Painting with Light Above: Flashlight Painting Right: Laser Painting Mr. Mac s Tech Ed Class For Canon XS Created Aug 2011
Vocabulary: Exposure Time is the amount of time the shutter is open which allows light into the camera. Release Cable or Shutter Release Cable a camera accessory that allows the photographer to trigger the shutter without touching the camera. Good for low light conditions where camera shake can be an issue. Camera Shake When the camera is moved while the shutter is open during the exposure time. This will cause the picture to be blurry during long exposure times.
Painting Tools: Requires some planning on the Student s behalf. Flashlight Laser Pointer Some Black electrical tape to shade the light as required. Note the small slit or (Pin Hood) made with black tape. Coloured Plastic if you want to use a different colour.
Examples: I used a laser pointer to do this one. Note I did not move it at a steady speed. The slower areas are brighter. They had the light on them longer during the exposure. This was a 15 second exposure. A hook on a wall with a flash light with no pin hood gave this look in 10 seconds of exposure time. Jelliebean moved see how she is blurry. The subject cannot move at all during this process. As well, the camera cannot move either! Note: The flash light shows here as streaks of light. Shot in a narrow hall, I accidentally got picked up in the light reflection. Don t get to close to the subject.
On the Canon XS set the camera up as follows for the Painting with Light Project: Camera must be set up on a tripod. Place camera in a room that can be made 100% dark. Turn Camera on Set camera to M mode (manual) Set the ISO button to 100. This will help sharpen the image and lengthen the amount of time with which you have to work. Use display window and arrow keys on the back of the camera to select 100 ISO.
Setting Exposure Time: Set the exposure time to 15 (15 sec) if doing a short painting. Longer paintings may need up to 30 (30 sec). You can see how long the exposure is on the display when this box is highlighted and it can be adjusted Use the adjustment wheel here to change the exposure value.
Manually Controlling Exposure Time: If you need a setting longer than 30 seconds, then you will need to borrow my release cable and plug it into the camera Lift the Cover carefully. Plug into the middle port. The shutter release is very fragile. Handle with care. DO NOT DROP!
Manually Controlling Exposure Time (Continued): Adjust the exposure time to bulb. With the release cable you can lock the shutter open for an indefinite amount of time. If you are using a very small light source this will work. (i.e. a flashlight with a small pin hole in the pin hood.) Push the button down and forward to lock the shutter open. Bottom picture shows the release locking the shutter open. This red LED will come on during the exposure. That is OK! Push down and pull back to close the shutter when the exposure is complete.
Almost Ready to Shoot? Get your lights ready. Put them in a position that you can easily pick them up in dark. Turn the display off on the camera by pushing the DISP. Button.
Manual Focus Setup: Focus the camera on the area that you are going to paint (while in AF Mode) by pushing the shutter release button half way down and the area should focus. If a person is the subject it is important that they do not move until the picture is completed at this point. Turn the focus mode button to MF. Flip back to AF if you have to refocus. The camera should be on MF during the exposure (picture being taken). Note: The camera will not focus in the dark in Auto Focus.
Time to Paint READ ALL STEPS BEFORE STARTING! Turn the computer monitor off! Shut lights in the room off. It should be very black! Trigger the shutter on the camera. Paint the subject. Shutter closes automatically (less than 30 second exposure). Or you close it if using the release cable when done painting. Turn the room lights back on. Repeat if necessary. Submit as required.