playing mad scientist

[deadgirlreading]

While I was not thinking about the bottles on fire post while I was out playing with the boys (whom I am slowly converting to the cult of photography), it was all I could think about on the walk home.


My friend Dave poured some isopropyl alcohol into a flask and ignited it.
I had my Canon Rebel XT set to manual mode, 18mm, ISO 200, f/4.5, 1 second exposure.
Because we were having some issues with wind, I had to keep tripping the shutter until I could time my shot with the wooshing flame.
I cropped this after the fact because there was just too much negative space and the flame ended up too small when resized to fit the board. Otherwise, it is straight out of camera.

We also tried to make a heart on the sidewalk using a similar technique but that did not go over nearly as well.

[Nazral]

I liked the color and shape of the flames and I can see real potential.
Well I hope you don't mind but how about photographing the flask alone without fingers showing and you might wanna use two flasks close to each other with different flame color if possible. Play a little with it.

BTW I hope it's safe playing with flamable items, don't want to see pictures of exploding fingers or so

[deadgirlreading]

I don't mind. I considered doing just the bottle but what really made the shot for me was the hand (hence the "playing mad scientist"). I'm considering trying it again with just the bottle when I have a dedicated space to play wtih fire and the means to make different color flame.

As far as safety goes, I cannot believe I forgot my "be careful trying this at home" warning. Once the alcohol ignites, the flames shoot up really fast. Both my boys got singed slightly.

[Nazral]

For me a mad scientist theme would have more than fingers, you would show the face of the scientist with some crazy smile. So how about trying another one with the person holding the flask and show his face and his hands holding it. Make sure he makes a crazy smile and wearing glasses might help.

[drewdunnrespect]

what an ausome snap and i agree with nazral if its the mad scientist theme your after you need the scientist in the picture

[deadgirlreading]

I didn't go out with a theme. We went out with a bunch of things (glow sticks, sparklers, a mini Tesla coil, and the isopropyl alcohol) and just wanted to make some light. It just got the title because we raided the glassware bin on the way out the door for the various beakers, flasks, etc. we packed into our gear bag.

[drewdunnrespect]

oh i see its just when u put the title i thought that was the theme u was after but ok and its still an ausome shot now a question was it done at night or how did you get the black bacckground cheers drew

[deadgirlreading]

It's ok. I just needed to clarify.
We went for a walk around 10 or so at night so it was as dark as it was going to get around here. With the exception of the flame (which the shot was evaluatively metered for), there was very little light in the area we were at.