Using smoke bombs creatively when shooting has become popular in the past few years. It’s a fun process and, if done correctly, can create dramatic and mesmerizing shots while adding a pop of intense color to an otherwise standard composition. In this article, we’re going to tell you all you need to know to take your smoke bomb photography to the next level.
What is a smoke bomb exactly?
A smoke bomb is similar to a flare or a firework. When it’s lit, the reaction creates white smoke and the heat evaporates whatever color dye is in the bomb. Through small holes, the smoke and dye are ejected simultaneously, creating a jet of tiny particles that create the colored-smoke effect. Smoke bombs come in three different forms: can, stick, or grenade. Cans tend to have a wire-pull starter and can be placed on the ground afterward, whereas sticks and grenades need to be lit with a match or lighter. For our purposes, we’ll be discussing cans as they are seen as the safest and easiest to use.
How long do smoke bombs last?
Smoke bombs typically last anywhere from 30 to 90 seconds, depending on the brand.
What are the best brands, and where do I buy smoke bombs for photography?
All smoke bombs can be purchased online, but make sure they ship to your location. Massachusetts doesn’t allow the shipping of smoke bombs, and many U.S.-based companies won’t ship outside the continental United States for legal reasons.
Enola Gaye is the leading seller of smoke bombs. Their smoke bombs started in Berkshire, UK, as a paintball product before moving into pyrotechnics. They’re now the photographer’s top choice. The WP40 is their best-selling product; it comes in a can with a wire-pull starter, and it has a 90-second smoke-release time.
Peacock Smoke is a slightly cheaper option and offers 30- and 90-second smoke-release bombs, both in cans with wire-pull starters. They don’t ship outside the continental United States.
Smoke Fountains is the best budget option, with 45-second smoke times. They sell in packs with limited color options and sell out quickly. They also don’t ship outside the continental United States.
Do smoke bombs stain clothing?
The short answer is they can. The best way to avoid staining, especially if you’re working with a model, is to keep the can as far away from your subject as possible. This is also a good practice for the model’s safety and health.
Are they safe for models to hold?
Yes, with caution. These devices get hot when emitting smoke and are made to be placed or thrown on the ground, but people do hold them on shoots. It’s also important that the smoke bomb isn’t too close to the model, as that can cause staining or respiratory irritation. Make sure your model doesn’t have smoke or particle allergies, and encourage them to protect their eyes from the smoke as much as they can to avoid irritation. Whoever is holding the smoke bomb should wear gloves, as the cans can get hot, and they should hold the bottom of the can, where it’s the coolest.
Now that we’ve gone over some of the most important questions regarding smoke bombs, we’ll go over some safety tips, then get right to the geeky fun stuff.
Safety first.
We do NOT recommend DIY smoke bombs for photography. They all require fire to ignite them and involve a level of risk that things may go wrong, not to mention that most require toxic chemicals like ammonium nitrate. DIY bombs of any sort are unpredictable and unsafe, and you could put yourself and anyone else involved in danger.
When using any of the wire-pull cans we recommended, make sure to hold the can away from your body with the release holes/top of the can pointed away from you and anyone else present before pulling the wire. Do not place your hand or fingers on top or near the opening — there’s a spark/fire as it’s being activated. The cans can be thrown into the trash once empty, but make sure to wait until they’ve cooled down. If you have water on hand, you can use it to expedite the cool-down process.
These products are NOT to be used indoors. They’re designed to be used outside only. Excessive inhalation of smoke can cause respiratory irritation and difficulty breathing.
Make sure to check with all people on set before shooting. Individuals with asthma or other allergies can be more at risk to having an adverse reaction to the smoke and should take proper caution.
Keep a first-aid kit on set in case of an emergency. The most likely injury would be a burn from misuse (i.e., holding your finger or hand too close to the top of the can when activating) or an allergic reaction. If there is a small burn, place the affected area under cold water for ten minutes. Seek medical attention for more serious burns, an allergic reaction, or an asthma attack.
Lastly, not that many need the reminder, but always have a properly sized fire extinguisher nearby! It is incredibly important to ensure that you can address any potential fires that may spark from the smoke bomb. Also, keep a cellphone on you in case of an emergency. If you’re going to be out of cell range, make sure someone knows your location and that you have a way to contact them.
