Light Painting Photography Techniques
A photograph is nothing more than light captured on a piece of film. Areas of low light end up dark, while areas with high light turn out bright. Every photograph is a record of the light that was present at the time it was taken. You can experiment with the way film interacts with light by creating light paintings. In a light painting, the photographer purposefully manipulates light to create an image that would otherwise be impossible to see. This process can be incredibly complex or quite simple, depending on your desires.
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Setting the Stage
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In order to create a light painting, you will first need to be in a low-light environment. Because the camera shutter must be left open for seconds or minutes at a time, any excess light will over-expose the film and ruin the shot. A dark night or completely sealed room are among the most effective environments for creating light paintings, as they allow the least amount of light to leak in from other sources. You can create light paintings in low-light environments, but the encroaching light severely limits your painting time.
Gathering the Supplies
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Light painting is an art in and of itself, and if you want to be successful you should equip yourself with the gear you need before setting out. Invest in a quality tripod that can secure your camera during long exposures, a remote or cable-release that allows you to fire your shutter without standing next to your camera, and dark clothing to keep yourself obscured during painting. You will also need a number of small light sources — glow sticks, Christmas lights, flashlights and lighters all make excellent light paintbrushes.
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The Camera
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You must have an SLR camera that allows you to take manual exposures to create light paintings. Both digital and film cameras are capable of capturing light painting, as long as you have control over the shutter speed. Set the camera to the “bulb” setting for long exposures; this setting allows you to leave the camera shutter open as long as you desire. Place the camera on a steady tripod to avoid blurriness caused by a shaky surface — the longer the shutter is open, the more prone to shake the camera becomes.
Painting
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Once the shutter is open and the camera is actively capturing light, you can begin the painting process. Light painting is achieved by simply standing in front of the camera and waving your light sources around in the air. Each movement of your hands will be recorded as a bright blur – think of your movements as giant brush strokes. You can create light paintings by yourself or recruit friends to develop intricate patterns that overlap each other or form a specific picture. Once you have mastered the basic technique, you can take light painting as far as your imagination allows.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
