Because of my Nostalgia series I received a few inquiries about …
Because of my Nostalgia series I received a few inquiries about the “Painted with light” technique. About what it is and how it works. So, I decided to write a small article about it. This way, everybody who is interest in it can read it. I will not claim to be an expert in this technique, nor will I pretend that it’s something I discovered myself. It’s an old technique in the experimental photography. Rather then writing a complete tutorial on the technique I’ll try to reconstruct the path that lead me to where I’m today in the wonderful world of “painting with light”. At the end I’ll describe my own application of this lighting method in still life photography. First things first. Like many of you I’d never heard of “Painting with light” until I bumped into the work of Emil Schildt. Emil is an experimental photographer who’s experiments go in many directions. I’d like to try more of the things he has done, but, at the moment I’m still in the painting with light phase. Although Emil’s subjects are completely different from my own (his are nude models mostly), he was a huge inspiration for me. So, before you continue, check out his work in the painted with light category. (While you’re at it, check out the rest too, it’s worth a peek!). You will see that it really has a painterly feeling. Naturally, in Emil’s case, this feeling is enhanced by his other techniques, such as his special printing methods and so on. It’s this feeling that I was after in my lighting. What really got me experimenting was Emil’s description of his used techniques. Here is his painting with light tutorial. Based on this tutorial I started to experiment. In those days I was still shooting analogue and I quickly stopped again. The reason was simple. I had little spare time for my hobbies and practicing a new technique on film, having do develop them and mostly just see that it didn’t work out, having to start over again… Let’s just say it was discouraging and I wished I had a Polaroid camera. There was something better then Polaroid though: digital. When I bought my first digital camera I pick up my experiments again. The camera wasn’t really suited for it: long exposures resulted in more noise and enough dead pixels to fill up the sky with stars. But those problems where nothing Photoshop couldn’t handle and now I could experiment freely, see the results instantly and adjust my technique according to what I saw. I don’t know if it’s because the subjects are different, or because I’m jut not Emil, but I started to disagree on a number of things in his tutorial. I started to develop my own technique, or better said, my own work flow. Thinking of it that way, which is totally different from what I was thinking when I started writing this, I’ll end up writing my own tutorial anyway as I now see the differences with Emil’s tutorial that I had already forgotten. My work flow: / - Where emil advices to use a light bubble with a reflector, I advice to go for a flashlight. I suited my purposes better. Of course I’m working on a totally different scale. If you’re a model photographer I think you will have to stick to Emil’s advice. But if your subjects are smaller, like my still lifes, well, I preferred a shielded light source which produces a beam which is easier to aim with an to concentrate on one part of the image. - I don’t think I need to say this, but to be complete: you will need a tripod. - My first active step is simple yet takes up most of my time. It’s setting everything up. I start with a quick arrangement of my subjects on a table or whatever I’m using. I’m not carefully composing yet. Just putting the items in more or less the position I want to have them. This will usually changes ten times or more, but that’s not that important now. Right now, I’m looking for the angle mostly, for how to set-up the camera on the tripod. - Once the camera is up on the tripod I start to very carefully arrange my items and to really build up the composition. Of course, while doing this, the change is big that angle and crop are slightly adjusted again. All of this has little to do with the technique we are discussing, so let’s move on. - If this is the first time you are using this technique with this combination of tools (camera and light source) you will have to set up a balance between your camera and what you want to achieve. Now I’m mostly talking about the settings and amongst those most of all about white balance. Of course if you should raw you have the ability to edit the white balance later on and then it’s not so important. I wanted a very warm feeling so I leave my white balance to auto which results in a warm, reddish glow from my flashlight. It’s that combination, light source and white balance, that will dictate the colors and general mood. If you change your light or camera, you will have to search for the right settings again so try to stick to the same equipment as much as possible. When I bought my new camera and specially when I started to shoot in raw I totally lost direction and it took me a while to get the results I wanted again. On the other hand, once you used the same combination for a while, getting the results you want will go a lot smoother as you can know what to expect. - According to the size of the subject, the distance to it and so on, you will have to decide on a diafragm setting and a shutter speed. For the ISO value I would stick to the lowest one your camera has to reduce noise to an absolute minimum. The big advantage of digital is that you can do a few trial runs to see if you set up your