it to my wife she pointed out that the smoke wasn’t coming from anywhere – so I resized it and included the context of the incense in one of the layers
For those interested in a more detailed description of the steps. I captured them in a mini-tutorial.
smoke from a candle – inverted and coloured
Image by Vanessa Pike-Russell
smoke_s5600_2007_0302_025627_beforeafter_red
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very interesting, and EXCELLENT idea for creating a shape within the smoke. I’ve just been trying to let it do its thing naturally. Even though I enjoy the natural rhythm of smoke I still would like to try the post processing, thanks for the idea.
very nice. I like how you were able to sculpt and assemble the smoke. I tried doing the same but always ended up with something that should only be posted in the over 18 groups. I think your background lends some real pleasant colors to this.
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Seen next to a fellow photo of the group "Photography Critique Assignments". (?)
pca. wonderful smoke shot. Nothing seems to be in sharp focus not even the bit of incense. But that is not a bad thing. It is very balance and harmonious.
pca
I love the ethereal softness of this image. It is not irritatingly out of focus, but is pleasantly dreamy and full of interest.
I see the kneeling figure, so well done! She is like someone conjured up magically like a genii.
I envy your post processing skills! Mine consisted of rotating the smoke image and layering it with the background image.
It is interesting how you (and your lovely wife) required a source for the smoke in the image. I must say it doesn’t bother me with or without, there is enough to spark my imagination in ‘figuring out’ the smoke image.
Lovely appropriate soft colours.
Great submission,
K8
Fantastic Tim. Nothing really to critique.
I think K8 had a nice idea…no real need for the source.
Could also try to get more definition of the smoke woman in a version #2 as well. Great job….and great tutorial!
Really impressive! Great post-processing and thanks for the tutorial!!!
- Kei
great PP! very pretty picture too, not sure if I can create something so pretty even if I know how! She looks like she’s got wings.
Way to go Tim !
I note that you have posted a tutorial in Garey’s group. That is way cool. I’ll be reading that for translation to PS as soon as I can.
If I had a niggle about this image, it would be to agree that the source could be either eliminated or minimized
pca – this is friggin sweet! I appreciate your detailed write-up and tutorial, and I just don’t get layers and how to make them work right. My only criticism is the heavy white spot on the top left, as it distract me from the smoke – actually as I look at it while I write this, it also has the effect of looking like the smoke woman is blowing smoking! I like the source in the image… it adds to the mystical feel. Definitely a fav…
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Seen in the group"Photography Critique Assignments" (?)
This is amazing Tim! I would never have thought of it but now I have to try! Your imagination seems to be boundless and it never disappoints! Great shot/sculpting!
rock on!
Nice sequence. First I thought it was ink in water. But I guess this is even harder to control.
I like this one.
Great….very effective…did you invert the image to get this effect
Thank you! Yes, this was taken as part of a smoke challenge for the s5600 group and I decided to invert and colour it to erd – almost looks like blood in water now that I think of it lol
Here’s the original:
Well done… I’ve tried smoke shots before and haven’t been too successful….
thank you so much! this was my third attempt and I couldn’t find the incense and so went with a candle
Beautiful!
thanks! love your icon
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called the fleeting beauty of smoke, and we’d love to have your photo added to the group.