Comments on: [DIY] Light Painting with Steel Wool

By: Laura Eliza

Laura Eliza — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:52:00 +0000

You mean you can set stuff on fire with a battery!? O_o I must try this!

By: Jonathan Dear

Jonathan Dear — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:17:00 +0000

some more thoughts:
- some steel wool doesn’t work – you need the fine grade stuff. Around 0, or 00, 000 etc. This can be bought from ebay etc if your local doesn’t have it. (its not the same coarse stuff you get from the supermarket)
- if your exposure is too long or you spin too fast you get too much ‘arms’ arcing off the spin and it doesn’t look as good
- you can use a lighter / naked flame to light the wool, although when its windy its harder to light
- self timer (with say a 10sec delay) can allow you to jump in front of the camera and do it all yourself
f- careful not to tilt your spin too far into your camera. The sparks can cause real damage to your lens
- its best to already be spinning before the shutter is tripped so the spin is more even
- changing the length of your wire / chain etc as you spin creates a cool effect and hides the spinner as you spin
- reflections make great compositions
- use live view to help focus on your environment before you jump into it.

By: Tony Northrup

Tony Northrup — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:06:00 +0000

My own light painting how-to video, which covers steel wool, glow wire, glow sticks, and flashlights: http://youtu.be/UkxUDJfcW4E

By: Eric Mazzone

Eric Mazzone — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:49:00 +0000

Awesome thanks!

By: udijw

udijw — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 09:23:00 +0000

Hi Eric, I am recording the footage as I type.
FS, always nice to be featured on your super site

By: Eric Mazzone

Eric Mazzone — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 04:50:00 +0000

So where is that info on the $100 home depot light set up that was promised last time?

By: vonwong

vonwong — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:11:00 +0000

Thanks for the love fstoppers :)

By: Ulises Amezcua

Ulises Amezcua — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:41:00 +0000

I’m going down the street to shoot the corner guy who gives a street show with real petrol… let´s see the outcome.

By: Photofide - Dave

Photofide - Dave — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:41:00 +0000

Did something like that a while back:
http://www.photofide.com/video/spinning-steel-wool-of-fire

By: Eric Gould

Eric Gould — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:22:00 +0000

Alright I know what I’m doing this weekend. Great fun guys…