Now for the fun stuff.
Smoke-bomb photography settings.
Smoke bombs are an unusual addition to a photo and require a bit of extra attention when setting up your camera and equipment.
To simplify the photo post-production, always shoot in RAW format (though you can shoot in JPEG if you don’t plan to edit the images). RAW takes up a lot of space on your cards, but it really helps with white balance and exposure on the post-production side of things if you have enough memory space. It’s also becoming more common for photographers to back up their files online. We offer unlimited photo storage at SmugMug.
As for lighting, natural lighting is ideal and easiest, with the proper positioning and time of day. But if you’re a devout strobe user, they can add interesting depth and dimension–and also mean you can shoot at night.
As is the case with strobe photography, you’ll need to set your aperture at about f/8 with your shutter speed matching the sync of your flash (usually between 1/200 or 1/250 of a second). The lower the ISO the lower the grain, but on newer cameras, you can still get very fine grain with a higher ISO. Because the smoke is moving, make sure you have a fixed auto-focus point so you can always find your model/subject. Auto white balance is fine if you’re planning to edit later; otherwise, use “shade” for warmer tones and “tungsten” for cooler tones.
Smoke-bomb photography tips.
- Because smoke has different shades of darkness to it, slightly underexpose your shots to ensure you capture the smoke’s highlights.
- If you’re planning to have your model hold the smoke bomb, direct them to move it very slowly. The more movement, the harder it is to capture. If the smoke moves slowly, it will give you better-looking and more-defined plumes and shapes.
- Wind is something to plan for. If it’s windy, you’re going to have a hard time controlling the outcome of the smoke’s path. Check weather and wind patterns prior to the shoot and, if possible, find a place that has some shelter from wind.
- If you’re shooting fashion or color is your focus, make sure the color of your smoke plays well with your model’s clothing.
- Remember, you only have so much time, so plan your shots ahead and don’t try to cram in too many concepts at once. Stick to one to three poses per can to ensure you get the shot and aren’t rushing.
- Always make sure to have multiple cans as this is a trial-and-error process and will take time to get the shot.
Smoke-bomb photography ideas.
To get you started, here are a few creative ideas for your smoke-bomb shoot:
Props. Whether it’s your model holding a prop, or the smoke is being emitted from a prop, this can add a level of intrigue to your concept.
Smoke wall. Use the smoke as a background. Set off multiple smoke bombs, perhaps in different colors if you want to really get creative, to create the illusion of a wall of smoke behind your model/subject.
Halo effect. If you’re using a model and they’re (safely) holding the canister, instruct them to (slowly) move the smoke around their body, creating a halo or shape around them.
Fire. Orange smoke-bomb photography is popular as it emits a natural-looking color, like smoke from a real fire. This can add a level of drama and mystery to your shot and is good for concepts that involve real or implied fire and smoke.
Obscure. Whereas for most commercial work you want to avoid obscuring your model or subject’s face, if you’re going for artsy and thought-provoking, try intentionally obscuring their face with smoke.
Lighting from behind the smoke. This can be great with wedding photography. Create a wall of smoke behind your subjects, positioning your lights behind them so they’re backlit. This can create a dramatic shot.
Movement. Whether it’s your subject that’s moving or the smoke, movement (as long as you keep your shutter speed fast!) can make the most interesting shots in smoke-bomb photography. Using dancers and athletes and having them move in and out of the smoke is a popular method, as is smoke-bomb car photography, where photographers will fix smoke bombs to the tail of the car to add dramatic smoke plumes as the car moves. It’s recommended to drive slowly, of course, to get the best shape and structure to your smoke.
For additional inspiration, watch the SmugMug Film, “The Fabric of Fantasy” featuring the ever-inspiring photographer, Bella Kotak. Bella’s fine-art-meets-fashion portraiture aesthetic is enhanced by her use of smoke bombs to achieve her desired look.
The possibilities of capturing interesting photographs with smoke bombs are nearly endless as long as you know your tools. Experiment, stay safe, plan ahead, and happy shooting!
