Photographing Cigaratte smoke

[alexknudsen]

I am a high school photography student, and I'm doing a project on Film Noir stills. I want to make photographs look like they are on the set of a 1940's/50's Noir film. I did some test shots of one of my models today, and I really want the cigarette smoke to show up. My model will be standing against a wall with the cigarette down by her side in her hand. DOes anyone have any suggestions on how to make the smoke really show up?

Here is a photo that I kinda want it to look like

 

[RKW3]

Use external flashes and get creative with the lighting, find out what works best.

 

[kundalini]

I thought I had another example available on photobucket, but apparently not.

This was taken as a silohuette with the flash firing at the background wall. I have taken other smoke shots using an external flash (forget the on-board). You will have to play around with the flash output, but it can be done.

 

[Garbz]

BACKLIGHT IT!

 

[Battou]

Also try soft light above it

One I did a couple months ago

Just a standard desk lamp was used for this one, The light was well above the surface and directed outward toward the camera and slightly downward.

 

[KhronoS]

BACKLIGHT IT!

I agree, there's no better way

 

[Village Idiot]

You definitely need the light to make the smoke visible. If you're having a hard time, try a small piece of incense behind the cigarette. Incense smoke is much thicker and will give you an easier time.

ED: Also, check out Strobist.com and search for film noir. They did one of their monthly assignments on it and how to make an already hard bare speed light even harder. I took two strips of duct tape and taped it over the head so there was a 3/4" x 2.5" space of fresnel showing where the light could come through.

 

[JerryPH]

If you are going to back light it... use a black background.

 

[alexknudsen]

yeah I've just acquired a set of 3 500watt studio lights, so I think that will probably do the trick, Im gonna shoot it with my Mamiya c330 and my Nikon D80


thanks for your help!


P.S I love the incense idea, and I'm definitiely gonnna backlight it with a black backdrop

 

[Iron Flatline]

... and then dodge it to really bring it out!

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Like what garbz and Iron flatline say, backlight and dodge it.