This document provides an overview of light painting photography. It explains that light painting uses a dark environment and slow shutter speed to allow the artist to paint with light. Various types of light painting are described, from subject-based to geometric patterns. The basics needed for light painting are a camera, tripod, light source, and dark location. Technical settings like shutter speed, aperture, ISO and manual focus are discussed. Tips are provided for composition, using different light sources, and successfully capturing light paintings in multiple exposures. The document concludes with instructions for practicing light painting in groups.

1. LIGHT PAINTING
Photo I
Ms. Young
Light Painting Commercial

2. Light painting is a creative style of
low-light photography. This
approach uses a dark environment,
slow shutter speed and an isolated
light source to create a blank canvas
out of each frame.
What is light painting?

3. Examples
Examples

4. Examples

5. What kinds of light painting are
there?
 Subject-based light
painting
 Geometric
Spirographs
 Environmental
Graffiti
 Patterned Light
 Orbs
 Light Stencils
 Anything you can

6. Light Painting
 A camera capable
of long exposures
 A tripod
 A light source
 A dark location
 A creative mind
 Set up your tripod
 Mount your camera
 Frame your shot
 Set your camera to
manual
 Define your settings
 Shoot!
What do you need? The Basics

7. Light Painting Tutorial
Helpful
strategies for
successful
light
painting.
 Painting How To
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=WqEIikVSxVA
 Painting with fire

8. •The Composition
• Just like with any other picture, you need to have a strong
composition
• That means: good rule of thirds, filling your frame, good range
of color
• Think about the boundaries of your shot—you don’t want your
painting to take place off camera
• Don’t “burn in” your light source, or your shot will be over
exposed and unbalanced
The Set Up

9. •Shutter Speed
• You need a slow shutter speed
• B mode will probably work best
• Shutter opens when shutter button is pressed, closes
when released
• If you were using a camera that does not have a “B”
mode, the shutter would need to be set at 1 min (60
sec.) or slower
• Slow shutter speed allows for you to “paint” your
images throughout the frame in a single exposure
The Set Up

10. •Aperture
• For our purposes, your subject is going to be
fairly close to you, so you should be using a low
f stop.
• For single or simple-subject light painting, you
should shoot with an f11 or higher.
• If you were trying to capture a larger image, or
something with a greater depth of field, you
would need to increase your f stop to a higher
setting.
The Set Up

11. •ISO
• The higher your ISO is, the more sensitive
your shot is going to be, to both the light and
anything else in the frame.
• High ISO shots in limited-light environments
tend to come out very grainy, “noisy,” or
pixellated.
• Light painting requires the lowest ISO possible
so that the camera does not pick up on any of
the extra “noise” in the frame.
The Set Up

12. •Focus
• Because light painting is not a basic style of shooting, your
camera is not going to know what to focus on in the shot.
• Your camera needs to be in manual focus so that the
photographer can control what is going to be in focus in
the shot
• Obviously, you can’t “see” the painting you are creating,
but you can adjust your focus so that your “model” is clear
in the view finder.
• You CANNOT shoot in auto focus, because the lens will
spend too much time trying to find something to focus on
and it will miss your “painting” in the shot.
The Set Up

13. •Light Sources
• There are a lot of different things that will work for light painting
• Flashlights
• If you have one, bring it next class!!!
• Camera strobes
• LED lights/laser pointers
• Glo-Sticks, light wands, fireworks all work, too
• Can be the most fun because they are the most colorful
• These are more challenging because you can’t turn them off
• Can overcome this by covering them up if you want to move
from one side of your frame to the other without creating a
blur of light
The Set Up

14. Tips for Successful Shots
Just like
with
panning,
light
painting
takes time
and
patience.
Don’t get
frustrated
if your first
shots
aren’t
working.
 Take your time!
 Practice before you shoot.
 Have plan.
 Try new things.
 Ask for help.
 Use the equipment
properly.

15. Taking the shot
 Have your “model” get ready
 Have your “camera person” push the shutter
button
 “Model” must reveal light source and use it to
create the image
 “Model” must cover/turn off light source
between segments
 To close shutter, “camera person” needs to
push shutter button again
 Review shot on camera, revise strategy,

16. What now?
 Get into groups (3-4)
 Plan shots for next
time
 Props?
 Bring
flashlights/props
 Review techniques
 Group practice
shots
 Group shooting time
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