CONTROL THE LIGHT PAINTING WITH LIGHT AND TIME

CONTROL THE LIGHT PAINTING WITH LIGHT AND TIME

WHAT IS LIGHT PAINTING? Altering a TIME EXPOSURE BY MOVEMENT OR MANIPULATION OF LIght sources.

LIGHT PAINTING ALLOWS US UNIQUE CONTROL OVER WHAT IS CAPTURED BY THE CAMERA. 1. ACCENTUATE SELECTED ELEMENTS. 2. ELIMINATE UNWANTED composition. 3. INVENT SHAPES AND FORMS.

TOOLS Fireworks Spotlights Light Sabers Lasers Toys Glow Sticks Purpose built tools

DAVID GILLIVER (ARTIST UNKNOWN)

LADY EM ROBERT KNAPP

LIGHT DOME PAINTING WHEEL

LIGHT PAINTING LARGE OBJECTS OUTDOORS ERIC CURRY PHOTO

TOWER OF BABEL ARCHES NAT L PARK, UTAH HEIGHT - 700 FEET

Canon T2i 181 SECONDS ISO 800 F 5.6 Sigma 10-20 MM wide angle lens at 10 MM

DELICATE ARCH

DELICATE ARCH 20 sec. exposure F 5.6 ISO 400 Distance to arch, 250 feet. 28 minutes after sunset

@ f11, 43 seconds, ISO 400, 60 feet away.

COLOR SHIFTS The amount of accumulated light cast on a subject affects color and tint. A modest amount of light lets part of the subject s true color show. More light drowns out the subject s natural color, replacing it with the color of the light source.

light painting tips 1. In Manual mode, set shutter to BULB and leave it open using a remote. 2. Move spotlight with even strokes. Do not stop on subject. 3. Stand off camera to the side for shadow detail and to prevent light fogging. 4. Remember where you have already painted. Use a pattern and overlap. 5. Start with lens wide open, but strive for f8 or f11 if conditions allow. 6. Allow walk time to lighting position by setting shutter to start with a delay. 7. Use spotlight to set focusing. To avoid the shutter resetting the focus use back button focusing option, which holds a pre-set focus.

ISSUES TO AVOID 1. Painting when standing directly behind camera may leave image flat. 2. Particles in the air may leave a bright spot. 3. Painting behind camera lights up foregrounds in the sight line. BALANCED ROCK, UTAH

10 seconds ISO 800 F5.6 Pre-dawn Lit from left side. BALANCED ROCK, UTAH

SAND DUNE ARCH

20 seconds in fading light ISO 200 F 5.6

30 seconds Hot spots remain, rock s color getting lost Try different approach

lantern unshielded spotlight SAND DUNE ARCH

Bounce light from lantern and spotlight adds color of the reflected surfaces 30 second exposure ISO 800, F 5.6, Two stops over exposed

Rapid sweeps of spotlight on low power setting 20 SECONDS ISO 800 F 5.6 10 MM Super wide angle

MESA ARCH

22 SECS. ISO 400 F 5.6 Mixing ambient light with artificial light 6 battery Maglite

MOON LIGHT ONLY-NEAR FULL MOON GRAFTON, UTAH GHOST TOWN ISO 800 F 5.6 60 SECONDS, MANUALLY TIMED (BRIGHTENED IN EDITING)

30 SECONDS F8, ISO 400, APERTURE PRIORITY

RELOCATED SPOTLIGHT. ISO 800, 87 SECONDS, @ F8 MOONLIGHT ADDS FOREGROUN D AND MOUNTAIN BACKDROP CLOSEST FENCE NOW OUT OF VIEW

Full Moonlight only. 1:00 AM 91 SECONDS F5.6 ISO 400 APERTURE PRIORITY

March 23, 2013 @ Sentinel Rock, Zion N.P. Cloudless sunset casts a harsh glare @ 7:42 p.m. Official sunset @ 7:47..7 seconds, ISO 100, f 9.5 Aperture Priority

LOW LIGHT AT LATE DUSK IS MORE BALANCED 10 second exposure @ 8:05pm, 18 minutes after sunset. ISO 200, Aperture priority @ f 6.7 1½ stops underexposed #82 of 92 bracketed exposures

EQUIPMENT USED 1. Two Stanley FAT MAX L.E.D. Spotlights, #LEDLISL, $49.95 ea. (Lowe s). 2. Coleman 2 mantle propane camping lantern & spare mantles, $29.99. 3. Maglite brand large flashlight, #S6D016 using six C batteries, $35.00. 4. Meike wired remote shutter release with lock button, #DL1480 (Canon) $9.95. 5. Two poster board light shields, bungee cords, zip knife, & gem clips. $9.00. 6. Westward headlamp #6AHA8, 15 lumens, 3 AAA batteries, $26.00. 7. Large bag of dried beans, $3.00. 8. Small backup flashlight, plus spare batteries for all devices. 9. Batteries, propane, beans & posters were bought in, and left in, Utah.

Landscape Light Painting PRECAUTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Shoot in cold weather or dress properly to avoid insect and snake bites. High output spotlights and manufacturer s specs are notoriously unreliable. Read many reviews and field test first! Many remote triggers DON T allow you to stand off camera with shutter locked open, hands free. They won t lock, or need you in front of camera. Walk all trails in the daylight before attempting them in the dark. Take three separate light sources with fresh batteries at all times. Work only on public lands or get owner s permission to photograph. BMW-RS. Take Batteries, Memory cards, Water, Repellent and Sunscreen (for daytime scouting). Even a light wind may move foliage in a time exposure, causing blurring.

TAKE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT AND rule the night! Thank You