My first attempt with a 'snoot'

Hi guys, just wondered what you think of my first experiment with a backdrop and a 'snoot'.

Snoot is a term describing an extension (usually of cardboard) which you place over the head of a flashgun, directing the light very specifically - like an elongated neck.

Was great fun to do I must admit.

I used the 18-55 MKII with a 2 sec delay and a 1 sec exposure - enough time to pick a new direction to shoot the light hand-held.

I like the egg. The way the light is coming through the cracks. Looks like a thread to go down. Perhaps macro. It is just a normal egg?

Doug

Yes, your average Tesco egg!

My intention was to drop it and try and catch the impact, well...that was a disaster. So I shot the aftermath instead.

Yeah, the light coming through the cracks is very cool. Worth pursuing! It could become your thing, like Amin and his smoke

In that case, i'd better get myself a shed with a bar and fridge!

Actually, speaking of Amin I did also take a shot of a Bacardi bottle which reminded me of his experiments:

Good shots Snootchies

I like all three of those. Excuse my ignorance in asking this, I take it the flash was off the camera to get the rear lighting effect? and did you mean the light was hand held?

Regards
PaulM

Agreed, good shots and the egg shots really look good. Snoots can be so useful!

Yes, I hand held the flashgun with my make-shift snoot. It's quite liberating to have such extensive control on the direction of light, and it's also facsinating how a seemingly small change in where you project the light has such a difference in the mood of the shot.

Try it, it's really good fun, and you don't need much space. I used a work surface in the kitchen. I bought an A1 sheet of black card, and bent it slighly in the middle so it curved around to cover the back wall and the surface itself.

Then just get your camera ready on it's tripod, already focused to your point of intrest - the 2 sec delay is quite essential not only to reduce movement, but it gives you time to 'strike a pose' with the flashgun.

And just see where it takes you...

Hi Bob

I really like that egg image, it came out looking pretty nice. Even the definition on the surface adds to the nice image.

I am not sure how you shot it but I tend to use the self timer when it comes to shots like these. Focus on the line of fall where approximately you think the egg will be when you shoot, then activate the shutter release and start counting. With practice you will start getting very accurate results. That way you are left with just concentrating with the counting and the release of the object. You have to take into account the weight of the object and the height from which you will release it. I find it easier to lay the object on a table or chair for example and then just push it horizontally to initiate the fall, that way there is no extra impulse given to it so the rate of fall is constant with every drop you try.

Practice practice and practice will definitely get you better results .
I have learnt for example that I can count precisely to 13 and the shutter releases when I use the timer mechanism with the K20

The egg is the top one for me!

Thanks for the comments and useful tips chaps!

I like the egg AND the Bacardi bottle. Amazing colours on the latter - I'd never have guessed what it is.

If you don't mind me asking, how come your user name is Snootchies, when you've only just started using a snoot?!

Lol - that indeed is a very good question.....


I've been using the nickname Snootchies long before I got into photography.

It's a reference to the Kevin Smith films set in New Jersey which began in 1994 (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Clerks 2).

Aha - nothing to do with a 'snoot' then!

This is a wow shot!