Billowing from paintball and airsoft fields on to artistic fields, smoke grenades have become the hottest new tool for photographers and cinematographers. Whether they are creating a whimsical, dreamy fashion shoot, or a gritty, urban underworld scene, these photographers have utilized the EG smoke to elevate their game to the next level!
Why are these smoke grenades so popular amongst photographers? Which grenades are most popular and how to do you use smoke to get the best visuals? We sat down with Canadian Photographers Tyler, Cristian and Jay to answer these questions and let you know how to get the most from your EG smoke grenades.
Tyler Nemeth (@shotinaction) I like using smoke grenades in my photography because of the intense colours and atmosphere they create. There’s so many concepts that you can use them for. From highly artistic to gritty and moody, I feel like they’ve enhanced my ability to capture a moment.
Search EG smoke on Instagram and you will find countless results of how smoke grenades have dominated the special effects market. On Instagram, a large international community of photographers exchange ideas and images and here we have seen smoke grenades rise to dominate the industry! The low cost of EG grenades means, whether you are an amateur or a seasoned photographer, anyone can get an expensive effect for an affordable price.
When asked where these photographers were first introduced to smoke, they all stated, Instagram meets.
Once you see these grenades in action, you’re hooked, as Jay states, what introduced me to Enola Gaya Smoke grenades was the amazing colour and what you can do with it in motion” While Cristian says that these grenades add “a sense of atmosphere to his photos”- the kind of atmosphere he can’t get using anything else. All the varying types of grenades each in seven colours strike captivating vibrancy on film: but these three shooters have their own favourite that each like taking out onto the field.... And here’s why “My favourite is the single burst EG18 grenade. I can do of motions, get a lot of shots and it lasts a long time. “Jay Tablate (@ASVPshooter)
While Jay enjoys the EG18 purple because of its high smoke output and long duration Tyler states he loves the Wire Pull, “they last a long time, I like using white smoke to create some really cool natural lighting effects and to capture sun rays, and then red and purple for the stark contrast to the surrounding landscape. It really makes the subject pop!”
Cristian states that he likes white to create a more natural fog effect and red when he wants to create a really vivid dynamic. “The Aspect I like most about the smoke grenades is that it adds that extra flare to your images that you can’t get through smoke machines” Cristian Eppstadt (@visual.era)
With a variety of different options of smoke output, in seven rich colours and at an affordable price, photographers have voted unanimously that these EG grenades are amazing tools of the trade, transforming the mundane into the fantastical and equipping anyone who can pull a pin to express ideas and images like never before. As the old adage goes, “Where there’s smoke there’s fire” and these photos using smoke are definitely fire! Check out what other people have captured with smoke and try them out for yourself, we can’t wait see what you come up with!