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Painting With Light
Painting with light is a fun technique that gives great results. It is called painting with light because this is what you are actually doing while taking the shot - painting with light.
You don't need much to experiment with this kind of shot, just make sure you have the following items:
1. A camera capable of long exposures - film cameras will work OK, but if you really want to get the most out of the shooting session, use a digital camera. You will be able to see the results in "real time" and make corrections as you go.
2. A nice tripod. Since you will be doing some long exposures you want to make sure your camera sits still. If you don't have a tripod you can make one in a few minutes (see this article or this one).
3. A flash light - and by flash light I do not mean flash as in a speedlight, but the flash light or what our British will call a torch.
4. A dark location. This one is tricky. If you are going to shot at home - a dark room will be OK. If you are going to shoot outside - make sure that you are not doing this under a street light, or where a car can come by and "paint its headlight" all over your shot.
Here is how it's done:
Set your camera on the tripod and take a sample shot with flash / lights on. This will help you verify that your composition is OK.
Set the exposure to a relatively long value. Stop down the aperture as much as you need. If you are outside do nothing. If you are inside - this is the time to turn off the lights.
Make the click. Once the shutter is open use your flashlight to light the stuff that you want to "paint". You can use the flashlight as a brash, and "smear" the light, just like you would have done with brush and paper. Or, you can use the light as a pen, and do precise work. Areas where you go slowly will be more lit then others. Be careful not to linger to much over the same stop - you will burn it. (The machos amongst you will correctly identify this as the "I forgot the iron on the shirt" phenomena).
Once the shutter closes, you are a free person again. Inspect your image and make corrections.
Here are some great ideas to use this technique with:
Product like shot - In a closed (dark) room place your product on a table and paint it's contour. You can use several colors to make a strong effect or to draw different (even imaginary) parts of your object.
Image by Rodrigo da Cunha
Location shot - find a location with some ambient light. Find an object that is less "hit" by that light. now you can use the ambient light to capture the background, while painting the object with light. You will get a nice effect - with some surreal foreground and a "normal" background. Also the white balance will be different on ambient and painted - another cool side affect.
Image by hyper7pro
Environmental Graffiti - If you are shooting a wall (or even on thin air...), you can scribe on the wall. Make funny graffiti; Write huge love notes; Make a political statement - there will be no trace left other then the one on your memory card.
Image by Aitor
Some food for your muse: This video is the most impressive "painting with light" set of images I have ever seen (and you can also see the making of):
If you liked this, you'll love:
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Comments
Nice article!
Thanks Udi!
Some crazy shooting here
Wow!!! This is amazing. It really looks like a lot of fun.
Think I will try this tonight!
i have done this!!!
here's one great example of me 'painting' a happy face with 2 flashlights. :)
there's lots more to see a few pages in on my flickr page as well!
click me
i was actually directly inspired by that sprint commercial you posted along the bottom. fun stuff!
may i ask something?
Hi ...i saw your example and i have to say that it's great but i want to ask something : when you do that you take picture or you take video?
where the inspiration for the inspiration came from
I'm partial to this which I suspect was the inspiration for the Sprint Commercial:
http://tochka.jp/pikapika/2007/03/pika_pika_2007_release_1.html
which I found through:
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/08/animated_light_pen_art.html
also, yeah light drawing is super fun and everybody should do it at least once, nice post.
Another random tip -- EL wire
Example: http://flickr.com/photos/mpdehaan/1351497108/
Light Painting with LASERS!
Great article!! I've been a fan of light painting for some time. Most people I see use glow sticks, like the folks from PikaPika (find them on YouTube!).
But I've been using Laser Pointers from www.novalasers.com. Us
Check out some examples here... Link.
Dan
Laser experimenting
Good article.
I have also done this one.
Nothing quite as amusing as painting rude words :P
http://popher.deviantart.com/art/Happy-Easter-52719668 << Jesus on the Cross.
Perhaps.
http://popher.deviantart.com/art/Light-Blue-Light-Show-52812647 <<< Abstract
lightwriting....
we did this as a final assignment for the class i teach over the summer....
Light Doodles
My wife and I are having a lot of fun with light drawing and have posted over 100 pictures so far in this Flickr set.
I was thinking of a tutorial on how we make our own "pens" and "brushes". It looks like DYI Photo would be the place to post it. Thanks for having this site, it's a great find.
full bleed light painting
been working on this for a long time.
![]()
http://www.lightpaintphotography.com/images/gallery_13.jpg![]()
Thansk Chris
Can you put up a bigger image? :)
- udi
Awesome DIY
i definatly wanna try this on a persons shirt up close... and oon a wall.... there's so many things
Painting with
Painting with light!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeleary83/
You rock, Mike
The skater and the see-saw are my personal favorites.
