If you’re looking to try something new or if want to play around with it, steel wool photography is a good way to start.
Me and this article
Gim Liu, a UK-based professional photographer has been shooting photos for over 10 years. It has become an obsession and a way of life.
Your imagination is the only limit. This type of photography allows me to express myself and I am inspired by bright colors and trails created by my camera.
This platform is where I showcase my photography.
The Photo Argus will be introducing steel wool and explaining what it is.
The information below is available only in The Photo Argus. The book, ‘A Beginner’s Guide to After Dark Photography with Gimagery’ is described in this article.
Steel Wool Photography – What Is It?
To capture the motion of hot embers, long exposures were used.
Steel Wool Photography Examples
Check out my top eight steel wool photos:
Tools and Safety
The steel wool device is the main tool. It is composed of four parts: toilet paper, metal whisks, steel wool and steel wool.
This steel wool is of the highest quality available.
The lead must have a metal end and be attached to the loop.
Attach the dog leash at the lower end of the whisk. A rope can be used, but the lead that has a clip makes it easier to attach.
The device consists of toilet paper and three pieces. A graphic below shows the five steps to assemble it. After that, there is a description.
- Grab your dog lead, toilet paper, steel-wool, and metal whisk.
- You can make the wool look hollow to maximize the airflow and burn the steel wool more effectively.
- Cover the steel-wool with toilet paper and tuck in excess.
- Wrap the steel wool in toilet paper and place it inside the whisk.
Steel Wool Safety Measures
Before proceeding, it is important to review safety precautions. Failing to do so can result in injury to yourself and others as well as property damage.
Protective Clothing. Choose clothes that offer maximum protection and leave no exposed skin. They should be made from natural fibers, such as cotton.
Law enforcement is curious to know what you’re doing. They may interrupt your work.
Avoid taking the picture when traffic is heavy. Avoid going outside when it is raining.
Bring an extinguisher with you. You can use water or an actual fire extinguisher.
Check the area before you leave.
The spikes are capable of travelling up to 13 metres in any direction.
Two final precautions are necessary. First, make sure that the whisk and dog lead is securely fastened. Second, you should remove any lighter fluid before starting.
Set HTML0 using exact settings
Here is where the fun begins! The guide below will help you to create your steel-wool photograph.
Planning is the first step. Decide what kind of photos you are going to take and how.
Choose the type of picture you wish to take. Would you like one that has a reflecting surface or a reflector on it? A double spin-up? What about something plain and simple?
You can find inspiration by browsing the photos in the section “What is Steel Wool Photography?” Get ideas.
Decide where you will take the photo. It should be somewhere that has low artificial light and an attractive backdrop.
Steel Wool Gear and Equipment
Get all the equipment you need to capture the photo:
Steel wool device
Steel wool additional for more shots
Lighter
Lighter fluid
Wireless camera remote control, or buddy
Torch
Tripod
Camera
Set up your equipment in the location where you will take the photograph. Decide on the type of photo, position and settings for the camera, as well as testing the focus.
Decide on your position before you begin spinning steel wool. This spot can be marked or written down. The next step is to decide where you want the camera positioned. You should place the camera at least six metres away from where you want it to spin.
Next, set your camera up. Set your camera to manual, and then change the aperture and shutter settings. The settings above are only a guideline, and can be altered later. Experiment with them to find out what works best.
Your camera’s initial display should look like this:
Use a torch to light up the middle of an image. You can then turn on manual focus using autofocus.
A test shot is necessary to check that the camera settings are correct. You can adjust the focal point to achieve the desired results.
The steel wool will brighten up your pictures.
Create the photo in the third stage. There are five things you must do before spinning the steel to create the image:
- Position the steel wool as desired.
- Place the steel wool in the toilet paper and light the lighter fluid.
- Heat the steel wool in the oven for 1 minute. Rotate and twist the burner to heat the whole area.
- Turn it in a circular motion to see if it comes out with steel wool. Hold it until the steel is enough burned out to come out. If necessary, relight it.
- After the successful test, the self-timer can be activated using the manual or remote camera.
Swing the steel wool around in a circular motion after the camera begins taking pictures.
Consider these three important factors when executing a project.
- Rotate the device around in a circular motion with enough force to remove the steel.
- Move in a circle with 144 cm diameter. Place the circle slightly above the head, but below the waist.
- Position the lead at 38cm from the bottom of the whisk.
In the fourth step, you will analyze your photo to see if it needs any adjustments or if mistakes were made in taking the picture that can be corrected with subsequent shots.
These adjustments can be combined:
- You can move closer to the camera or further away. This will allow you to fit everything in.
- You may need to refocus the images that you took.
- Your photos may be too bright. You can fix this problem by reducing the power and speed of your swinging motion, decreasing shutter speed or increasing aperture.
- Your photo/s may be too dark. To fix this, you can either increase the shutter speed or ISO or increase the power and speed of your swing. Do not go above ISO 400.
Repetition of phases 3 and 4 until you are satisfied with the result.
Continued exploration
This guest blog was written with the hope that you would enjoy it. You will be inspired to take some incredible photos.
After reading this book, you will be able to create unique photographs.
You will become a more proficient photographer with this publication. You will learn new techniques for photography and be able to take pictures like the ones on the book cover.