Painting with light.
Painting with light is a great technique, with lots of possibilities, and gives a good explanation into the nature of how cameras work. This effect can be used on it's own, or mixed with other images to create enhance your message. Painting with light is an exceptionally easy Technique to master.
First of all, you will need a few things to get start.
- A torch or light source, ideally a maglite as you can take the end of the torch of and expose the end element.
- A tripod, to hold the camera steady.
- Make sure you are shooting at night time.
- A camera, for this a bridge or SLR will be needed, though I will explain how to do it on a compact.
How to
- Start off with setting the camera up and pointing at the scene.
- You can now do 1 of two things
- Set the camera to Tv mode, and dial it until it says 30", which means 30 seconds.
- You can also (this will help in understanding ISO and aperture).
- Set the aperture to f/22, and the ISO to 100 or lower. This should give you a long time, and you will see the time change the more you adjust either setting.
- Put the camera onto self timer, this means that by pushing the button you don't add blur.
- Position the person you are going to shoot with the torch, and if its you, press the button and get into position.
- Draw your image, and then cover the camera lens up the moment you are done.
How to achieve this with a compact.
- You will need
- Camera
- Piece of black card
- Torch
- Tripod
How to
- Position the camera on the tripod
- Focus and aim the camera at the black card (this might be very tricky, and if at night time may not be that necessary)
- Disable flash
- Turn on self timer
- Position subject (if its yourself, press the button and get into position)
- Draw the image
- Cover the lens as quickly as possible once finished.