Light painting, also known as light drawing or light graffiti is a photographic technique in which exposures are made usually at night or in a darkened room by moving a hand-held light source or by moving the camera. In many cases the light source itself does not have to appear in the image. The term light painting also encompasses images lit from outside the frame with hand-held light sources. The first known photographer to use this technique was Man Ray in his series "Space Writing" created in 1935. The photographer Ellen Carey discovered Man Ray's signature signed by penlight nearly 74 years after the pictures had been taken.
Here are some examples of night light painting images some of these image are more similar to what i have chosen to do highlighting an object in the dark leaving the rest of the image dark and using a torch to highlight the areas you want to show. I have taken inspiration from these images and tried to use some of the techniques used I'm my own images.
"You can go in do whatever you want make it look super crazy Sci Fi then go get back in the car and every things normal again its like an alternative reality"
Light painting photographer Dana Maltby, also known as TCB or Twin cities Brightest, is one of today’s most well-known and highly respected light painting artist. TCB is widely thought of by his peers to be on the forefront of the light painting photography movement. Dana’s body of work is astounding; he creates new images on a daily basis and is one of the most creative individuals in the light painting world. Dana has created several tools and techniques. He is known for not only his imagery but also his willingness to give away his secrets to the masses. Dana discovered light painting while he was following one of his other passions “urban exploration”; he was taking pictures in a dark tunnel when he accidentally created his first light paintings. From that point on TCB was hooked.
It's called "light art performance photography"! All images are straight form the camera,no computer manipulation at all. Not even cropping or adjusting. Enjoy!
Cold cathodes are a safer, more portable version of the famous neon lights.
Abstract light painting.
Made from a skateboard wheel with bearings, a paint roller handle and a pole, a piece of bent metal, and a paint extender, this invention allows almost perfect circles to be created in space.
Kaleidoscopes made with front surface mirrors can create amazing effects straight out of the camera.
Dana Maltby as most light painters has many different techniques and styles he also hand makes different tools in his studio to use for his different here are some of the different tools that he uses to produce his images.
Below are some videos of the thinking behind the light paintings created by Dana Maltby you Can see how he has come up with the idea with a simple children's Spirograph and then created the image with lights he has built together at home in his studio, also below is a video of a collection from all the skateboarding light painting which he has named light boarding.
Using my space voyagers spirograph, and my light wheel invention, taking it to the tunnel for this short film about math, hookers, and urbex.
All the lightboarding footage i have compiled into a short video.
"I define my style as site spasific single frame time exposure photography contempery art"
Light painting artist Vicki DaSilva has been creating her images since 1980. In 1981, while she was an art student, Vicki spent the year in NYC working as an intern for video and performance artist Joan Jonas. Through Joan’s vast artist network Vicki began a ten-year personal assistant job with sculptor Richard Serra. The influences of Joan and Richard, along with the birth of Hip Hop and the fusion of graffiti and fine art that was primarily directed by Keith Haring (whom Vicki knew from his home town of Kutztown, PA, where she attended Kutztown University) was extremely influential in her art. Vicki has the honor of holding several light painting titles. She is the first female light painting artist and the first light painter to create “Text Light Graffiti”. Vicki has shot the majority of her work on film. She is known for her light graffiti work as well as her elaborate installation based light paintings. Vicki, along with her husband Antonio, (whom she met while on a light painting trip to Paris) use 4 and 8-foot fluorescent bulbs attached to a complex system of tracks and pulleys to create her work. The enormous amount of time and effort it takes for her just to set up her light painting installation work, and then the fact that she shoots it all on film is incredible. In the 1990′s Vicki took some time off to be a full time mom, in 1999 she began light painting again full time and has not stopped since. Vicki can be found roaming the dark streets of New York City where she often travels to create her light painting work. She now lives in Pennsylvania and continues to promote, progress, and create light painting photography. Vicki started shooting digital in 2008 but she also continues to shoot chrome film.
Here is the set up used by Vicki DaSilva on some of her light painting images, she uses pullies and tube lights to create the sheets of light like in the frst image diagonals the sheets of light come down from the top of the bridge to the floor in blue and red reversed backwards she also dose a lot of light grafiti using a lonng shutter speed and a tourch to write out the words, she also used her light painting for sending a message she has done the pink ribbon for breast cancer awarness and also the homage to burberry.
The set up.
Diagonals 2002
Bike Gang 2010
Charlie Sheen 2011
Chimmeny Corner 2010
Homage To burberry 2009
Inside Out 2010
Pink Ribbon 2010
Ring Of Fire 2011
Self Portrait 1987
Vertical Light Walk 2009
Here is a vedio of behind the scenes on the video for a rebok advert feturing Vicki DaSilva along with Darren Pearson and Dana Maltby two other light painters who all braught there variing skills together from there experience with light paiting photography and together made the advert for rebok
