Light for Smoke photography?

The direction is more important, the nature of the light depends on what you want to portray.
 
But saying would a harsh light cause the smoke to be more transparent than the softer light at that same wattage
 
Stefano Bussandri said:
But saying would a harsh light cause the smoke to be more transparent than the softer light at that same wattage
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What would be the point in making the smoke transparent?

Smoke refracts light, so the position of the light is crucial, the next most important thing is the shape of the smoke, which can be anything from a whisp to a billow. Hard or soft light will depend on the image you're trying to create.

It's not complicated, like asking whether an Apple should be lit with a hard or soft light, or a milk splash, or a model, or a car, or a mountain.

Light is never right or wrong per se, but it can be inappropriate for the image you want to create.
 
Is the smoke the subject or just another feature in the shot?
If it's the subject you can light it from any direction you like but backlighting is by far the best way of showing it up. Small light sources do a better job of revealing detail.

If it's just one element and there's any smoke between the subject and the camera then you'll need to light your subject from the side. Otherwise you'll just get a whole heap of contrast-reducing haze. Unless that's what you want, of course.

Here's some I prepared earlier..


Snow Queen by Simon Carter, on Flickr


Soria II by Simon Carter, on Flickr
 
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