smokin' SB-800

<p>Hi all!<br>

I've noticed a weird phenomenon while shooting boxers in the gym: <br>

a SB-800 (set-up as slave for backlight, about 1/4 - 1/8 power, no gels, no diffusors) on a stand behind the subject created smoke. <br>

In this case I like the effect - but started to wonder/worry about the smoke.<br>

I'm not even sure it's smoke - could it be steam/vapor caused by moist air (temperature and humidity in the gym were high, but not tropical)? <br>

I've fired off some bursts, but at reduced power and without any kind of high-voltage battery-pack. The SB-800 in question works still fine and wasn't really „hot” after the bursts. The fresnel-lens looks fine too.<br>

I hope it's not a sign for an end of life.<br>

Any ideas? <br>

Many thanks in advance, Georg!</p>

<div></div>

<p>That just looks like water vapor/condensation coming off a hot and sweaty fighter in a slightly cooler room. Not uncommon and completely natural (you'll see it during any football game in cool weather -- it's the same phenomenon that lets you see your breath on a cold day). I think it's actually a pretty cool effect in this shot. If you want to avoid it, don't shoot fighters right after they get out of the ring, or avoid the kind of backlighting setup you used here.</p>

<p>It MAKES that great photo!</p>

<p>That's not smoke from the flash, it's just crap in the air that your flash is illuminating, because you're shooting in a gym where everyone is sweating. I agree that it is an interesting effect for your photo. Also, if you don't mind a small critique, stop down your lens more. The boxer's left glove and arm are soft, which is distracting. When the closest subject in a shot is out of focus, it makes the shot look like it was taken incorrectly.</p>

<p>Peter, Peter & Ariel, <br>

thanks for your explanation - I've never noticed this kind of condensation before. And heard too many horror-stories about melting speed-lightes before :-)<br>

I like the effect quite a bit and will try to enhance it if I shoot „condensing athletes” again.<br>

Ariel - thanks for your hint. Point well taken. I had a different pose in mind with his eyes and near hand at the same plane of focus and forgot to stop down.<br>

Thank you, Georg!</p>

<p>Apparently you switched your flash to "torch" mode which sets your unit on fire - hence the smoke!</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=586046">Thomas K.</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub9.gif" alt="" /></a>, Nov 18, 2011; 01:41 p.m.</p>

 

<p>Apparently you switched your flash to "torch" mode which sets your unit on fire - hence the smoke!</p>

 

</blockquote>

 

<p><strong>;-)</strong></p>

<p>If the flash was powerd by 4 AA batteries, should not really catch a fire or smoke, but it is possible.<br>

You need to pay more attention to this flash, and do not leave it On and unattended, since you have a reason for limitted trust. </p>

<p>Electronics is sometimes very strange. Once my Sony Blu-Ray player started smoking and actually caught live fire, so I had to rush it out of the house quickly. Opened the box and could not see any damage, so I connected it again and it plays OK. Fuse was not blown. However, after that I lost my trust in this player, and bought another one, ... another brand.</p>

<p>Flashes put out a lot of heat and near-infrared radiation as well as visible light. I've noticed that if I put a powerful flash next to anything vinyl, the vinyl outgasses something that very much looks like smoke. It also smells like smoke! I've not managed to cause a fire yet, but I'm now very wary of firing a flash close to any soft plastic surface. I once thought that my Metz 45-CT4 had self-destructed because of this smoke, but it turned out to be a vinyl place mat that the flash was resting against.</p>

<p>I see what looks like vinyl-covered ring padding in that picture behind the boxer. The sweaty T-shirt might steam if blasted with a flash too.</p>

I was thinking chalk dust

<p>Frank, Joe and Thomas, <br>

thank you for your answers!<br>

I've performed a quick and dirty and very unscientific test yesterday:<br>

I've placed two SB-800s (set-up as slaves, no gels, no diffusors) behind a black cardboard and fired off some bursts (1/8 to 1/2 power, first a single flash, after that both SBs together). <br>

I wasn't able to generate smoke this way. The SB-800s didn't feel unnatural warm after this round.<br>

Next step: I've placed a bowl with water between cardboard and speed-lights (ambient temperature at the attic about 10°C, water-temperature about 20-22°C) - no smoke or steam was visible.<br>

Step 3: I've replaced the water-bowl with a couple of vinyl-pouches - no smoke/vapor visible, not even at the time when I placed both speed-lights close to the pouches.<br>

Last step: I've changed the water for warmer water (about 32-35°C) and voila - I've got nice steamclouds every time, at every flash-power-setting.<br>

As stated above, my worries about firing my SB-800s to death are gone. <br>

But I will keep the reflectors away from possible inflammable stuff - just to be on the safe side.<br>

Thank you again, Georg!</p>