The Artificer King some call him, for he knows the secrets of Making, and his hands have crafted such things as have never been seen on this side of the river. Brian, King of the North-Side, bearer of the flaming sword and warden of the urban realm between river and lake.
In 2019, Bryce Fields of Fields Wood and Steel created an actual flaming sword, a statement as unbelievable as it sounds, and yet I could see it on video as Bryce waved the sword around, sweeping and flourishing it while the flames continued to burn. On video, it looked like a kind of magic I’d always longed to see, and on one of the hottest nights in July 2019, on week three of our Urban Fantasy series, I had the great fortune to photograph Bryce and the miraculous sword he had created.
Thus came the character of the Artificer King into our setting, a maker of magical items and ruler of the North. Since Bryce lived farther north than any of us (while still in Chicago) he became the guardian of the border of the midnight city. Bryce called his character King Brian, and we decided his territory spanned the city between the northeastern border and the Chicago River. At the time, the intention was to further develop this setting and series, but other projects, a global pandemic, and a few years in between put those plans on pause.
We photographed the flaming sword on the rooftops of downtown where we had little chance of encountering anyone who might be alarmed by the sudden appearance of a flaming sword.
Realer Than Real
Most people, when they see the featured photo, automatically assume that the flames have been photoshopped. Not so. Only a small portion of the blade near the hilt has been digitally altered so that the flames appear all the way down the blade. Here’s a before/after comparison showing the small part of the image that was altered for consistency. The fire is truly a practical effect created by the genius of Bryce Fields.
We shot the image at 24 mm at f/2.4 and ISO 12800 in order to balance the ambient city lights with flash. The flash was in a softbox to the right, filling in our subject on that side while the fire sword illuminated him from above.
Hail to the King
The flaming sword Bryce Fields created is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen or photographed and something I never expected to see in my life. But making beautiful miracles is what Fields Wood and Steel does. Have a look at his goods and crafts.
Perhaps the Artificer King will make a miracle for you.
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