Optical Illusions of Smoke

The following are actual photos of smoke, true some post processing was done but everything you see in these images is photographed smoke. These are the work of Csaba Mészáros of Budapest, Hungary. I asked him permission to use the "Intimacy" image and he suggested two others. The most amazing of the three is the one below titled "Mom and Baby".


Mom and Baby
(c) Csaba Mészáros 2005
Used w/permission

You can read a brief biography on Csaba and find out exactly how he accomplished these amazing images in the January 2012 issue of PBase magazine.

Here is a short starter explanation he gave in a comment a couple years back,

"The setup is quite simple: the smoke comes from incense sticks (made in India), they are cheap and produce a constant smoke for a long period of time (and also a pleasant scent). The light source is a fashgun from side and behind. You need a black material for the background and something to shade the direct light from the flash to the lens. Plus some patience and some trials. "

Intimacy
(c) Csaba Mészáros 2005
Used w/permission

In the above image "Intimacy" two separate photos were merged into one during post processing to complete the duality of a male and female.


Apparition
(c) Csaba Mészáros 2005
Used w/permission

Csaba, Thank you for sharing your images here. You can find more photos of his on PBase.