Painting with Light

JBHotShots

Anyone want to share their most important tip about this before I embark on this endevor this weekend? I think I have the basics but I'm looking for that one tid bit of info that will make this a little easier than 100 trial and error pictures...LOL

ziggy53

"Painting with light" can mean several different techniques and methodologies. The only thing that they all have in common is the "additive" effect of either:

1. Multiple exposures, each with different lighting, combined together in post-processing to form a cumulative and complete image (composite).
   
2. A single long exposure, with either multiple lighting incidents or one/multiple moving light sources through the exposure. The point is using additive light to help when you don't have enough light for a singular, instantaneous exposure.
   
3. A point or tight source of moving light used to define a shape by tracing against a darker background, during a long exposure. In this method the light source helps define outlines and "cartoons" within the image.

Here are some pertinent sites to ponder:

http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/painting-with-light

http://diyphotography.net/painting_with_light

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/01/painting-with-light.html

The most important "tip" I can offer is that you have to start with a plan and a concept for the shot. A fundamental understanding of standard lighting and exposure is a great benefit. Understand the relationship between the ambient/available light at the scene and how your additive light will affect the scene.

By all means, experiment in order to learn what works what doesn't work. Take a laptop and review the images fairly large. Feel free to build on what you see and improve towards your concept. Repeat as needed.

Lastly, have some fun and don't worry if you don't quite get what you're after right away. Life is all about the journey "and" the destination.