aperture and shutter speed correctly. If not, don’t change your aperture ! You need that to pick the DOF. The big difference here is that Emil’s shooting models that have to sit still, so you want the fastest shutter speed possible. But my still lifes aren’t going anywhere, so I adjust the shutterspeed and keep the DOF where I want it. - Now, to make the actual picture, or to do your trial runs, I said the camera on “timer”. I make the room pitch dark, which is very important as you don’t want any light source then your own interfere with your image. I use my flashlight to find the camera again, push the shutter, and wait for the timer. - It’s here that the fun starts. Trust me, you will need a whole bunch of trials before getting it right. Work out a “path” for your light source to follow. Try to get the lightning right in one smooth motion. You can also hesitate with the light source on certain points of your composition to highlight them. You can move slowly or very fast to achieve different effects. Just be creative! Remember one rule of thumb though: keep moving the light or it will burn a spot into your image. If you want to highlight something, for example, make a slow circular motion to get a soft edge. Of course, it’s totally possible that you want that burned in spot, like I said: be creative. Just think of it this way: / your flashlight is your brush, light is your paint. - Repeat this, over and over again, until you get what you want, until you have your path worked out, the way the strokes of light have to be applied just right. - You are shooting digital, don’t be afraid of Photoshop or similar programs. Photoshop is your friend, even more accurate, Photoshop is your darkroom. Not all digital cameras give good results on longer, darker exposures like I already mentioned. So it’s possible that you will need a lot of Photoshop work to correct noise and dead pixels but I use it for a little more then just that. - At this point, I have several images which I like, but you will see this happening too: picture 1 has the light just right on item 1, picture 2’s background is far better lit and picture 3 has a spot of light on this tiny detail that non of your other picks have. I’m just giving an example here. I think you can guess my next step, right? I’m going to melt those 3 images into one where I have the light exactly the way I want it, everywhere. I’ll do this using masks mostly. Hiding bits from one image, showing bits from another, until everything is just right. I already mentioned the noise work (no longer necessary for me with my K10D) and the removal of dead pixels and do some other small adjustments like a little dodging, burning, small color corrections etc. Just like I would do in my darkroom in the ol’days. That’s it! That’s all there is to it. By now you should have one beautiful painted with light image. By way of inspiration, I hope, I’ll show you one of mine again. If you want more, check out my Nostalgia series update: this tutorial continues here
Light painting (otherwise known as light graffiti or light writing) is a photographic technique that involves slow shutter speeds, darkne…
Light painting (otherwise known as light graffiti or light writing) is a photographic technique that involves slow shutter speeds, darkness and a little bit of practice and experimentation. And it’s not just some newfangled thing all the cool kids are doing. Check out this image of Picasso giving it a go back in 1949. Want to try it? If you’ve got the urge to scratch that creative itch or to try something new this week, why not set yourself a challenge? All you need is a camera, a tripod, a light source (flashlights, LED lights, matches and glowsticks all do the trick) and a dark location. These resources might also come in handy: Make Magazine’s Light Graffiti Tutorial Howcast’s Light Graffiti Tutorial (video) We’d love to see what you come up with so feel free to post your brand new creations in the comments below. For further inspiration, check out some of these talented light painting bubblers: / Holding Smoke by EricD / all the pieces by melidiaz / Hearts by Chris Richards / Haunted House by bensound And if you want to see more, head over to the Painting with Light Group ...
After seeing the community post on light pain…
After seeing the community post on light painting yesterday, I thought I’d throw up some of the work I have been doing with LEDs. It’s actually for a stop motion film idea I have, except it’s going to take until 2046 to complete, I expect, so to feel like something is being achieved I have made some colourful wavy stills to please the occipital. I recommend this as a way to pass dark winter evenings. / / / / / / / / /
Hi folks For those of you that like my night photography images and wish you knew how I made these…. your in luck. I have finally…
Hi folks For those of you that like my night photography images and wish you knew how I made these…. your in luck. I have finally documented detailed step-by-step techniques for night photography and also for painting landscapes with light. Whether you are new to night photography or pretty experienced, I think you will all get something out of this 86 page eBook. You can find out more about it at nightphotographyguide.com Hope you find this useful Brent
Fifth feature for this painting…this time In Moody Dark and Mysterious I am so pleased !http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/bo…
Fifth feature for this painting…this time In Moody Dark and Mysterious I am so pleased / Mysterious Kor Mysterious Kor thy walls forsaken stand, / Thy lonely towers beneath the lonely moon.
