Christmas is just around the corner and you might find yourself scrambling for a cool little gift for that photographer in your life. Atmosphere Aerosol is a new product which, as the name describes, is an aerosol can that dispenses a cloud of fog in a pinch. Small, light, and not needing electricity, this little can of foggy goodness might just be the perfect replacement for that fog machine. Will this be the next addition to your camera bag?
Trying to create a foggy environment on location can be a bit tricky. You can bring along a fog machine, but that requires a power source. You can try a variety of powders, but they can get messy and are not the easiest to use. Atmosphere Aerosol is a small, portable, contained solution that is simple to use, and does not leave a mess. It is super easy to throw in a bag and take on set just about anywhere.
Atmosphere Aerosol recommends 20 second sprays, and with over 5 minutes of total spray time, each can should last about 15 times. At just $12 per can, it is quite a bargain as well.
[via DIYPhotography]
$12.00 per can plus $12.00 Shipping=$24.00 Looks great, but until I can buy it locally or with Amazon Prime too expensive
Says on their FAQ, "Because it is a flammable aerosol, it is considered a hazardous material, so it is required to be shipped ground."
Shipped ground, fine. But then it should still be CHEAP to ship... It shows $15 shipping for me to the U.S. That's insane for something that's 20 percent cheaper than the cost of shipping. It's an air can, essentially. That should ship for $3 to the company, $5 to customers...
On another note, this seems like a perfect product. Seriously... Isn't this what we've all wanted, in a perfect world?
It's not air. It's an oil based material and it's propelled by two different gasses. If it does what it says it does, it appears to be worth the money.
so its like pretty much every aerosol can ever thats shipped for free or cheap
Soooo.... what's in it? Everything the usual aerosol contains minus the smell?
Environmentally friendly, by chance?
It's an aerosol which requires a propellant so no, at the least it contributes to greenhouse gasses, not to mention the pollution created in just making the products metal canister...
This is NOT a new product. It's a new brand of a product that has been in use for decades.
So it should be available locally for retail sale then. Got any links or references? Thanks!
Fantasy FX its been around for years
You could google it. Fantasy FX, like ML said is one of the brands. I was using canned fog in the 90s.
And yes, it's been available for retail sale for years. It's been in use by stills photographers, cinematographers, stage guys etc for longer than I've been in the business.
I have to say though, Bruce that it's really best used when someone else is paying for it. :)
Thanks guys! In fact immediately after I wrote my question I Googled and found not only Fantasy FX but also Diffusion Cloud in a Can by Reel FX sold by Musson Theatrical.
Now if I can just find a local Ontario retailer I'll be all set to try it.
What exactly are we spraying into the air though? Is this potentially harmful for my client/environment? I know they use this on stage for smaller effects. But not for filling a room....
Not only that but could it leave a residue on the brides dress, a black suit, the fancy waxed floor boards of your venue, etc...
I read on the website that it can make a floor sticky. Not too great if you're shooting at a fancy hotel/venue and decide to spray this stuff.
This product was blogged on PetaPixel.com yesterday. It contains all kinds of nasty unsafe ozone depleting chemicals. PLUS it uses mineral oil, very toxic if you breath it in. This product is nothing new, just a new company promoting it.
http://petapixel.com/2015/12/05/atmosphere-aerosol-spray-is-like-a-tiny-...
Read the article and it didn't mention anything about it being unsafe. If you have a link proving it is unsafe please share because I'd honestly like to know otherwise it's just an opinion.
The spray is (45%) propane, (45%) butane, and (10%) mineral oil, according to the companies website. Butane and propane are used as propellants similarly used in products such as pam. In small quantities like used in pam, it's probably not gonna do you much harm (if any). If you're spraying the stuff for 20+ seconds, I'd advise you not to breath very much. Is it going to kill you? Probably not. Neither is spraying some propane down your throat for a half second, but that doesn't mean you should do it. Mineral oil on the other hand has been known to have toxins and is a potential carcinogen. Personally, I'd stay away from this stuff for my own health, and the health of the environment.
The company also states "Breathing small amounts of this material during normal handling is not likely to cause harmful effects." If you're in a closed space with this stuff floating through the air, I'd think you'd be breathing in a lot more than a small amount. More importantly, animals, trees and plants outdoors don't need this crap flying all over the place.
All kinds of chemicals like butane and propane. If you go camping or smoke anything you def release more of these two chemicals than you would with an occasional photoshoot use.
...which also raises the question in my mind; what's being spewed out of standard smoke machines?
I know smoke machines aren't using propane or butane at all. I believe a smoke machine works by using a small compressor to compress air and use that as the propellant.
Our smoke fluid says it contains water and glycerin which isn't harmful at all. We've used this mixture (home made at least) on models for shiny skin and on beer bottles for the fake moisture look. People also put it in their hair.
The smoke machine basically just makes the glycerin airborne.
Wouldn't it be easier to just have the photo assistant puff on a cigar a few times?
I like the way you think Michael. Unfortunately most indoor venues wouldn't be too happy with that
I see your perception of sarcasm hasn't improved, Patrick!
Cool product. I'm not as concerned about the environmental effects as I am of combustion / fire. A cloud of propane / butane gas in an enclosed room seems like a sure bet to go boom when a strobe is fired. Do the alternative products say anything about combustion warnings? This product does not seem to have any such warning on their website. I think this is a prime candidate for mythbusters, or maybe a good propellant option for potato cannons.
It shouldn't cause any problems at all. It no different than spraying a can of hair spray in a room. The particles are so small and dissolve so quickly that nothing will ignite unless you hold a flame directly in front of the can
I could see where it might take quite a bit in a small enclosed space (2%-10% cubic volume for butane / propane to be combustible), but the vapor cloud seems designed to linger. I can attest that the small amount of ether that lingers when doing wet plate defiantly will flash if exposed to an ignition source. I know that ether is much more volatile than propane / butane, and probably not relevant to this, but combustible sources that are destined to be used with strobe (ignition sources) probably should include an appropriate warning. I might be wrong, but just wanted to raise a little awareness of what I presume to be a yet-to-be-noticed potential hazard. Thanks, I'd like to try it.
Been around since the '80's if not earlier, I used to buy FOG in a can from Aaron Brothers and Dick Blick decades ago.
Also a great tool for the pick up artist. Spray around an (for your taste) attractive person and just say "You look gorgeous in this light". See myself using it during my early morning (light) train commute ;-)
lol ew
Can I use it as a deodorant? I'd give myself a pirate name, like "Smokkie Pitts"...Now, using propane and butane combined with mineral oil in a room...i don't know, there are small smoke machines that work on battery and deliver some cool non explosive smoke.
Used a similar product called Fantasy FX to add haze to a short film I was the DP on for the Orlando 48 hour film festival (which we won so we will see how it does at filmapalooza in Georgia) and its great for spaces that dont have a ton of wind flow. Plus at the cost of the thing its much cheaper than an actual hazer on low budget shoots.
I ordered it just to give it a shot. It's $12 per can and I wasn't able to see the shipping notice until AFTER my PayPal process. $8.95 for shipping. Ouch.
https://www.samys.com/p/Misc.-Studio-Accessories/PA129/Fantasy-FX-Spray-...
Here's the link with 7$ shipping.