Published on : 21 February 20223 min reading time
What is light painting?
Light painting is a term that literally translates into painting with light. However, it is not about a canvas, but only about a photo.
as a basic principle, light painting is done in a dark place where only the light and the objects to be highlighted are visible. If you have the right equipment, you only need a few adjustments to complete your light painting. The settings and tools vary depending on whether you want to do a lightgraff, an illumination, a portrait, a long exposure or a highlighting. You need to make a list of the essentials according to the technique that suits you.
What tools are needed to make a light painting?
In order to make a light painting, these few tools will be useful to you:
– A light source: You will need a small light source to make your picture; a torch, a smartphone, etc. can do the trick.
– A camera: even a very simple one will do. However, a DSLR will definitely give you a better result.
– A stand: professional photographers use a tripod. However, a tree, a post or a wall can be a good alternative.
– Darkness: for the light to be visible, you need a dark background. You don’t need to bathe in total darkness though as you only need slight darkness to accentuate the light.
– Space: since you will have to move to make patterns with your light source, you will need enough space.
How to make a light painting?
Light painting is a step-by-step process in which you must:
– Set up your camera on the stand
– Frame your photo
– Activate the delay if you are alone
– Adjust your camera manually
– Aim the camera in accordance with your light source
– Start to draw your pattern
– Quickly exit the frame to avoid appearing in the photo
As far as the settings are concerned, you need to set an aperture between 10″ and 20″ and a minimum ISO of 100. If you want to appear in the picture, you need to come back once your light design is finished.