Playing with Fire

Trying to capture the action of sparks and flame in lighting a match was a learning curve.  My husband, Jens, helped set up the apparatus and lit the match while I set up the camera.  For a black and white photo contest at work, Jens converted the photo to black and white.  Shockingly, it won 1st place and a $25 gift card to Red Robin.  Hooray!!  :-)  That was my first time in winning a photo contest.  I think it placed 1st because of creativity; it wasn't an ordinary landscape or portrait shot.

Manual focus was on the white tip of the match. Metering was trial and error.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i 180mm Macro

Sparks and flame the moment right before the match gets lit.  F/32 @ 1 sec ISO 800

Converted to black and white.