Into the Fire

Neither quite macro nor still-life, but both genres were in mind, as I set up for this shot.

After some time, I eventually took what I was hoping to. Perfect stillness, as flame graduates seamlessly into smoke. A transition between two elements.

The singular, crescent tentacle of white ash was an unexpected bonus. Very delicate, and it broke off soon after this image was snapped.

Critique and suggestions are welcomed. For a future shoot.

Jack Tingle wrote:

Former combustion engineer, here.

Very impressive work.

A very impressive job title !

BSiler wrote:

Nice photograph! I'd be inclined to try some different crops -- maybe crop off some of the left edge and top? Your idea definitely merits some more experiments!

This was shot in regular landscape orientation, so I had plenty of wiggle room for different crops. In the end, this felt best for balance. The fire and smoke column centered, and the finger of ash pushing towards the rightside vertical third of the frame.
Unfortunately, I've deleted the original, so no crop revisions.
A good reason for another attempt.

If I'm honest, I'll likely steal your idea for some experiments of my own.

Steal away, I would love to see what you come up with.
Gently disturbing the smoke tendril also offers some unique results.

tripleC wrote:

Wonderful image, sir. I spent a while just looking at it. What was the material that was burning? Kind of looks like the stogies I used the smoke only thinner.

Thanks, tripleC.

This is a wand of aromatic sandalwood incense.

Joseph S Wisniewski wrote:

Summon reserves of patience. This looks like one of those shots that will eat you alive trying to recreate and improve upon, and it's already essentially perfect.

Indeed, a lot of patience. And remaining still to avoid adding room turbulance, this is not the kind of shoot for instant gratification. I even found myself breathing more softly.

I would say it may be very hard to recreate this shot. The finger of ash really was the most un-repeatable part of this photo. It is almost as susceptible to air turbulence as the smoke.

Instead, I would like to try some different scenes in a similar theme. Multiple sticks, different angles. Maybe three stick fanned out and burning in unison.

I'm thinking small spot to backlight the smoke, the way I do with thinks like steam from a cup of tea, but I'm also thinking "there's enough smoke now" so I'm wondering if accentuating the smoke wouldn’t throw off the wonderful balance of this shot.

I did try to add some side/rear light, but between the big softboxes for modelling/focusing, the side/front flash and the strategically placed block out cardstock, I tend to run out of physical space to mount anything else. Projects like this are in a cobbled-together makeshift 'studio' that is very amateur.

The smoke in the original shot captured more highlights and blues, but in processing to get the background close to black, I had to sacrifice that. And this outcome... well in some ways I like it more, the dark smoke column feels a bit more 'mysterious'. It also makes for a better looking gradient from the flame

I shared a 'smoke only' photo from the same session, a couple of posts above. If for nothing else, I like it as a 'scene' that is a completely unique shot that can never exist again in the real world.