Sparkler Spelling

A couple of you asked about how to use 4th of July sparklers to create the name. 
Well, you know me.  Totally up for any tutorial that deals with fire hazards.

First, you must have sparklers, a camera with a manual shutter speed and a wide open space free from obstructions such as (but not limited to) houses, cars, newspapers soaked in gasoline, and small children using aerosol hairspray.

It is also helpful to do this with no lights on in the background.  Think about it.

Moving on to point B. 

Adjust your shutter speed so that the sparkler twirler (let’s call them the Pyro) can actually write out the letters in the sky. 

This shutter speed was not long enough.  And my sister, Lori the Pyro, only started the “L” before getting cut off.

 

Longer but not quite there yet.

There we go. 

4 seconds was long enough but almost too long.  (you can see the blaring glow at the end of the name where the spelling was complete and Lori had to hold the sparkler still). 

Remember – the Pyro MUST spell backwards.  And the photog must hold still.

 

Obviously I have a little longer name.  But it also took longer for my giant head to process how to write my name backwards.  Therefore…longer shutter speed.

Every person is different.  The Pyro may move slower or have a longer name – adjust accordingly 

Here is another instruction as demonstrated by Mom the Pyro.  No going back to the start.  Underlining is fine but don’t attempt to restart.  It just screws with the letters…can you even see what she was trying to spell?

Okay.  And now that you know that it is good to end at the…well..end.  The question is where.  WHERE DO YOU END?  Try to finish your spelling and then move the sparkler away from your word a bit.  Pyro Mom ended it above right next to her “b”.   And it jacked it up. 

Here Pyro did it right and you can clearly see the “Deb”….one million points for Mom. 

Also it is key that with long names you do not pivot.  The end letters get smaller and smooshed.

Here Sister Pyro traveled her feet and spelled out the letters on the same plane to the camera.  Fun fact – my maiden name is above 🙂 

And if spelling is too hard for you…and I must admit, I struggled…then try sky designs such as swirlies, spins and circles.  Different colored sparklers can make different designs…just adjust that camera shutter speed and decorate the night away! 

Well, there you have it you foxy people…a complete little tutorial on how to create your own skywriting – fourth of July style!  Try it at home…and if you have any tips of your own to make the best sparkler spellouts…like “HAVE A EXTINGUISHER NEARBY” – go ahead and share it in the comments 🙂