For the first shot we stuck with a single stick and because of the enclosed space we were in, the smoke did not have much room to dissipate.
In addition, I used a 47” Paul C Buff Octobox, set on an Avenger C Stand, as I intended to shoot full length portraits and wanted the light to cover not only my model but some of the smoke around her as well. I brought along my new Xplor 600 strobe which shoots high speed sync and allowed me to underexpose the ambient light for a significantly darker background and a shallower depth of field. I felt as though the smoke would feature best in an urban environment so I sought out a location that was concrete, graffiti clad, and abandoned in appearance. My creative concept for this shoot was to produce something dramatic and edgy. Finding a happy medium is difficult but it is unlikely you will nail in on the first try regardless of how well you plan, so just start shooting. Despite being very concentrated, even the slightest breeze will dissipate the smoke and ruin the dramatic effect that can be obtained if it is simply allowed to float and envelope your model. Conversely, too much wind completely ruins the effect of the smoke. At one point during our shoot, the area we had chosen incased the model in smoke making it difficult for her to breathe, let alone pose. Smoke grenades are intensely potent and release a very acrid smell into the air that when inhaled, can be overwhelming. Other points to consider are proper ventilation and wind. While the smoke bombs are advertised as cool burning and therefore, able to be hand-held, this is certainly not guaranteed so be sure your model is aware of the risks and have her sign a release form stating these risks.
Also, bring a gallon of water or a fire extinguisher with you in case of emergency. Do not trespass and by all means, choose a location that will not be prone to fires like in a forest as safety is key. My suggestion would be to find somewhere that is undergoing urban decay such as an abandoned property, a parking lot, or anywhere that is unlikely to have crowds of people as you are better served avoiding public attention. I ended up shooting at a massive graffiti park in Austin that is very open-minded policies when it comes to creative pursuits despite being in city limits. So, definitely do some research and determine what the rules are in your locale. In some urban areas fireworks are strictly prohibited in city limits and unfortunately, smoke bombs fall under this category. $12 for a pack of 5 colorsMy next priority was finding a location to shoot at. This particular set included five colored sticks of green, red, blue, white, and orange and promised sixty seconds of burn time-all for $12 worth a shot at that price and in my case, they ended up working perfectly. Luckily, I found what appeared to be a well-reviewed product called Smoke Fountains through a website called Sparkle Rock Pop.
Then there are the DIY articles showing you how to make your own for next to nothing but after panning through a few search results, I started to feel like the terms smoke, bomb, and DIY were setting off alarms at the FBI. But at $14+ a pop and only 60 seconds of burn time (if you’re lucky), this option quickly becomes an expensive prospect.
A quick search on the web uncovers very few sellers, one of which is a company called Enola Gay. I was immediately intrigued at the creative possibilities.First thing's first: where do you find smoke grenades in the off season? Well, it's not as easy as it sounds. Recently, while in Austin Texas, I was introduced to a model, Valerie who suggested we use smoke bombs during the shoot. Smoke grenades: foul smelling, clothes staining, and a primary tool for celebrating the birth of our nation.