Inspire your creativity! Watch this YouTube video of a Sprint light painting commercial
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. If you can control your shutter speed manually (TV or S mode); use it. Try anywhere from 2"-8" to start, depending on the darkness of the room. If you cannot control your shutter speed manually, try using the "fireworks", "night scene", "sunset", or "indoor party" mode to force your camera to shoot with a longer exposure. TURN YOUR FLASH OFF - DISABLE YOUR FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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). OR SIMPLY STEADY YOUR CAMERA ON A TABLE, CHAIR, OR DESK!!!!!!!!!!! Do not hand-hold your camera!
3. A flash light - or other fun, light-emitting device: cell phone, LED lights, Christmas lights, light sabers, etc...
4. A dark location. - This one is tricky. If you are going to shoot at home or in school - 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 shutter speed to a relatively long value. 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/overexpose it.
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:
1. A camera capable of long exposures. If you can control your shutter speed manually (TV or S mode); use it. Try anywhere from 2"-8" to start, depending on the darkness of the room. If you cannot control your shutter speed manually, try using the "fireworks", "night scene", "sunset", or "indoor party" mode to force your camera to shoot with a longer exposure. TURN YOUR FLASH OFF - DISABLE YOUR FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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). OR SIMPLY STEADY YOUR CAMERA ON A TABLE, CHAIR, OR DESK!!!!!!!!!!! Do not hand-hold your camera!
3. A flash light - or other fun, light-emitting device: cell phone, LED lights, Christmas lights, light sabers, etc...
4. A dark location. - This one is tricky. If you are going to shoot at home or in school - 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 shutter speed to a relatively long value. 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/overexpose it.
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:
Ghost Photography
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