An AP photographer uses backlighting to bring a puff of smoke to life

BROOKLINE, MA (AP) — Robert F. Bukaty is a Pulitzer-prize winning photographer based in Maine. He has worked for The Associated Press for 32 years.

Here is what he had to say about this extraordinary photo.

Why this photo?

This photo was made while working on a story about daily users of cannabis in Massachusetts. Miguel Laboy, 75, the main subject of our story, lives in Brookline. He starts each day at 7:00 a.m. with a cup of coffee and a joint. I knew it was important to capture his daily ritual, even if that meant leaving my home in Maine at 4:30 in the morning.

How I made this photo

After Laboy lit the joint, I moved to the side to photograph him in profile. I wanted to see the smoke as he exhaled. A small desk lamp behind him provided illumination. I used a 70-200mm lens to focus on the smoke and to eliminate any distractions in the background. My exposure was 1/250 of a second at f/2.8 and an ISO setting of 10,000. That exposure results in a slightly grainy image but allowed me to use a fast enough shutter speed to “freeze” the stream of smoke.

Why this photo works

The photo works because the viewer’s eye is drawn to the texture of the backlit stream of smoke, which stands out against a dark background. Smoke, mist and water almost always photograph better when the light source is behind the subject.

The color in the dimly lit room adds to the ethereal feel.

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