![how to make a background picture in steam how to make a background picture in steam](http://steamspa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/steam-background-image.jpg)
Whichever method you choose, you likely will have to repeat it a few times before you’re happy with your results. Lastly, one trick that is popular with food stylists to create localized steam is to place a water-soaked tampon in the microwave just before you shoot and place it directly behind the beverage. Ideally, use one with a continuous steam option.Īll you need to do is direct the nozzle where you want the steam and step back to take the picture. As long as it has a nozzle, you can create steam with it. You can get a portable, handheld garment steamer for a decent price online or shops where small appliances are sold. You don’t need a heavy duty commercial steamer like commercial stylists use. But it’s a less complicated option and looks more realistic than using incense sticks or other tricks that some photographers use.Īnother option is to use a clothing steamer. You may find that you have to work really fast and do it a few times before you get the perfect curling tendrils of steam that you desire. Pour boiling water into the mug and immediately take a shot by pressing your shutter release. This cup must be smaller than your main mug and should be placed in a way that it’s not visible to the camera. This works especially well for cappuccinos or other drinks that are not simple black coffee. You can also do this with instant coffee as well.Īnother alternative is to place a small cup behind the one that contains your beverage. Then simply pour it into your mug or cups and quickly take the shot. You can prepare the hot beverage as you ordinarily would and then keep it at boil until you are ready to take your shot. The easiest way to create coffee or tea steam is with boiling water. This is a better option that cranking up your ISO, which will result in increased noise.
![how to make a background picture in steam how to make a background picture in steam](https://wallpapertag.com/wallpaper/full/4/a/c/329746-steam-wallpaper-1920x1080-high-resolution.jpg)
This means you will have to open up your aperture quite a bit. A fast shutter speed will create more details in your steam. If your steam looks too blurry, try boosting the shutter speed even higher. Set your camera to 1/200th of a second shutter speed and take a shot. However, with natural light, you need a higher shutter speed to freeze the movement of the steam wafting up in the air. When you shoot with flash, shutter speed doesn’t matter much because you’re freezing action. Use a Faster Shutter Speed When Shooting in Natural Light The few seconds it takes for you to place the steam and press the shutter can result in a complete loss of steam. This way you can take the picture immediately after adding the steam. You should use a shutter release, or the timer on your camera to automatically trigger your shutter. You’ll need your hands to be quick with placing your steam before it evaporates. It will do so very quickly. When shooting steam shots, a tripod is a must. And it frees up your hands to style your scene to the camera. A tripod helps you stabilize your camera, and get a lower shutter speed if necessary. Hopefully you’re using a tripod if you’re already shooting still life photography. These keep it from looking white and provide a contrast to the steam as well. There are also some shadows on the duvet. Note that the mug is colourful and adds some contrast. This is because natural light is low and is coming in from the window behind the scene. In the image below, you can see some of the steam coming off the coffee mug. However, it is possible to showcase some steam with backlighting. It won’t show up unless the backdrop adds some contrast. Steam is very light in colour and somewhat transparent. This was not immediately obvious to me the first time I attempted to shoot coffee steam. The first rule of shooting pictures with steam is that you’ll need to use a relatively dark background. You need the light to shine through the steam in order to capture it effectively. Placing your light in this way will help you do that. You can use side backlighting when shooting a steam shot. Your lighting will affect your subject differently, depending on where you place it. What is important is that you think about the lighting that will best serve your visual story. I don’t always do this, nor should you have to. The eye travels from left to right when viewing an image, and it’s first attracted to the brightest part of the frame. This means that we read from left to right. It’s because I live and photograph in the Western world. Or 1:00 and 2:00, depending on which side of the camera you place your light on.Īs a food photographer, I typically light my set from camera left instead of camera right. Side backlighting is when your light is positioned somewhere between 10:00 and 11:00.