!http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/border:blackwithdetail/product:laminated-print/size:small/view:preview/1065161-5-early-morning-fee…
/ Early Morning Feed Thank you to the Group Moderators
It’s the fifth feature for “Towards the Light 2”....the third this week, now in The Sisterhood... I am so happy !http://images-3.r…
It’s the fifth feature for “Towards the Light 2”....the third this week, now in The Sisterhood... I am so happy / Towards the Light 2 Aroused by air / caressed by night, / My love is near / do not fight. Away, firefly, / towards the light. Darkness surrounds / the deserted tower, / the elements felt, / then devoured, / by hungry hands / siphoning the night. Go, firefly, / towards the light. Towards the Light 1 Safe Haven has featured one of my food paintings.. Oh Joy / Poached Pear in a Mixed Berry Coulis / / JPG Cast-Offs has featured a Landscape... Wonderful / Night at the Lake of the Woods Here in the midnight, where the dark mainland and island / Shadows mingle in shadow deeper, profounder, / Sing we the hymns of the churches, while the dead water / Whispers before us. Thank you to the Group Moderators
First Things / !http://images-3.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:off%20white/product:framed-print/siz…
First Things / / Still Life The Outsiders / / Towards the Light Creative Poetry Challenges / / Autumn Water Thank you to the Group Moderators
/ got feature in 3 groups: / Dragon’s Fire / Acrylic Painting / You’re Accepted / / AND / / are featured in Light In The Darkness Group / I am honored and humbled by the recent features of my work…....... / mahalo nui loa to all my friends and supporters…........
In JPG Cast-Offs the second feature for this photo… / !http://images-1.redbubble.net/img/art/border:blackwithdetail/product:laminated-...
In JPG Cast-Offs the second feature for this photo… / / Le Lapin Agile In Mature Woman / / Door #4 Thank you to the Group Moderators
Alright, I don’t think I need to tell you what a difference proper lighting can make to a photo. But when I was working on my latest phot…
Alright, I don’t think I need to tell you what a difference proper lighting can make to a photo. But when I was working on my latest photo, Radio Electricity , I was looking at he composition photo and thought: I got to put this on RB as an extension to my painted with light article . I’ve you read my tutorial on my painted with light technique then you already know that I start with finding the right angle to set up the tripod and then I make the composition. All of this I do with available light. In case of Radio Electricity that were overhead fluorescent tubes. Just about the ugliest light you can get in my opinion. During this process I take several test shots to see how it comes out in 2D. / Here is the final test shot of the composition that was used for the actual photograph (minus a slight bump into the tripod, sigh). Rather drab, wouldn’t you say? Ugly, may even come to mind? Now here is the same shot, after I had a go at it with my flashlight and photoshop to melt a few of the images together to get a photo with the light spots right where I wanted them. Not to mention the fact that the radio lights are on, which is kinda hard when it’s unplugged. ;) Something quite different I would say, apart from whether you like it or not. I know, this was a rather silly post, perhaps, but I found the difference quite striking. My wife even didn’t believe me at first when I told her it where the exact same images except for the light. I specially hope that those of you who read the painted with light tutorial and wanted to have there own go at the technique found this helpful. Cheers
It’s the sixth feature for “Towards the Light 2”....the fourth this week, now in Colour me a Rainbow... / _I am so pleased as now it ca…
It’s the sixth feature for “Towards the Light 2”....the fourth this week, now in Colour me a Rainbow... / I am so pleased as now it can be entered in the invitation only Challenge… Ripe Cherries which is enjoying it’s third feature, plus the popular art page feature, is a finalist in the previous challenge.. / Towards the Light 2 Aroused by air / caressed by night, / My love is near / do not fight. Away, firefly, / towards the light. Darkness surrounds / the deserted tower, / the elements felt, / then devoured, / by hungry hands / siphoning the night. Go, firefly, / towards the light. Towards the Light 1
/ Why...
