How to photograph smoke

Capturing lines and patterns of smoke rising into the air in a photograph will yield interesting results. With the proper tools and settings you can begin to experiment with smoke in your pictures.

Things You'll Need

• Camera with adjustable shutter and aperture
• Flash (external of attached)
• Studio lighting (lamps)
• Black backdrop (dark black bed sheet, poster board)
• Large incense sticks

Instructions

1. Choose a quiet calm room to take your pictures in. You do not want any wind blowing through your scene unless it is you that blows it.

2. 

   Hang your black backdrop on a wall behind the area you are going to have the smoke rising from.

3. 

   Then arrange your studio lighting so that it shines toward the backdrop and covers the entire area.

4. 

   Set your shutter to a fast setting in order to freeze the smoke in action. Start with 1/250 as your shutter's speed.

5. 

   Then set you aperture to a high number such as f/8 to f/16. This will make the aperture smaller to help the smoke appear more crisp and focused in the picture.

6. 

   Light your incense and place it slightly close to and below the camera.

7. Look into your viewfinder to see the smoke rising into your frame and adjust the focus so the smoke appears clearly and the background remains all black.

8. Now take your pictures.

Tips & Warnings

• Move around the incense stick to create patterns in the smoke or try wafting your hand into the air to disturb the smoke's path upward.

• Using colored lights to illuminate the scene will give the smoke an interesting and colorful effect