Light painting is a photographic technique involving long-exposure photographs.
This technique involves moving a hand held light or moving the camera itself while taking a photo.
Light will appear smeared across the photograph in various shapes, figures, and letters.
The technique is also referred to as light graffiti as exposures often look like graffiti on walls.
This type of artwork has become increasingly popular in the past few years with the advent of digital photography.
This tutorial will teach you how to create your first "light painting" piece of artwork.
Equipment needed: A camera; must have a manually adjustable shutter speed.
DSLR's work the best in this case.
A light source; top choices here are: LED's, Flashlights, Glow sticks, Flashes, etc.
You can even use an IPAD to paint with light.
A good tripod or surface; basically anything will do here, as long as you don't cause any vibration to the camera.
Dark area; go outside at night, or just turn off the lights in your bathroom.
Instructions: Step 1: Set the camera on Manual mode.
Step 2: Set the ISO of the camera low, I recommend 100.
Step 3: Set the shutter speed for 10, to 30 seconds.
(Not 1/10th or 1/30th, you may need to check the camera because some cameras will display a "4" rather than a "1/4" which may be misleading.
)long exposure.
If you have a remote shutter handy, or an assistant, set the camera to BULB.
Step 4: Set the aperture.
This number will vary but if the scene is pretty dimly lit I would suggest starting with f/8.
I wouldn't use anything too low but it's going to depend mainly on the strength of your light source.
Higher the light output, higher your aperture.
Step 5: Set the focus on your subject using the camera's AF (auto focus).
Then once you have locked that in switch the lens to MF (Manual Focus).
This step is important to do with light because the camera will try to find focus in the dark and you may be sitting there while it continuously searches.
Step 6: Setup the camera on a stable platform.
Step 7: Turn off the lights if it is not dark already and hit the shutter.
Step 8: Wave your light source to make your light painting.
Step 9: View results and adjust.
Tips: If your light source is under exposed, open up (lower) your aperture.
If your background or environment is too bright; lower the ISO, or shorten the shutter speed.
Your shutter speed controls your ambient light.
This technique involves moving a hand held light or moving the camera itself while taking a photo.
Light will appear smeared across the photograph in various shapes, figures, and letters.
The technique is also referred to as light graffiti as exposures often look like graffiti on walls.
This type of artwork has become increasingly popular in the past few years with the advent of digital photography.
This tutorial will teach you how to create your first "light painting" piece of artwork.
Equipment needed: A camera; must have a manually adjustable shutter speed.
DSLR's work the best in this case.
A light source; top choices here are: LED's, Flashlights, Glow sticks, Flashes, etc.
You can even use an IPAD to paint with light.
A good tripod or surface; basically anything will do here, as long as you don't cause any vibration to the camera.
Dark area; go outside at night, or just turn off the lights in your bathroom.
Instructions: Step 1: Set the camera on Manual mode.
Step 2: Set the ISO of the camera low, I recommend 100.
Step 3: Set the shutter speed for 10, to 30 seconds.
(Not 1/10th or 1/30th, you may need to check the camera because some cameras will display a "4" rather than a "1/4" which may be misleading.
)long exposure.
If you have a remote shutter handy, or an assistant, set the camera to BULB.
Step 4: Set the aperture.
This number will vary but if the scene is pretty dimly lit I would suggest starting with f/8.
I wouldn't use anything too low but it's going to depend mainly on the strength of your light source.
Higher the light output, higher your aperture.
Step 5: Set the focus on your subject using the camera's AF (auto focus).
Then once you have locked that in switch the lens to MF (Manual Focus).
This step is important to do with light because the camera will try to find focus in the dark and you may be sitting there while it continuously searches.
Step 6: Setup the camera on a stable platform.
Step 7: Turn off the lights if it is not dark already and hit the shutter.
Step 8: Wave your light source to make your light painting.
Step 9: View results and adjust.
Tips: If your light source is under exposed, open up (lower) your aperture.
If your background or environment is too bright; lower the ISO, or shorten the shutter speed.
Your shutter speed controls your ambient light.