5 essential things you need for steel wool light painting!

So if you're still undecided about night photography, what is wrong with you?? Perhaps this blog will encourage you to get out there and just give it a shot!

After watching Peter McKinnon's vlog, I knew there was only one thing to do: call up my good buddy and videographer Phil Balabanos. There was literally no way in hell I wasn't trying this! Now, I have, in the past, experimented with long exposures and light painting, but nothing remotely close to burning down a forest and/or getting arrested (and yes, we came close to both!).

Here are five things you'll need to get this right:

Hardware

The good thing about this is that you don't need much and more importantly, you don't need to spend a fortune either!

First, you'll need a whisk. Make sure there aren't any plastic parts because they'll surely burn. Stick to stainless steel, Then you'll need to attach the whisk to a string/rope/chain, etc. I used a thick weed wacker line. Lastly, you'll need steel wool to stuff into the whisk. Don't forget a lighter. That's it! You're ready to go! Oh yeah...bring a fire extinguisher for safety purposes! (Definitely came in handy for us...)

Tripod is a must

Depending on how dark it is, keep in mind that you'll be shooting an exposure of anywhere between 5-10 seconds (maybe more). There's really no way to get a clear shot without a tripod. Also, if you're doing this alone (which I strongly recommend not to), you'll obviously have no choice but to use a tripod.

Shutter release remote

The whole purpose here is to avoid camera shake. You can very well pull this off by using the on camera shutter button. If you do, make sure to set a few seconds of delay just to be sure your camera isn't still shaking after you've pressed the shutter. My advice however, is to avoid touching the camera all together. A shutter release remote is a must for me when shooting long exposures.

The right setting

Your shot will look amazing no matter what! But if you take some time to find the right setting, it can look even better! Look for structures that can make your sparks ricochet, look for reflections, colors, popular landmarks, etc. There are so many different ways to experiment with steel wool photography that I am certain you won't go out just once.

Patience

One thing's for sure, you're not getting this on your first shot! It's ok! Be patient and have fun! Take the time you need to figure out the right exposure, the right framing, the right setting, etc. Try different options, different angles. In the end it will be worth your time and effort.

I hope this blog was valuable to you. Feel free to subscribe, comment and share and of course, show me your steel wool photography! I'd love to see your work!

See you all very soon!