The Smoke Workshops

01/05/2019

Welcome to the Topiary lighting playground. I was commissioned to shoot this series by the Daily Mail, this is what happened......

Ever since I was a small boy I was fascinated by topiary  Yes, I know it sounds a bit odd but the whole idea that people can make hedges into the most beautiful sculpture of animals, birds etc has always fascinated and amused me in equal measure As a result it has appeared in my work more

08/12/2017

So the big day is tomorrow and I will be using Smoke Machines and pellets by Pea Soup whom I have been using for the past 10 years. Really brilliant kit and lots of expertise too.
What is more they are offering for a limited period a handy discount to visitors of this page - be sure to reference it!

The Mini Rocket is the largest output battery-powered unit that Pea Soup do, and it is popular with photographers and filmmakers working on location with no access to mains power. It produces large volumes of safe, non-toxic, water-based smoke and can be used with an external battery to give even longer runtimes.

Pea Soup will give a £70 discount off the purchase of a Mini Rocket system including battery, or £45 discount off the purchase of the Mini Rocket top part only (no battery or charger) along with a free container of Mini Rocket smoke fluid and free GB mainland delivery if you mention Drew Gardner over the phone or in the comments box if ordering via the website. Offer valid until the 15th of January 2018.
Pea Soup have these units in stock and delivery is normally next working day.

Pea Soup work closely with photographers and offer friendly advice on smoke machines and special effects to photographers and filmmakers. They have supplied their smoke machines and products for many commercial photographers and for most major motion pictures filmed in the UK. If you see smoke on the screen, its more than likely Pea Soup!

The Mini Rocket info and videos can be found on this web page:
http://www.smokemachines.net/buy-12v-dc-battery-smoke-machine.shtml

Pea Soup smoke pellets are manufactured in England and use a unique formula developed continuously since the late 1960s to produce a very dense, high output smoke offering even greater possibilities for smoke production on location whilst travelling light. Like the Mini Rocket system and its fluid, our smoke pellets are not hazardous to transport overseas.

Pea Soup will increase the quantity of 60 second duration smoke pellets ordered by 50% for any order placed before the end of December this year if you mention Drew Gardner over the phone or in the comments box if ordering via the website.
Smoke pellets info can be found on this page:
http://www.smokemachines.net/smoke-pellets.shtml

Compact, high output battery powered smoke machine to create fog without mains power. Ideal for film shoots, special effects and photographers.

27/11/2017

27/11/2017

Less than two weeks to go until the Smoke Workshops - secure you place today! A great day out with fellow enthusiasts; new photography skills that will last a lifetime.

13/11/2017

More smoke and animals, this time a Great Dane, shot for the launch of the Phase One P65+ in Denmark. A memorable shoot.

09/11/2017

05/11/2017

Smoke is FUN but if you learn to 'haze' you can add another dimension to your images entirely. A little while ago I shot this 360 image at the remarkable W. Sitch and Company Limited in Soho, London. Shot using the quite wonderful Zeiss ZE 15 mm lens on Canon 6D using just available light. The haze enhanced the 'timewarp' aesthetic of the image.

31/10/2017

When is steam not steam? When it is smoke! Courtesy of my C**t Turbo smoke machine lit with 3 Elinchrom Ranger 1200 heads with the key light shooting through a 1 metre Chimera soft box. Shot on a Canon 6D with the simply SUBLIME 28mm Zeiss Otus Lens. I have added a 360 still shot with this combination too.

27/10/2017

A fun little behind the scenes video of a Smoke shoot I did with the Fujifilm GFX and lit with Elinchrom Ranger lights with Chimera soft boxes.

27/10/2017

A smoke shoot I did with the stunning Fujifilm GFX. The detail in the image and the depth given by the smoke lends another dimension. Smoke lets you 'see' the light as it passes through the air. It was a chilly day but it was tremendous fun for the whole crew

26/10/2017

Celebrity smoke with Kate Humble from BBC Nature watch. I did this shoot for the BBC Radio Times. Just played the smoke in a little.