Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Light Painting

I do Light Painting as one of my projects in my 8th and 9th grade class and I also show it as an option to my college classes for their motion project.
jediimind via Flickr


Although it looks complicated, light painting is actually pretty simple. All you need to do is take a long exposure (8 seconds is a good place to start) and shine some light source at or in front of the camera. The light will make streaks across the frame. You need to do this either at night or in a darkened room (it needs to be fairly dark or the light won't show up properly.

Burnt Umber via Flickr


One of my students turned me on to a really cool technique that he saw on Flickr. Instead of using a flashlight or phone (what we usually use for these), you light a piece of steel wool on fire and spin it around. It creates these crazy sparks that fall kind of like rain around your subject. These images are using the steel wool technique.

Simon D. Gardner via Flickr
MightyMe! via Flickr

TheFotoGraffer via Flickr

jon_beard via Flickr


TheFotoGraffer via Flickr

earsaregood via Flickr

There are many, many more on Flickr. I don't know who figured out this technique, but I think it's beautiful.

3 comments:

  1. awesome!

    http://colorwithdee.blogspot.com

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  2. I love the photo with the umbrella! Awesome!

    ~Bridget

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