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First of all, this will only work well at night but twilight isn't too bad either. What is required is a large wire burley cage as they use in fishing, a lightweight dog chain about 2 1/2 feet long and some steel wool and obviously something to light it with. I suggest a little lighter fluid and a match/cigarette lighter. Those taking the shots will need a camera (DSLR preferred) UWA or wide angle lens but you can get away with a standard lens at a pinch, a tripod and a cable switch. Mount your camera to the tripod and connect the cable switch, set the camera to "Bulb" to give yourself extended shutter open time.
With the Burley cage you stuff it full with steel wool, attach the chain to it then light the steel wool using a little lighter fluid and the match. Start swinging the cage in an arc and as the wind catches the burning steel wool it sparks with very bright light. The cameras should quickly focus on that light and cable switches held down until the steel wool burns out. This may take up to 30 seconds to happen. I'll add the exif data so you know what settings to use on your camera.
EXIF Sub IFD
Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 117/10 second ===> 11.7 second
Lens F-Number / F-Stop = 18/1 ===> ƒ/18
Exposure Program = manual control (1)
ISO Speed Ratings = 1600
EXIF Version = 0230
Original Date/Time = 2012:01:23 21:12:07
Digitization Date/Time = 2012:01:23 21:12:07
Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
Shutter Speed Value (APEX) = -55929/15601
Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/0.08 second
Aperture Value (APEX) = 31141/3734
Aperture = ƒ/18
Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/1 ===> 0
Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment (5)
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 10/1 mm ===> 10 mm
FlashPix Version = 0100
Colour Space = sRGB (1)
Image Width = 800 pixels
Image Height = 351 pixels
Image Sensing Method = one-chip color area sensor (2)
Image Source = 0x03,0x00,0x00,0x00
Scene Type = directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = normal process (0)
Exposure Mode = manual exposure (1)
White Balance = auto (0)
Focal Length in 35mm Film = 15
Scene Capture Type = standard (0)
Contrast = hard (2)
Saturation = normal (0)
Sharpness = hard (2)
Subject Distance Range = distant view (3)
With the Burley cage you stuff it full with steel wool, attach the chain to it then light the steel wool using a little lighter fluid and the match. Start swinging the cage in an arc and as the wind catches the burning steel wool it sparks with very bright light. The cameras should quickly focus on that light and cable switches held down until the steel wool burns out. This may take up to 30 seconds to happen. I'll add the exif data so you know what settings to use on your camera.
EXIF Sub IFD
Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) = 117/10 second ===> 11.7 second
Lens F-Number / F-Stop = 18/1 ===> ƒ/18
Exposure Program = manual control (1)
ISO Speed Ratings = 1600
EXIF Version = 0230
Original Date/Time = 2012:01:23 21:12:07
Digitization Date/Time = 2012:01:23 21:12:07
Components Configuration = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
Shutter Speed Value (APEX) = -55929/15601
Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/0.08 second
Aperture Value (APEX) = 31141/3734
Aperture = ƒ/18
Exposure Bias (EV) = 0/1 ===> 0
Metering Mode = pattern / multi-segment (5)
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 10/1 mm ===> 10 mm
FlashPix Version = 0100
Colour Space = sRGB (1)
Image Width = 800 pixels
Image Height = 351 pixels
Image Sensing Method = one-chip color area sensor (2)
Image Source = 0x03,0x00,0x00,0x00
Scene Type = directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = normal process (0)
Exposure Mode = manual exposure (1)
White Balance = auto (0)
Focal Length in 35mm Film = 15
Scene Capture Type = standard (0)
Contrast = hard (2)
Saturation = normal (0)
Sharpness = hard (2)
Subject Distance Range = distant view (3)
A HAPPY PENTAX USER
Great stuff
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