But in focus.
You will need the following;
1 hat (bits of recently burnt metal in your hair does not a good look make, a hat is essential)
some old clothes (its yet to happen to me but I have heard of people ending up with tiny scorch marks on their stuff)
Safety goggles (just in case)
Some wire wool
A length of chain (mine is 2 metres long
)A camera with adjustable shutter speed
A tripod
A lighter or other source of ignition (some use a 9V battery, I found this too fiddly)
A torch
A little patience.
A fire extinguisher (I don't really expect anybody to pay attention to this one, but felt I should highlight the fact that you are literally playing with fire here and can never be too careful)
Optional - A metal whisk (this will be used as a cage to hold the wool. If you can think of something else to use with similar properties then I'm sure that would work too)
Optional - Remote shutter release (It is possible to do on your own, however it is easier with a helper/co-togger. If you're on your own it would be easier to do with a remote control for shutter release.)
*Parts in italic below relate to both with whisk and without whisk techniques, don't bother reading them twice*
Firstly, set your camera up on the tripod. Walk a nice distance from it and set a mark so you know where you are. If you have a helper, this next part will be much easier; if not use the remote and autofocus on the camera. Shine a torch on your self so the camera/helper can focus properly. If using a remote hold it down halfway and assume that it has caught you. Then return to the camera and set it to manual focus so that this doesn't change. If you have no helper, it would be a good idea to set the camera to 10 second self counter, then you can ready yourself before the shutter releases. Burns don't really last ages, so 4 seconds is normally long enough in terms of shutter speed. With regard to the white balance of the camera, colder gives off blue sparks, warmer white balance gives off red/orange.
With Whisk
Before starting, attach the whisk/cage to the middle of your chain. The doubling up of the chain makes it a little easier to control IMO
Tear a piece of wire wool off, the more you have the longer the burn will last, the more sparks etc.
put the wire wool inside the whisk like below
Spread it out a little so its not all in one big clump. And its now ready.
Hold the chain so both ends are in the same hand, and the whisk is hanging down and do a few practice swings. Circles in front of you produce effects like above, swinging it around over your head produce ones like THIS. Figure 8's produce an absolute mess of crap, don't bother with that one. It is possible to make spirals and things like that though so have a go at a few different methods. Always best to try a practice swing first though.
If you're on your own press the shutter release now, you have 10 seconds in which to light the wire wool. So light the wool and swing like you practised.
If you're with a helper, have them press the shutter when you're ready.
When your burn has finished stamp out any small fires that have started. Be vigilant, you don't want to get done for arson. The main culprits for catching fire are dry leaves so try to stay away from them if possible.
No Whisk
Fold the chain in two, tear a strip of wire wool off and it around the chain in the middle.
Then twist it so that it won't come loose as in the picture below.
Hold the chain so both ends are in the same hand, and the wool is hanging down and do a few practice swings. Circles in front of you produce effects like above, swinging it around over your head produce ones like THIS. Figure 8's produce an absolute mess of crap, don't bother with that one. It is possible to make spirals and things like that though so have a go at a few different methods. Always best to try a practice swing first though.
When it comes to lighting it, use the end that is hanging down (the longer end). It is most likely that because your source is not trapped in, the last chunk of it will fly off at the end. This is the main reason I took to using a cage.
If you're on your own press the shutter release now, you have 10 seconds in which to light the wire wool. So light the wool and swing like you practised.
If you're with a helper, have them press the shutter when you're ready.
When your burn has finished stamp out any small fires that have started. Be vigilant, you don't want to get done for arson. The main culprits for catching fire are dry leaves so try to stay away from them if possible.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR WIRE WOOL SUPPLY NEAR THE AREA YOU WILL BE STANDING FOR THE PICTURE. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO CATCH ALIGHT
Safety first - Check you are not standing in a pool of petrol or oil.
Check you are not near anything hugely combustible.
Do not do this on railway lines or near sources of high electrical output - electricity jumps and you're holding a metal chain.
I have no idea how legal this activity is, so best not to do it on somebody else's property without permission, and not to do it with lots of people around.
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