There are certain freedoms of movement in photography that we should all try at some point with the camera. They function as both important learning tools but obviously, they are fun to do. In this video, Pye Jirsa shows you how he creates a stunning portrait using smoke bombs.
You may have heard the phrase, “classic is classic for a reason.” It usually happens right after a criticism is leveled with something that is outdated or overdone. When it comes to smoke bomb photography, I believe the sentiment for this classic is right; they have earned their place as a classic, above it with (but above) steel wool.
Smoke has been used in artistic creations across various mediums for some time now, and photography is the one that has benefited the most. With smoke bombs, you have an easy and portable way to add texture, mood, atmosphere and even color to an otherwise simple scene. Here’s why it’s such a hugely popular technique, but don’t let that discourage you.
If you don’t care about smoke bombs as a feature, one technique that has worked over and over again is to cover your subject in smoke. This can eliminate the feeling of staging that you can get from your subject by keeping it in frame, if that’s not the direction you want it to be.
