Light up the Night

Destin · Mar 27, 2018

My friend Ryan and I do a bunch of steel wool spinning photos every summer. Last night the weather was warm enough to do our first few of 2018. Here are my two favorites that I wanted to share!

Yes, I know train tracks are dangerous. We were on them for less than a minute and we were carefully watching each others backs in a dead silent rural section of track. I'm not here to debate safe practices.

1.)

I walk the Line by Destin Danser, on Flickr

2.)

AdventureMobile by Destin Danser, on Flickr

dxqcanada · Mar 27, 2018

You need to stick another image in the circle ... you know, for that Dr. Strange feel.

smoke665 · Mar 27, 2018

Really like the first one. Sorta has a "time traveler" feel to it.

Derrel · Mar 27, 2018

Me too! The first shot is a very fun one.

jcdeboever · Mar 28, 2018

Sweet but that looks real dangerous.

NancyMoranG · Apr 5, 2018

Ok, how did you do that with the steel wool?

Destin · Apr 5, 2018

NancyMoranG said:
Ok, how did you do that with the steel wool?

You put it in a kitchen whisk (or any steel cage), then tie a short rope to it. Like the steel wool on fire. Start spinning it. Open the shutter. Keep spinning. Close the shutter. Stop spinning.

Done. When steel wool burns it creates a shower of sparks.

It’s important to do it in the order I listed for a clean circle that doesn’t show the start or end of the spin when the circle isn’t round.

I usually shoot these around iso 200, f/4, and 5-10 second shutter speeds.