LIGHT PAINTING A” how to” to getting started. WHAT IS LIGHT PAINTING Light painting, or light drawing, is a photographic technique where a photo is created by moving a hand-held light source using it as either direct light source or to illuminate a subject while taking a long exposure. You can also have a stationary light source and move the camera for light painting effects. WHAT’S NEEDED TO LIGHT PAINT • Camera. • Wider angle lens, 18mm-55mm, 24mm-70mm, etc. • Remote trigger that works with bulb mode. • Tripod. • Light source…..flashlight, candle, lantern, flame, sparklers etc. • Some darkness. • Dark clothing. CREATING THE SHOT • Pick your site, something of interest. • Walk through in your mind what you want to do and pick the appropriate tools. Give it some thought! • Set up camera and choose your settings . Camera in bulb mode. ISO: starts at 100 f/stop: start at f/5.6 – f/7.1 Exposure setting Matrix or Evaluative. • Shine light on your subject, frame your composition and focus, auto focus is OK. Remember to leave enough room to light paint. You can always crop later • Turn off your auto focus or use back button focus. TOOLS • Universal adaptor. • Light swords. • Light blades. • Light pens, light writers. • Fiber optics and fiber optic whips. • Light sticks, light wands. • Light hoops. • Light strings, fairy lights. • Plastic bottles, florescent bulb covers, colored gels. FLASHLIGHT TYPES • Can go as low as 100 lumen for direct light painting or close up illumination. • Recommend 700-1000 lumen with a Cree led (square yellow chip) and 18650 battery to illuminate subjects that are farther away. Also to light paint in lighter surroundings. • Dimmable or multi brightness levels. • Zooming or focusing. • Warmer whites are best for color reproduction. LIGHT PAINTING STYLES TUTORIALS • Universal adapter • Wings • Hannu Huhtamo • Light blade orb • Light sword orb • Light tube painting ARTISTS • Xavier Nuez • Dennis Smith • Tom Hill WEB SITES • Light Painting Blog • LPWA (Light Painting World Alliance) • Light Painters United (Facebook) • Lightblading (Facebook) • Lightpainting Fanatics (Facebook) TOOLS • Light Painting Brushes • Coast flashlights (zoom flashlight) • Thrunight flashlights (dimming flashlight) • Voidhawk flashlights (good RGB flashlight) • Fenix flashlights (headlamp, dimmable flashlight) • Nitecore flashlights (dimmable) • Emazing Lights • GloFX • Ants on a Melon ARTISTS • Xavier Nuez • Dennis Smith • Tom Hill • Night Creators (Instagram) • Herr Reinke (Instagram) • Untamed Firefly (Instagram).