Light Painting - Samples & How-to
/Super Simple Light Painting How-to:
Need:
- Camera that lets you control shutter speed
- Tripod (or flat surface to place the camera on)
- a moveable light source - small LED keychain light, cheap electroluminescent wires, laser pointer
- Bonus - Remote trigger release(Canon | Nikon) or use the 2 second timer to avoid shaking the camera when you press the shutter button
Steps:
- focus camera on the area where you will be painting. If this is in a room just turn on the lights, focus on your subject or where your subject will be then turn off the light. Outside? Have someone stand with a flashlight or shine the flashlight on a spot to get focus.
- Put camera on manual (M) and set your shutter speed for as long as you think it will take you to complete the painting. 5-10 seconds is a good starting point. Aperture should be as large as possible. ISO around 400-800. Take a test photo with painting any light - how much ambient light is captured? Too much? Lower your ISO. Too little? raise your ISO. Repeat until you have background exposed as desired.
- Attempt your first painting. Review and try again. Experiment! Have fun!