/ Why Doubt is the lock, / Faith is the key. / Hate is the lock, / Love is the key. Body is the lock, / Soul is the key. Ignorance is the lock, / Light is the key. Thank you to the Group Moderators
My first time to use this journal function. I want to announce that we have just competed work on our first film. “A man playing vi…
My first time to use this journal function. I want to announce that we have just competed work on our first film. “A man playing video games pauses for a snack. Suddenly his life resembles the game he was playing. Will he make it to level 2 or is it game over?” This film is a collaboration with Darius Twin and P.E.M.D.A.S. It is made up of over 700 hundred unedited still images. It required 20 hours of shooting, countless hours of editing and 48 AA batteries… the film plays at 29.97fps with each image held for 3 frames displaying 10 fps. It has a bitrate of 2500 which is equivalent to DVD. the frame size is 1260X840pxIf you can spare 90 seconds please check it out. It is done in full HD. To watch it in HD you must select ‘HD’ in the bottom right corner of the player. I recommend it full screen with HD selected. On Flickr / On Youtube / On Vimeo Thanks, / Trevor from Fiz-iks
!http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/border:blackwithdetail/product:laminated-print/size:small/view:preview/1065161-5-early-morning-fee…
/ Early Morning Feed Thank you to the Group Moderators
!http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:flat30/mattecolor:off%20white/product:framed-print/size:large/view:pre…
/ The Legacy / Why Thank you to the Group Moderators
Hot Florida Sun, Featured in Florida The Sunshine State…..... WOOHOO!! / !http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/product:canvas-print/s…
Hot Florida Sun, Featured in Florida The Sunshine State…..... WOOHOO!! / Paint By Light, Featured in Country Bumpkin…YIPEE!! / Sweet Baby Rabbit, Featured in Rabbit, rabbit group…ALLRIGHT!! / River Rain, Featured in All About Water….....I’M SINGING IN THE RAIN….. / Morning Side, Featured in Falling Leaves….......WHOOOHOOO!!! TIMES TWO!! / Up, Up, and Away, Featured in Falling Leaves group….... / AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST I WANT TO THANK TINA Marshbud FOR PURCHASING A CARD OF / I’m The Coolest Dog Around / / Thanks a million Tina, you made my day!! Hugs Carolyn
This is the fifth feature for “The Key”...I’m really pleased. !http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/framecolor:black/framestyle:f…
This is the fifth feature for “The Key”...I’m really pleased. / The Key The key to my own soul-home / I have lost. / Therefore, I am a beggar. / The key to the world’s body-cave / I have found. / Therefore, I am unquestionably great. Sri Chimnoy Thank you so much
/ Autumn Water / The Last Catch Also on the Home Page today Thank you so much to the Group Moderators
I love this weird painting, and had a lot of fun doing it… Glad to see this baby appreciated. Thank you sooooooooo much, Sally and Amber!
Hello. / Tonight I hung out with some friends who were out Parkour -ing it up on the streets of Re…
Hello. / Tonight I hung out with some friends who were out Parkour -ing it up on the streets of Reading. / And I had my camera with me, but rather than taking boring pictures of people jumping about like loons, I decided to play around with some more light painting. I then taught my friends what it was all about; here are the results. ALL UNEDITED apart from cropping Gareth Lieske / Alan Hope / Lightning Attack, apparantly / I sucked at this / lol BUMMING! Yes, my drawing with torches sucks! / Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit / Guitar… or not / So yes, from tonights experience, I have learned to try not to suck so bad when drawing. / We’re planning on going somewhere much darker, and use a maglight rather than the torch in my phone.
!http://images-0.redbubble.net/img/art/border:blackwithdetail/product:laminated-print/size:small/view:preview/1065161-5-early-morning-fee…
/ Early Morning Feed Thank you to the Group Moderators
Many thanks to the host of Rhododendrons for featuring “Autumn Gold” Watercolor in your group! I am grateful!
Many thanks to the host of Rhododendrons for featuring “Autumn Gold” Watercolor in your group! I am grateful!
Enjoyed a ride on the Home Page for the last few hours with my “light painting” photo Electric Blanket...
Enjoyed a ride on the Home Page for the last few hours with my “light painting” photo Electric Blanket – It’s fun to watch the views and comments grow when that happens. Thanks Red Bubble!
RedBubble is a great place to find art, design, photos and writing from over 80,000 talented people.
On stunning greeting cards, awesome t-shirts or beautiful prints to hang on your walls.
It’s really simple. If you’re not happy with your purchase for any reason, we’ll fix it.
Since February 2007 we’ve shipped over 243,200 items to more than 70 countries around the world.
Sign up for your free account, upload your work, join some groups and share your creative genius with the world.