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HOW TO DO SMOKE PHOTOGRAPHY

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  • Set up in a dark room on a table with a black cloth and a black backdrop - either fabric or cardboard

  • Set up an off camera flash directly next to the incense stick. Ideally the flash should be turned on its side to create a narrow, focused  light on the smoke only.

  • Attach a flag (barn door or improvised black cardboard) on either side of the flash to contain and direct the light.

  • Flash settings: Manual, quarter power.

  • Camera Settings: ISO 100 or max 200, Shutter: 1/125 or max 1/160, Aperture F8 or F110.

  • If the shot is too bright first lower the flash settings or go to F11. Note that bringing down the shutter speed will not make a difference because the light freezes the action not the camera shutter speed.

  • Put up a constant light source on the opposite side ie. torch or bedside lamp , in order to set up and focus before shooting.

  • Using Auto Focus, focus on the burning red tip of the incense stick while the light is on. Then switch to manual focus and switch off the light.

  • Aim to shoot just above the incense stick.

  • Move your hand gently around the incense to change the smoke pattern.

  • Fire away!

HOW TO ENTER A SALON

  • Go to the Photographic Society of South Africa Website https://www.pssa.co.za

  • Click on SALONS, SALON CALENDAR & RESULTS, FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 2016

  • Scroll down and select a Salon you wish to enter.

  • Open the Guidelines Pdf file, read up which categories are offered, the definitions of categories, sizes of images and general rules. These will vary slightly in each Salon. Also note the banking details.

  • Decide which images you want to enter and prepare your images.

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  • Make payment for the number of images you are going to enter.

  • Save or scan the proof of payment so that it is ready to upload to Photo Vault.

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  • Sign into Photo Vault and upload your images to MY PHOTO VAULT.

  • Go to MY ENTRIES, SALONS and select the Salon you wish to enter

  • Click on GO TO MY EVENT ENTRIES.

  • Fill in the details ie: PSSA number if you have one, number of photos / categories entered etc.

  • Browse and upload your proof of payment.

  • Select your nominated photo club - Southern Suburbs

  • Click on SAVE DETAILS/UPLOAD PROOF OF PAYMENT AND CONTINUE TO PHOTOS

  • Add your photos to each category and click FINALISE ENTRY.

  • You will receive a confirmation email.

HOW TO SHOOT ON A GREEN SCREEN

 

Shoot Day

The background must be as evenly lit as possible. No visible creases that may form shadows.

Place strip lights either side approx. 1.5 M from the screen at 45 degrees.

Place the subject approx. 2 - 3M from the screen.

Camera another 4 to 5 M in front of the subject.  

Expose for the screen: ISO 100, f6.3, 1/125

Use lights / studio lights / reflectors to light the subject as desired.

If taking multiple shots do not change the camera settings.

 

*NB Instruct models beforehand not to wear any shade of green whatsoever

 

Post production

Edit your shots of the day as you normally would

Ie.: Skin smoothing, Brighten eyes, selective sharpening etc.

Finalise the editing of your subject before inserting the background.

 

Loading EZ Green Screen software

Download the free version at http://www.ezgreenscreen.com/easy-green-screen-plugin

Open the zip file

Open Photoshop

Run installer from Photoshop: File, Scripts, Browse, select the EZ Green Screen 4 file, Load or Open.

Restart Photoshop and EZ Green Screen 4 will be in the Filters menu

 

How to paste your picture onto the background

In Photoshop open your background. NOTE: If you intend to print the image the background should be at least 5MB.

NOTE: The version will only output a maximum image size of 1200 pixels.

Then open the green screen image.

Filter

EZ Green Screen Dual

Click Continue Processing

Make a selection for the Dual Mask

Your cursor has the lasso tool on the end

Draw loosely around the models head. (To refine bits between the hair / water droplets etc)

Click Continue Processing once more

EZ Green Screen Menu opens right of screen

Click Adjust Mask

Slide Dark or light hair recovery sliders to approx. 75

Click apply

Use the Move Tool to click and hold your image while dragging it up to the background tab. Do not let go. Wait for the background image to appear then release the mouse button and your model will be keyed over the background.

Adjust size and save.

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