Uploaded April 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A big thanks to all current and future patrons who are helping fund this science and filmmaking outreach via Patreon: bit.ly/2Sfmkph
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/untamedscience
This video is all about steel wool photography. You will need the following:
Steel Wool: Pick 0, 00, 000, or 0000 grade: amzn.to/1VlSrm6
A kitchen wisk set: amzn.to/1SLg6FU
a wire rope to spin it: amzn.to/1SLgap3
9 volt battery: amzn.to/1qm4MsZ
I added these amazon links in case you want to buy the needed materials. They are affiliate links, so if you buy them through the link, it will help us out. Good luck with your photography
The 9-volt battery is used to ignite the steel wool. Essentially it sends a current through the thin wire and it heats up a lot ... to about 700 degrees C. These temperatures cause the iron to react with oxygen in the air creating iron oxide. This reaction releases heat, which heats up the next strand and so on, causing a cascading reaction across the steel wool. When you’re doing this remember the science. The chemical reaction requires oxygen. So, fluffing it up and then spinning it, increases the amount of oxygen available, hence speeding up the reaction and giving us the amazing display that we used for our photographs...
Now to warn you about the hazards. Be very careful with this. You are dealing very hot things and spreading them over a considerable distance. Try to always do it over water or concrete as they will catch things on fire, even when you’re trying to be careful.
And of course, they can also burn you.
Alright everyone, send us your pics, be responsible and stay safe! I'm not responsible for any forest fires... :)
If you want 52 Things to start on right now to improve your filmmaking and photography - we have videos on them all here: untamedscience.com/blog/52things
Our GEAR ------------
Main DSLR : amzn.to/2Sho2qc
Second Camera : amzn.to/2B9HInR
Main Lens - amzn.to/2BaEXTk
The Adventure Camera Bag : amzn.to/2B8WYRH
The Macro Lens - amzn.to/2hHUhxW
Telephoto Lens - amzn.to/2za1FJV
Our Mega Wide Lens - amzn.to/2z9KtnS
Our BEST On-camera Mic - amzn.to/2hGuSVt
The Drone - amzn.to/2z84Bqc
My Moving Timelapse setup - amzn.to/2SeCZcJ
GoPro HERO 7 - amzn.to/2ShoPHG
Our Filmmaking Book!!! - amzn.to/2zV88LS
Our Music: goo.gl/roSjb7
The full video setup: kit.com/UntamedScience
(By buying through these links you help us support the channel)
On Social --------------
Instagram: instagram.com/untamedscience (Jonas @behindthescience)
Twitter: twitter.com/untamedscience
Facebook: facebook.com/untamedscience
Website: untamedscience.com
YouTube: bit.ly/2EDk6vO (for most of my work)
Jonas and I are creating a whole series of how-to-filmmaking videos to get you started. Here is the first video: bit.ly/2AcYvHJ and our book: amzn.to/2zV88LS
My main science YouTube Channel: bit.ly/2EDk6vO
Help us create amazing, world reaching content by translating and transcribing videos on our channel: bit.ly/2Crnjgu
A big thanks to all current and future patrons who are helping fund this science and filmmaking outreach via Patreon: bit.ly/2Sfmkph
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/untamedscience
This video is all about steel wool photography. You will need the following:
Steel Wool: Pick 0, 00, 000, or 0000 grade: amzn.to/1VlSrm6
A kitchen wisk set: amzn.to/1SLg6FU
a wire rope to spin it: amzn.to/1SLgap3
9 volt battery: amzn.to/1qm4MsZ
I added these amazon links in case you want to buy the needed materials. They are affiliate links, so if you buy them through the link, it will help us out. Good luck with your photography
The 9-volt battery is used to ignite the steel wool. Essentially it sends a current through the thin wire and it heats up a lot ... to about 700 degrees C. These temperatures cause the iron to react with oxygen in the air creating iron oxide. This reaction releases heat, which heats up the next strand and so on, causing a cascading reaction across the steel wool. When you’re doing this remember the science. The chemical reaction requires oxygen. So, fluffing it up and then spinning it, increases the amount of oxygen available, hence speeding up the reaction and giving us the amazing display that we used for our photographs...
Now to warn you about the hazards. Be very careful with this. You are dealing very hot things and spreading them over a considerable distance. Try to always do it over water or concrete as they will catch things on fire, even when you’re trying to be careful.
And of course, they can also burn you.
Alright everyone, send us your pics, be responsible and stay safe! I'm not responsible for any forest fires... :)
If you want 52 Things to start on right now to improve your filmmaking and photography - we have videos on them all here: untamedscience.com/blog/52things
Our GEAR ------------
Main DSLR : amzn.to/2Sho2qc
Second Camera : amzn.to/2B9HInR
Main Lens - amzn.to/2BaEXTk
The Adventure Camera Bag : amzn.to/2B8WYRH
The Macro Lens - amzn.to/2hHUhxW
Telephoto Lens - amzn.to/2za1FJV
Our Mega Wide Lens - amzn.to/2z9KtnS
Our BEST On-camera Mic - amzn.to/2hGuSVt
The Drone - amzn.to/2z84Bqc
My Moving Timelapse setup - amzn.to/2SeCZcJ
GoPro HERO 7 - amzn.to/2ShoPHG
Our Filmmaking Book!!! - amzn.to/2zV88LS
Our Music: goo.gl/roSjb7
The full video setup: kit.com/UntamedScience
(By buying through these links you help us support the channel)
On Social --------------
Instagram: instagram.com/untamedscience (Jonas @behindthescience)
Twitter: twitter.com/untamedscience
Facebook: facebook.com/untamedscience
Website: untamedscience.com
YouTube: bit.ly/2EDk6vO (for most of my work)
Jonas and I are creating a whole series of how-to-filmmaking videos to get you started. Here is the first video: bit.ly/2AcYvHJ and our book: amzn.to/2zV88LS
My main science YouTube Channel: bit.ly/2EDk6vO
Help us create amazing, world reaching content by translating and transcribing videos on our channel: bit.ly/2Crnjgu
