steel wool spinning FUN!

In photography by webmeister Bud

A few Christmases ago, for Homemade Secret Santa, I drew friend Steph’s name, and made her a pair of steel wool spinning cages and the promise of shooting the undoubted photographic amazingness which would come with it. We, uh . . . haven’t gotten around to that but, in the meantime, PRACTICE! =)

20150224 - steel wool spinning FUN!-0001Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
18 mm · 2 s · f/4.5 · ISO 800

My friends (literally; I know, like, all of them) at Kerrisdale Cameras recently held another one of their regular photowalks but, instead of meandering through downtown industrial areas or hiking around a lake, we set steel wool on fire and spun it around in a spatula at the end of a dog leash.

Until the steel wool burned down to embers. I kinda love the fizzle stage of the burn you see below. Slightly less impressive, in a funny way.

20150224 - steel wool spinning FUN!-0002Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
18 mm · 10 s · f/4.5 · ISO 800

Store manager John was the volunteer centrifuge/firestarter and, indeed, though I didn’t bear witness to it myself, I heard tell of a wee little out-of-control spark which transpired prior to my arrival.

20150224 - steel wool spinning FUN!-0003Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
18 mm · 4 s · f/4.5 · ISO 800

The night was everything I hoped it could be, though I plan to aim higher in the future. More planning (well, actual planning), more light, more lenses, and more cameras.

20150224 - steel wool spinning FUN!-0004Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
25 mm · 2 s · f/8 · ISO 800
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/2 power, remote triggered

Above is John, and below is Jen. They’re a husband and wife team I’ve known for many years, having met Jen through poi circles (CIRCLES! GET IT??!?) in the mid- to late-aughts. They brought their own fire to the party.

20150224 - steel wool spinning FUN!-0005Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
32 mm · 3 s · f/16 · ISO 800
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/8 power, remote triggered

I’ll finish off with a bit of everything: fire, flashes, bunny ear lens flares.

20150224 - steel wool spinning FUN!-0006Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM
19 mm · 4 s · f/16 · ISO 800
Strobist: Canon 430EX II x2, full power, remote triggered

Count on more fire and steel wool in the future on happydesigns.

=)