Last of my illusions

I see a bull's head diving into the lower left corner.

I really like your smoke images. They are sensuous; human form or not. I must admit, without your title I would have had trouble coming up with the human form.

Allen, this is as it was shot. I thought about rotating 90 degrees left to make it more recognizeable.

Wonderful sensuous curves in this. Charlie. I certainly see the human form and curves. Apart from any likeness to a human form, I love all the soft toning, swirling forms, unique curves, and distinct edges in these smoke images. Just curious, how do you create the smoke and flow of smoke for these images?

Once you've read the descritpion, you can read it no other way ! Without the description it looks like a piece of abstract sculpture in perspex with wonderful soft and sharp edges and sensuous curves indeed. However you want to take it, it's a fine image, Charlie, beautifully photographed.

Very sensual, however you do it!
Congrats on the nice WP!
Sandy

Fantastic shot, I have yet to try this now I just might have to get on it !! Congrats on the WP !

Thank each and everyoine for just looking and for comments.

I use incense now exclusively. I started with borrowed cigerettes, bundled dried grasses and a few other organic straw like things but incense seems healthier and more steady and long lasting. When I do a session of photos of smoke I shoot for an hour or more and over a hundred exposures usually and sometimes many more. If I come up with 10 or so that IMO are worth anything I feel I've had a good session. Viewing those few over and over again is usually when I see something that really gets me working specifically at a theme or subject.

I use a single flash that plugs into house currrent and is attached to the camera as a slave unit, so that it is ready for shots every second or two. I put the flash down low and to the left (right would be as good but my space works best this way). I use a very dark olive color backdrop stretched at an angle away from the smoke and camera and clamped to a table which holds the smoke source.

I have found that it is best with all windows and doors closed otherwise drafts move the smoke around so that focus is a problem.

I find this great fun but it was a long time till I got decent IMO results.

I have always hoped others would try this and learn stuff I don't know and tell me their secrets

If any of you try and have questions I'll tell you anything I know and I assure there is a lot more to be learned.

Charlie

Very neat capture, Charlie. Looks like you've got these smoke shots wired pretty darn well.....

Congrats on the EP / WP for this gallery too......well done.

Hey Charlie,
This is way cool and very well executed the results are amazing.
Thanks for the technical information, it is a very good foundation to start from for attempts at this type imagery and
Congratulations on a most deserved WP . . .

Der air is thick in here. Cool shot Charlie, and thanks for sharing your techniques. Congrats on the WP. Well deserved for such a unique technique and style.