Steel wool fun.

I had the opportunity with the Timaru photographic club to spend a weekend at Moeraki. One of our exercises was to play with flaming steel wool after dark. some spectacular results were obtained. It started off with experimentation to find the best exposure and focus. Cameras on tripods and manual setting used.

A wide angle lens is required and pre-focus using the manual MF focus setting selected. All these shots were at ISO-100.

Shot  details: 10s at f/6.3

 All the remaining shots were at 6s at either f/8 or f/7.1.

So how was the steel wool used?

Firstly, steel wool does burn but will only smoulder when a lighter held to it. For best results, the finest grade (e.g. 0000 grade) works best. Makes sure it is not impregnated with soap - like you would get for cleaning pots and pans in the kitchen.

When it is heated and you blow on it it will spark and burn faster.

A small metal cage, like a cheap egg whisk tied to a piece of cord, swung around rapidly will make it spark and burn for a few seconds. Around 6 -10s is the maximum time for a display of sparks.

After a session at the boulders we went back to the town for dinner and then tried again outside on the street.

The rope holding the metal cage burnt through here.

Two burning cages.

The best way I found to click the shutter was by cable release when the sparks really get going.

After the first 6 seconds, and the sparks had nearly finished, I pressed the cable release for the next shot.

After the steel wool had burnt and sparks flying, you are left with molten iron to get the cage of light around whoever was in the middle.

The only concern was the molten bits of iron spread out and a possible fire. Extinguish all hot spots!

In the above photo there is a blue light stick on the ground. This was used to pre-focus and serve as a guide as the where to stand with the steel wool.