Tips for Shoting Fire Breathers

The Snipe

Hey Guys,

Not sure if its a topic for here or the Workshop but;

Does anyone have any tips on shooting fire breathers, has anyone ever done it before? I've had a few shots, both day and night - but they were always at events and stuff, but I've been asked to do a payed shoot for one yesterday, which is going to be in the next two weeks, starting about 5ish for 2 hours, so it'll be dark when we are done, so it'll be a mix of both day and night shots. If its dark, I'm considering using flash, and I've triggers for off camera flash.


The kit I've got, that I can use there is:

1D MK II
580 EX II
24-105 F4L
50mm 1.8
200mm 2.8L

and might be able to borrow a 16-35 too.


So any tips, would be great! And I'll post some of the shots I've already done in the past at events tomorrow, to see if you think anything should be done differently!


Cheers guys,

Cillian.
XS.

ValueInIreland

A few thoughts...

Absolutly NO Flash
Go for a Dark Background behind the Subject
Try some really tight Wideangle shots - but don't wear anything flamable on your head.
Try some shots from above (Balcony / Step ladder)
Try some from below...

The Snipe

The only reason I was thinking of using flash, was turning it down to about 1/16 power, or so; and then using it as fill-in because I may be having other models there with her too (2 skaters, as we are doing it at a skate park!)

ronanc15

Took a few quick pics off the cuff of the fire breather in the parade in Limerick at the weekend. Would like to give it a proper go in better surroundings!


Fire1 by Anonymous Ronan, on Flickr


Fire2 by Anonymous Ronan, on Flickr

The Snipe

Aye, got some myself too:






And have some dont at night, from the Zombie Fest last year. But other then that I don't really have much experience, I might try playing with flash paper and fire and see what I can work out!


Edit: Ronan, you weren't the 'tog with MI Were you...? Outside BT's.

ronanc15

XiledSniper wrote: »

Aye, got some myself too:






And have some dont at night, from the Zombie Fest last year. But other then that I don't really have much experience, I might try playing with flash paper and fire and see what I can work out!


Edit: Ronan, you weren't the 'tog with MI Were you...? Outside BT's.

I was with MI doing from say Supermacs cross to the cross by chicken hut. that general area. Did we bump into each other?

The Snipe

I was the photographer in the Urban Camo Combats! You spent most the day listening to iPod Headphones? :P


Did you get paid by them at all..?

ronanc15

XiledSniper wrote: »

I was the photographer in the Urban Camo Combats! You spent most the day listening to iPod Headphones? :P


Did you get paid by them at all..?

I think you might have passed me at some stage alright with a girl possibly? wasnt me with the ipod headphones though :-)

The Snipe

ronanc15 wrote: »

I think you might have passed me at some stage alright with a girl possibly? wasnt me with the ipod headphones though :-)

Yes that was me! I was trying to teach her a few bits!

The Snipe

Heres the ones I'd said I'd done previously:

ronanc15

I like the detail in the flames on the first one! What type of a setting are you thinking of doing it in?

The Snipe

I was thinking maybe 1/200 ISO 250ish and F4.5/F5.6 Might borrow a 16-35 2.8 for it too.

bullpost

I wouldn't rule out flash completely. Front/rear curtain flash can be very effective for lighting the persons face in these situations and you can get some interesting effects with it.

ValueInIreland wrote: »

A few thoughts...

Absolutly NO Flash
Go for a Dark Background behind the Subject
Try some really tight Wideangle shots - but don't wear anything flamable on your head.
Try some shots from above (Balcony / Step ladder)
Try some from below...

kelly1

I'd say it's fairly essential to get quite a high shutter speed (and ISO). Flames move pretty fast! And be careful about blown highlights. Not that I've done much fire shooting!