- udi
how do you create the
how do you create the diffeerent colourss??
is it dependent on the torch you use?
re: different colors
To get some different colors, you can either use colored torches or, you can use translucent gels.
- udi
The SPIRIT BODY PROCESS PERFORMANCE PHOTOGRAPHY OF PETER H.ROSEN
Hi, I think to folks at SPRINT stole my technique! LOL I began painting with light back in 1989 when I had the idea envisioning spirits dancing on the edge of time photographically and came up with the cookie cutter human trick to make the spirits integrated with the land on which they walk. Welcome to my world!
Fujifilm FinePix F460
Someone please help me! I cannot figure out how to change exposure times on this camera I mentioned in my Subject. It has presets for exposures and when I choose Manual it lets me adjust white balance and exposure compensation. I am not sure if I can make it have a long exposure time, but can someone please e-mail me and help me? thanks!
I Love Doing These. But I
I Love Doing These. But I Can Never Figure Out How To Make The Exposure Longer. I Have A Nikon D40. I Mean When I Take The Pictures In The Dark It Kinda Naturally Does IT. But Id Love TO Have More Time To Do Actual Artistic Things Besides Spirals OR Scribles.
just decrease the shutter
just decrease the shutter speed. the slower the shutter speed, the longer the shutter is open. the longer the shutter is open, the more time you have to play with per photo. i have a d80, just put it on "s" mode (with the dial), then decrease the shutter speed as much as you can/want to.
light art performance photopraphy
hi lightfriends,
look at these light art photos:
http://www.lapp-pro.de
janleo° :-)
Janleo, Those are amazing
You make one mean flying saucer.
Light Painting for video...
I'm just wondering if that Sprint commercial was done with a still cam or a video cam... seems like a video cam might work but I have yet to find a good tutorial or explanation of how the spot was actually created.
video light painting
i utilise light painting in videos, but it’s a little bit more complicated.
please share your experiences !!!
http://matos.art.free.fr/lightgraff_video_lightgraffiti.html
http://www.matox.fr
Amazing
nuno, this is very cool stuff. I don't know how you do it, but it is definitely hypnotizing.
I'd love it if you share this technique with DIYP readers.
live light painting
Hi,
to answer in your question, i utilise a slow shutter camcorder, a Sony HDR SR1 in manual settings (W balance at the max)
Now i experiment slow sutter webcams, the results are good, i'll give you a visual exemple soon ( i work for a product for clubs visuals)
best regards
see more on
http://www.matox.fr
Light painting
Ive been using the technic for about 7 years now and it is amazing I have even been encorperating it into wedding shots and portraits.
artandsteel
artandsteel rocks at light painting...great image!
painting with light
What F-stop do you use any tips for someone that has a homework assignment on this.
I've been doing this for a
I've been doing this for a while too and it's a lot of fun.
I have a few shots here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevacek/sets/72157594368806320/detail/
Light painting
Good stuff here, funky shots.
Light painting that I have created in the past
New techniques
Simple paper over a flashlight will give you this effect.
Pro shoot with light painting invovled.
Model and great lighting with light painting incorperated.
Coloured lights?
where would you suggest getting coloured lights?
Light Painting
Conjure the Spirit
Copyright 2009 Rabbit.Marshall
Light is Life
Nice article. One photograph from my Light is Life series showing light characters in urban scenes (paris).
(copyright Christopher Hibbert)
glow stick painting
Original lightpainting
www.jadikan-LP.com
many ways to discover this medium...
regards
Light Writing
Light writing
Light Graffiti
Always fun to do outside in a city on a quiet night :)
Light Painting examples
Here's several different examples of some different light painting techniques. Check out my website at www.chrisknightphotography.com
Some more light painting styles
I've been working at light painting for a number of years. Please check out my work and drop me an email if you like it. I've tried to refine it and develop new ideas like the smoke and fire effects.
Adam Blai
Smoke
Cool smoke effect. The stuff on your site is amazing.
Light Paint
Eno Space inspired by a piece of Eno's art.
copyright Rabbit.Marshall
I think that this type of
I think that this type of photography is really awesome. I stumbled on this page because of an in class assignment at the college I attend. In my photography class, we have gotten to paint with the light, but after reading this article, it doesn't rally seem that hard to take the pic and paint. A photographer that also does light painting if you want to check him out, is Toby Keller, from California. Thank for the info, can't wait to try it!!
I have FujiFilm J100 digital
I have FujiFilm J100 digital camera, is it possible to do this technique with my cam? If yes, how?
noise issues
awesome post!
I'm using a canon 30D and I always have a very annoying noise ruining my light paintings. I see you lads don't have my issue.
Is it just a sensor problem?
I sometimes flat it out with some noise reduction software but I'm really trying to avoid editing the pictures afterwards.
Anybody can help?
