Painting with Light..

I was asked in the Photo of the Month thread what the term 'Painting with Light' meant, so instead of hijacking that thread ill try to explain/demonstrate in this thread.. Maybe even get a few Mac Users posting up their shots

So painting with light is exactly that, allowing light to 'stain' the sensor of your digital camera (also works with film) to create effects that are clever and visually attractive..

Ill post a few example shots..

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This is around a 10 - 15 shutter speed (meaning the camera was taking in light for 10 or 15 seconds) and because the cars were driving past at speed, the only thing that made an impact on the camera's sensor was the head/tail lights. I like this shot

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This was again, a long shutter speed (works best when painting with light), as you can see the Thames looks very calm and the London Eye seems to be 'moving'

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Now this one was a 30 second exposure, and I literally had a torch and used it like a sparkler. You know when you try to write your name by moving it really fast? However you need a steady hand and this is more like painting with light, as you physically have to paint the words/symbol/picture into the air.

These were all done with a tripod, and I strongly suggest investing in one if you have a DSLR and want to get into photography.

Thanks,
Lewis.

P.S Have a go at it and let me see

Very nice little tutorial! Here are some of mine:

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This one was hand held, which is why it is so noisy...

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Ok, so if I understand this right, camera on a tripod just as if I were taking a low light shot with a slow shutter speed, but with a moving, lighted object, moving thru the picture... I will definitely be playing with this one...thanks and once I get some shots taken, will post some.

Lewwy said:

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This is around a 10 - 15 shutter speed

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Preview says it was; a 15 second shot, F5.6, at ISO 100.

This is one reason I like digital photography over film. You get that important information of the original picture which with a little studying can help reproduce good effects and rid you of bad ones.

This is the first 20 seconds of a plane taking off from Exeter airport..

Gotta love Exif Data

Nice shots BlueMac, especially like the first one
J_K, looks like the plan had a turbulant start
Very nice though, I love long exposures..

I took a few over Christmas because my g/f bought me *my first tripod*, ill post them up later..

Here are some of mine. That and those long exposures of traffic, or night scenes...I wouldn't call light painting, since the point of it is to "paint" or "draw" w/ the light, but they are still cool shots




hm have a few more just need to find em...

Lewwy said:

Nice shots BlueMac, especially like the first one

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Thank you.

Hey Nor Cal Nomad- you did well! You might, however, want to try to stay out of street lit areas, or places lit by other lights- so that your figure doesn't appear (or at least isn't as apparent).

Nor Cal Nomad said:

Here are some of mine. That and those long exposures of traffic, or night scenes...I wouldn't call light painting, since the point of it is to "paint" or "draw" w/ the light, but they are still cool shots

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hm have a few more just need to find em...

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Your absolutely right, 2 of mine technically aren't painting with light, but the light had still stained the sensor and moved on, thats what I was trying to get across, and I preferred the Big Ben shot to the one where I did actually draw

Yours however are awesome

I need to order me some colored torches..

Just get some gels mate.

Cheaper than a load of new torches lol

Good idea. I need a torch aswell though
What we thinking? Maglite?

Lewwy said:

Good idea. I need a torch aswell though
What we thinking? Maglite?

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A nice laser could do well. I use one, tonight I will be trying to write with the laser in my backyard.

J_K said:

Just get some gels mate.

Cheaper than a load of new torches lol

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you don't need colored ones...I used full Gatorade bottles in the first one. They glow when you put a light to em.

BlueMac said:

A nice laser could do well. I use one, tonight I will be trying to write with the laser in my backyard.

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And w/ a laser you would want to be behind the camera pointing it onto a surface. I've done that also, I don't like it though since the laser is such a thin line

Nor Cal Nomad said:

you don't need colored ones...I used full Gatorade bottles in the first one. They glow when you put a light to em.


(outdated link removed) And w/ a laser you would want to be behind the camera pointing it onto a surface. I've done that also, I don't like it though since the laser is such a thin line

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Heh, I was trying that on my bedroom door this morning.... it actually came out pretty well!

Also; quite innovative using full gatorade bottles w/ a light!

I had the camera resting on a bench seat to take this one.

you guys are awesome. I love that stuff.

Really nicely done, MacRab! What city did you take that in? (just wondering)

technically, isn't all photography painting with light? since even in painting, you don't need to "move" the brush, just add pigment to canvas (just look at seurat).

eric said:

technically, isn't all photography painting with light? since even in painting, you don't need to "move" the brush, just add pigment to canvas (just look at seurat).

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Hmm, I suppose so. But since the photographer is using light to create an image out of light, you are technically 'painting and image.'

any time you take a photo you're making an image out of light.