I went back to my outdoor torches tonight to try to capture some smoke patterns. Interesting formations, and no two were alike.

I thought this one looked like a serpents head.

Tying a knot?

I like this one, but can't figure out what it looks like.

Just another amazing design.

Finally, the last one. The only post work I did on these was some cropping, and that's it. Hope you were amused like I was!

Wow, Marshall. These are beautiful abstracts. I love them all. :-) I can see the serpent's head too. :-) The last one looks like a lily of some sort. I dunno what it's called. (*

A calla lilly.....my thoughts exactly Jovan! Beautiful stuff....nature is amazing...these are great Marshall...

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com

Wow! These are exciting. I'd be interested in finding out how you set up the lighting, shutter speeds, etc.??

I missed pic # 6. I guess I cross-posted. Alpha is sure right about the gallery thing. This is the shyte. :-) (*

Marshall, did you use extra lighting to light up the smoke ? Really interesting stuff...never saw this before.

These are amazing Marshall! I can see these in a gallery too.

elusive.chaos

"You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star...." (Nietzsche)

Fantastic! Marshall, What a tremendous subject so simple yet so unique. I really like those shots with the little added colour the flame or green foliage. Fantastic and thanks for sharing. :O)

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing. Salvador Dali

I couldn't resist trying an abstract; (blatently stealing your work). So many possibilities here, from your simple elegant originals to things really wild.

That one is wild Misha. Gimme some of what you're having. :-) (*

Thanks all for the positive feedback. Wow Misha, that's killer!!! Looks like you inhaled some of the smoke! They surprised me too, and yes Alpha, this morning even before I hit the Internet I converted them to B&W with a slight contrast boost. They looked much better (put a couple in my gallery), and I will certainly take your advice on my next session. As to what I did, I was almost hoping nobody would ask! I have a variety of lensesfilters and whatever with my SLR, which I always use for my more serious work, but my digital camera is almost a toy (although I LOVE it dearly too). It's a Kodak DX3500. Point and click. Fixed focus, but it does have a "close-up" option, which has a DOF from 9 to 12 inches (22 to 30cm). All I can get from the book is a change from f/4.5 (normal) to f/8 (close-up). But it does have a fairly nice size, 1800x1200 pixels, and prints real clean up to the 16x20" range. Anyways, for these shots I used my digital in the "close-up" setting (film would be WAY TOO expensive). Set the flash to the weaker "fill" setting, held the camera the required 9 inched back, and shot upwards just above the flame of the torch - one of those basic Citronella fuel deals. The smoke is supposed to keep mosquitoes away. The stupid book doesn't even give the camera shutter speed, but the smoke off the torches moves really fast, so I'm thinking at least 1/125 or maybe 1/250. My back porch light was also on, but I don't think it had much impact, if any. Wish I had something more sophisticated to report, but that was it! marshall

Whoa Marshall...some truly AMAZING and unique stuff here! Downright MAGICAL!!! Pic# 1 reminds my of one of those birthday party favor thingies that unroll when ya blow into 'em. (IMHO) Pix 4&5 resemble parts of a human form...like someone wrapped in or lyin under silk sheets! WICKED... L8r!

Wicked... you have an amazing talent! Fab images =) xXxXx

So, basically, flash on camera. Stopped motion will basically be a function of the flash burst; probably around 1/5000th for a small flash?

Misha, I really have no idea. I'm gonna try to shoot some more with film this week, so I can write down the camera settings for each shot and see what works, and what doesn't. But I really don't see how it can improve much from what I have discovered by accident here with digital camera. Sometimes playing around has good results!

These are amazing and really beautiful.

hi, this is great stuff...you hit upon a great series of photos here...of to your galler to see the b&w work!

Pictures appear to me, I shoot them.   Elliot Erwitt