Leaves in the breeze

[Larry Rutledge]

How can I make leaves/flower petals blow across the frame in a slow, swirly manner. What I am trying to achieve is the look of leaves or flower petals drifting on a light breeze, not a strong wind. If I just aim a large fan across the frame and drop leaves into the air current they will just shoot across the frame, not lilt and swirl lightly in random patterns and directions.

Is there any easy way to simulate this look?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[Shaw]

place a fan underneath the camera facing up and drop leaves from the top? Perhaps turn the camera sideways too?

Do you have After Effects?

 

[Larry Rutledge]

Thanks, I'll give that a try. No I don't have After Effects, would it make something like this easier to accomplish?

 

[Scottdvx100]

Try angling the fan and as mentioend try tilting the camera if you can (depending on background) so that gravity plays a roll.
After Effects doesn't provide this. You could do it with a high end 3D package but it would take a lot of work to get something 1/2 as good as you can get naturally in front of camera.

 

[Pais]

Maybe move the fan farther away from the leaves ... and maybe move the camera further from the leaves, too, so that they stay on the frame longer. Good luck!