Powder explosion photograph

I always wanted to try a powder explosion photo so when we had dancer Samantha Needles in the studio for a lifestyle shoot it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

For those who do not know what a "powder explosion" is, the model begins with a closed pose and is covered with powder. We used talcum powder, but there are many other variations that work quite well. We also put some powder in the models hands so she could release it as she opened the pose. When ready, the model bursts out into very open pose creating a powder trail as she goes.

The scene needs to be somewhat back lit to contrast the powder with the background. We placed two studio strobes on either side of the model and just a tad behind her to highlight the powder. The photo was taken with a Nikon D750 and 24-70mm zoom.