Reply
I use Nikon. Mostly the D90 now but if I need a high sync for the strobe I use the D50. It will sync remote strobes at 1000th. Pity their newer cameras won't. D90 will not sync past a 300th or so. A real shame as I use the high sync speeds often. Hey Nikon what's the deal with that? Why does an older entry level camera do this better than a 3D? A used D50 or D70 can be got cheap and are excellent for light painting and have the high sync if you use remote triggers.
What ISO are you using? You
What ISO are you using? You don't need a high ISO when shooting with a long exposure. Lower your ISO for less noise.
Firebird
One more for the mix. The Firebird is an ancient symbol of the Native American Indian rendered here in unretouched lightpainting form for your enjoyment.
Cheers,
Rabbit
Whoops
Forgot the Fire bird was here and I culled it from Flickr. Here's another:
Painting With Light-Crazy Stuff
This is some crazy stuff. I love it!
http://www.photographylessoncenter.com
Fabulous
A friend of mine told me about light painting earlier today. I said it sounded a bit weird and nerdy but promised to look it up whilst at work, I love my job, big whoop for all the librarians of the world. I have been pleasantly surprised and amazed: a successful conversion I'd say.
sooo coool
this is so great i really wana try this. thanks for sharing!
Wow, this technique looks
Wow, this technique looks awesome.
So - how is it actually done though? (The Sprint 'making of' video above has been removed from YouTube...)
Does someone point the light at the camera? Or away from the camera and on the object? Perhaps both?
Yes
Yes is the quick answer. There's no rules. I mostly point at an object away from the camera but not always.
Nice
love the images, nice to see this old technique comming back.
check out this vidio, using painting with lights technique on a camper van and desert :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK_tBOT8xDc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ephotoz...
Truly impressive work to all
Truly impressive work to all who have submitted photos to the thread.
We Are Happy
Myself and my friends are very happy for the kind comments. Thank you. Thanks also to the Editor of this page for the interest and links.
In the spirit of Manga, The House of Steel, Donna, Victoria Frick and I offer you this shot and link:
Cheers, Konijn
A Few Questions
I love ALL of these examples and the explanations of how to accomplish some fun works of light art! I am just curious though...if the shutter is left open a long time, why do I hardly ever see any images of the person's body who is doing the light painting within the picture? For instance, if they are making the light painting with them behind it, such as the word 'HOME' in the photo on this page here...wouldn't their body be captured also (albeit blurred) since there is still some ambient light in the room, and/or coming from the flashlight itself? Also...I'm curious, in like manner, why the beam of light coming from the light source itself isn't registered (the path of light coming 'from' the laser or flashlight) and only seems to show the 'ending' point of where the light is hitting (such as on the truck photo in front of the house). Been trying to figure these questions out and can't!
Thanks!
reply
Sometimes the painter does get in the picture which is why it might be culled. Dark clothes help but it's really not that much of a problem especially if you keep moving.
Eyes have much more dynamic range than a camera so if you happen to see the beam on a misty night your camera might not.
Ambient is not much a of a problem under low light conditions. I usually leave my lap top computer running during shoots to give enough light from the screen so I don't trip over anything even when I'm shooting at 400 ASA.
You just have to try it. Get any flashlight and give it a whirl. There's lots of new techniques and effects to invent. A wide open field for discovery.
Cheers,
Konijn
Probably dangerous but...
I stood on a ladder with a single bulb on an extension cord and dropped it using this technique. the light reflecting off the glass shards is just amazing. If i could only figure out how to include a pic....
re: including images
sounds like an interesting image. you cna add an image using the <img> html tag.
A more complete explanation can be found here.
A More Conventional Use
A more conventional use for just plain lighting something up-
My Light painting Article on (San Diego Photographer)
I don't understand - if you
I don't understand - if you leave the shutter open for a long amount of time, doesn't it make your whole picture brighter???
re: brighter
You are correct, this is why this technique works best on (really really) dark places, or night time. Then ambient light has almost no affect and you can leave the shutter open for relatively long time.
perfect setting
hi, i am trying this out but i often over exposed my shot. i am using manual mode in bulb for shutter, what would be the perfect apeture for this?
Light Painting
Wild stuff, extremely cool...
lightpainting, my latest
Here is one of my latest pictures, I created this using a 3 foot neon light and jumping with a handheld flash, flashed against the wall when in midair.
holy crap
these are so freaking cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing
These photos are soooo beautiful. I am going to give it a try, lets hope it works!
Mind Expanding
This is a great example of using your imagination and not just letting the camera take a photo. With todays digital cameras, a monkey can point a camera and get a good exposure. Unfortunately, some people consider themselves photographers using the same energy and imagination that the monkeys uses..
My hat is off to everyone who is interested in taking their photography to a higher level.. To all of you out their with a spark of imagination and creativity... Keep It Up.. I love this stuff..
Terry Day @ http://www.hoiwtoshootdigitalphotos.com
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