Light painting

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Pure Energy and Neurotic Man, a light painting by Barbara Morgan, (1940)
Example of light painting moving the camera

Light painting is a photographic technique in which exposures are made by moving a hand-held light source or by moving the camera. The term light painting also encompasses images lit from outside the frame with hand-held light sources. Light Painting Photography can be traced back to the year 1914 when Frank Gilbreth, along with his wife Lillian Moller Gilbreth, used small lights and the open shutter of a camera to track the motion of manufacturing and clerical workers. Man Ray, in his 1935 series "Space Writing," was the first known art photographer to use the technique and Barbara Morgan began making light paintings in 1940.

Techniques

There are 3 basic light painting techniques. The first is light painting, the second known as light drawing, and the third known as kinetic light painting or camera painting.[1]

Light Painting is using handheld lights to selectively illuminate and/or color parts of the subject or scene. Light painting requires a slow shutter speed, usually a second or more. Light painting can take on the characteristics of a traditional painter working with oils, acrylics, or water colors.

Light Drawing is shinning a light source to "draw" a picture by shining it directly into the camera lens. Light drawing requires a slow shutter speed, usually a second or more. Light drawing can take on the characteristics of a quick pencil sketch.

Kinetic Light Painting by moving the camera, also called camera painting, is the antithesis of traditional photography. At night, or in a dark room, the camera can be taken off the tripod and used like a paintbrush. An example is using the night sky as the canvas, the camera as the brush and cityscapes (amongst other light sources) as the palette. Putting energy into moving the camera by stroking lights, making patterns and laying down backgrounds can create abstract artistic images.

Light painting can be done interactively using a webcam. The painted image can already be seen while drawing by using a monitor or projector.

Another technique used in the creation of light art is the projection of images on to irregular surfaces (faces, bodies, buildings etc.), in effect "painting" them with light. A photograph or other fixed portrayal of the resulting image is then made.

History

Light Painting, more specifically light drawing, dates back to 1889 when Étienne-Jules Marey and Georges Demeny create the first know light painting “Pathological Walk From in Front”.[2]

In 1949 Pablo Picasso was visited by Gjon Mili, a photographer and lighting innovator, who introduced Picasso to his photographs of ice skaters with lights attached to their skates. Immediately Picasso started making images in the air with a small flashlight in a dark room. This series of photos became known as Picasso's "light drawings." Of these photos, the most celebrated and famous is known as "Picasso draws a Centaur"[3] During the 1970's and 80's Eric Staller [4] used this technology for numerous photo projects that were called "Light Drawings". Light paintings up to 1976 are classified as light drawings. In 1977 Dean Chamberlain gave birth to light painting (using handheld lights to selectively illuminate and/or color parts of the subject or scene) with his image "POLYETHYLENE BAGS ON CHAISE LONGUE" at The Rochester Institute of Technology. Dean Chamberlain was the first artist to dedicate his entire body of work to the light painting art form.[5] The artist photographer Jacques Pugin made several series of images with the light drawing technique in 1979.[6] Picasso and Mili's images should be regarded as some of the first light drawings. Now, with modern light painting, one uses more frequently choreography and performance to photograph and organize.

Since spring 2007 the term Light art performance photography or LAPP has been in use, used to describe the work of the Light Painting team of LAPP-PRO. In this photography the integration of the background, the execution of performance and choreography is a very important element.[7]

The Japanese team TOCHKA have also gained popularity creating Light Painting Animation holding workshops and exhibitions all over the world since 2001.

This artform is currently enjoying a surge in popularity, partly due to the increasing availability of dSLR cameras, advances in portable light sources such as LEDs, and also in part due to the advent of media sharing websites by which practitioners can exchange images and ideas.

Equipment

Orb created by swinging a light source, domes created by spinning a wheel with light source attached

A variety of light sources can be used, ranging from simple flashlights to dedicated devices like the Hosemaster, which uses a fiber optic light pen.[8] Other sources of light including candles, matches, fireworks, lighter flints, glowsticks, and Poi are also popular.

A tripod is usually necessary due to the long exposure times involved. Alternatively, the camera may be placed on or braced against a table or other solid support. A shutter release cable or self timer is generally employed in order to minimize camera shake. Color Gels can also be used to color the light sources.

Some Light Painters make their own dedicated devices to create light trails over the photo background. This can include computer-controlled devices, such as the 'Digital Light Wand' pioneered by US Light Painter Mike Ross. This Arduino controlled LED array can render images that could not be done by just drawing in the air with a single light source.

Gallery

  • Portrait illuminated by light painting with a sparkler

  • Star image produced with light painting

  • Long exposure photo of a light show dance using finger lights.

  • Stick figure image produced with light painting.

  • Light painting with steel wool

  • Urban Light Painting

  • Light Painting with steel wool

  • Minimalist light painting: full moon on dark night

  • Bespoke LED light painting device.

  • LEDs in an underpass.

  • LEDs in a tunnel.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://lightpaintingphotography.com/light-painting-history/
  2. ↑ http://lightpaintingphotography.com/light-painting-history/
  3. ↑ ""Pablo Picasso" by Gjon Mili". VP Gallery. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 
  4. ↑ Eric Staller - Light Drawings
  5. ↑ http://lightpaintingphotography.com/light-painting-history/
  6. ↑ Light Painting historical article on the site of Light Painting World Alliance
  7. ↑ Light Art Performance Photography "LAPP-PRO". JanLeonardo. Retrieved 2013-01-28. 
  8. ↑ Greenspun, Philip (January 2007). "Studio Photography". Photo.net. Retrieved 2007-09-26. 

External links

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