070/365 - Jim - Santa Smoke

( f/14 24mm 1/125 sec ISO 200 Nikon D300 )

Theme is smoke. I set up the black backdrop and used one flash with a grid spot on it. Then I blew out the candle and started shooting. I got this shot that looks to me like a skull with teeth somewhat well defined. Then I started manipulating the image by adding another eye, changing colors, and shaping the hat. This would be cool as the smoke coming out of a chimney on a house decorated for Christmas.

041/365 - Jim - Blue Smoke

( f/16 27mm 1/160 sec ISO 200 Nikon D300 )

I went to the Steeler game today and took my point and shoot camera. If you saw the game, you'll know why I was disgusted and didn't post any of those pictures. Instead, right before midnight I set up a candle and a flash. I lit the candle and blew it out then snapped some photos. To make the smoke blue, I changed the white balance to tungsten. The glass holder was desaturated to black and white in post processing.