Light painting is a photographic technique that can result in beautiful and striking results. All you need is your camera, a tripod, a light source, and some imagination
The word ‘photography’ is a compound of the Ancient Greek words ‘phōtos’ (meaning light) and ‘graphé’ (meaning to draw or write). Going right back to the founding principles of photography, painting with light involves locking open our camera’s shutter in dark conditions, then moving a light source around the frame to create an image. This light source can be almost anything:
- A flash can be used to illuminate subjects from different angles.
- A flashlight can be used to trace around the edges of a subject.
- You can twirl LED strip lights to create sweeping patterns.
- Handheld ‘sparkler’ fireworks and burning wire wool create an explosion of sparks.
Whatever you use as a light source, the way you set up your camera is the same. Obviously, you need a sturdy tripod, a remote release (or the FUJIFILM Camera Remote app), and some dark conditions so ambient light doesn’t form an image when you open the shutter.
Select bulb mode (B) so you can open and close the shutter with the touch of a button, and get everything you’re going to use ready to go. Start the exposure, run in front of the camera with your chosen light source, and begin painting. You might want to wear black to do this so you don’t show up in the picture yourself.
Painting with a Flash
If your light source is a flash, use this off-camera to paint your subject with light from different angles by pressing the test button. This could be a person, a car, a building, a sculpture – virtually anything. You can paint only the parts you want to be visible, or even paint different bits of the subject different colors using colored gels. If you’re photographing a structure, try getting inside it or behind it to light it from strange and eerie angles.
Painting with a Flashlight
A simple flashlight is a great tool for painting with light. You can describe patterns in the air with it, draw around objects to outline them, or use it to spill light onto a subject to illuminate it directly. The light from flashlights is not as bright as that from a flash or some of the other lights we’re talking about here, so you might have to use a slightly wider aperture to ensure you’re letting in enough light.
© Jamison Ford
Painting with LEDs
You can buy all kinds of LED special effects lights, which come in myriad colors, shapes, and sizes. LEDs mounted in a long strip can be twirled in the air like a majorette’s baton, leaving ribbon-like trails of light behind them. Or smaller LEDs can be mounted on objects that spin, creating geometric light trail patterns. You can even mount them on bike wheels and get a friend to ride in and around the frame.
© Jamison Ford
Painting with Fire!
Well, not fire exactly, but that’s the impression you’re trying to give. Try describing shapes with sparkler fireworks in the same way as you would with a flashlight – the effect is similar, but the flying sparks will describe little light trails of their own, making your subject look like it’s surrounded by fire.
Or (if you’re feeling really brave) try tying some wire wool to a length of rope or chain, then set fire to it. You’ll have a few seconds to create a shower of sparks by whirling the burning wire wool around your head, describing circles in front of the camera. It’s essential to practice this before you go for a picture, and take sensible safety precautions, including having a bucket of water on standby and making sure the burning wool can’t become detached and fly off. An extra pair of hands is also good, so you don’t have to worry about opening and closing the shutter, too.
Your Next Steps
- CHALLENGE
Get out there in the dark and create a masterpiece by painting with light. Post your favorite image to social media with the hashtags #MyFujifilmLegacy and #paintingwithlight. You can also submit your work here for a chance to be featured on our social media channels.
Header image © Lee Varis