i can see my breath

DoctorIt

For those of you who don't know, my doctorit (doctorate) is in complex fluid dynamics. Naturally, I'm fascinated by cool fluids phenomena in everyday life. This time of year, its the awesome swirling and eddying as you breathe into a cold winter evening. I stood by my garage floodlight last night breathing for like 10 minutes before I dragged MrsIt out so I could try and capture it.

Wasn't easy.

But I got this:



It took some trickery. Tripod mounted, I had to tell my model to stay as still as possible (which was annoying since the motion sensor light quit on us halfway through :wxwax) so I could take two exposures - one for the breath, and one for the face. I wanted to just be able to do it with one RAW image, but the range was just too great, it wouldn't work. It was a full 5 stops or so difference.

I'm pleased with the photo, but the breath doesn't have the awesome swirls, eddies, and dynamics you can see with your eye. I'm thinking if I had a speedlite, I coud freeze it, but alas, this was the best I could do.

Andy

Very cool, cool shot.

DanielB

awesome shot glad to see you're up and about, and out in the cold to catch another infection! butt thats how things go for a photographer eh? anything for that shot.

John Mueller

Yes,very cool shot Doc

DoctorIt

DanielB wrote:

thats how things go for a photographer eh? anything for that shot.

it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

David_S85

Hey Erik
First, cool shot (shots).

Second, save that idea for the "It's Frikk'in Cold Out Here!!!" Challenge theme coming in February.

Hey, I had better make that theme suggestion soon so we can vote on it for when its my turn to manage it next month.

ian408

Have you tried using different lighting? Like lit from below with 1/4 power
flash or something? Keep the other light for the warmth too.

Very cool shot.

Skippy

Awsome!

DoctorIt wrote:

For those of you who don't know, my doctorit (doctorate) is in complex fluid dynamics. Naturally, I'm fascinated by cool fluids phenomena in everyday life. This time of year, its the awesome swirling and eddying as you breathe into a cold winter evening. I stood by my garage floodlight last night breathing for like 10 minutes before I dragged MrsIt out so I could try and capture it.

Wasn't easy.

But I got this:

It took some trickery. Tripod mounted, I had to tell my model to stay as still as possible (which was annoying since the motion sensor light quit on us halfway through ) so I could take two exposures - one for the breath, and one for the face. I wanted to just be able to do it with one RAW image, but the range was just too great, it wouldn't work. It was a full 5 stops or so difference.

I'm pleased with the photo, but the breath doesn't have the awesome swirls, eddies, and dynamics you can see with your eye. I'm thinking if I had a speedlite, I coud freeze it, but alas, this was the best I could do.

How mystical is that shot hey I think its a beauty.....hmmm can't try that kind of shot where I live cause I don't know what cold is we don't even get frost ....... fantastic detail too, man that's a great shot, dang it I wanna try that too ... Skippy (Australia)

DJ-S1

I like it, but as you say the cloud itself is a bit blah. Not sure how you would be able to do any better without a strobe, though.

Did you see this thread? Nice fluid dynamics on display.

DoctorIt

ian408 wrote:

Have you tried using different lighting? Like lit from below with 1/4 power
flash or something? Keep the other light for the warmth too.

Very cool shot.

Ian, you read my mind - this is exactly what I wanted to do. You wanna send me a couple SB-800's so I can pull it off? (In my big recent switch, I haven't aquired a flash yet)

DoctorIt

DJ-S1 wrote:

I like it, but as you say the cloud itself is a bit blah. Not sure how you would be able to do any better without a strobe, though.

Did you see this thread? Nice fluid dynamics on display.

I did. Did I mention I need a strobe or two?