forums
new posts
donate
UER Store
events
location db
db map
search
members
faq
terms of service
privacy policy
register
login




UER Forum > UE Photography > Light Painting advice (Viewed 1095 times)
Darkzero 


Location: Nova Scotia
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 62 likes




 |  | 
Light Painting advice
< on 1/24/2015 3:47 AM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
So sorry if this is done already. I tried to check the threads but did not see a post. Any advice on light painting. I've posted a couple of pics (2nd post) and if someone can view and see if there is room for improvement that would be appreciated. I always want to get better but sometimes there are not allot of ways to light up a drain. I am getting some new lights to try a few more things.




Darkzero 


Location: Nova Scotia
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 62 likes




 |  | 
Re: Light Painting advice
< Reply # 1 on 1/24/2015 3:49 AM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Pic 1 and 2 were my earlier stuff. Light scares on the walls and so forth. 3,4,5 is what it's looking like currently. Any advice for improvement.


358104.jpg (40 kb, 436x600)
click to view


358105.jpg (72 kb, 800x600)
click to view


358106.jpg (73 kb, 800x600)
click to view


358107.jpg (80 kb, 800x600)
click to view


358108.jpg (100 kb, 800x600)
click to view






General Zod 


Location: Provvy-Prov, Rhode Island
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 337 likes


www.mycophagia.c om

 |  |  | Yahoo! IM | my website
Re: Light Painting advice
< Reply # 2 on 1/24/2015 5:13 AM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
It's pretty simple really, but if you want okay light there are a few things to keep in mind:

1) Keep the shutter open for a while, maybe even 20-40 seconds, giving you enough time to paint the entire scene from several different angles. Of course, the longer the shutter is open, the dimmer or less frequent your light painting should be, (or just use a smaller aperture) otherwise you'll wind up with an over-exposure.

2) Make sure to use quality, full spectrum light which is not limited to cheapo LED flashlights. Those tend to produce very crappy results from very crappy light.

3) Don't light things head on from straight behind the camera. Use studio lighting techniques instead, bringing light in from the sides, overhead, below, and behind. This can be done handheld, with stationary light sources, or both.

4) Attempt to create atmospheric light, not just a subject lit by direct or diffused light.

5) Consider using a remote flash.

6) Color temperature is important, especially when using multiple light sources and intensities.







Rise before Zod
Kneel before Zod
www.mycophagia.com
DJ Craig 

Moderator


Location: Johnson City, TN
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 373 likes


Break the Silence

 |  |  | AIM Message | Facebook
Re: Light Painting advice
< Reply # 3 on 1/24/2015 5:14 AM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
There's TONS of good information on this user board:
http://www.uer.ca/...id=1&catid=1000508

Also use search to dig through some of the old posts by AnAppleSnail. He has posted some great guides, how-to's and tips for light painting over the years.




"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." -Dr. Suess
Darkzero 


Location: Nova Scotia
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 62 likes




 |  | 
Re: Light Painting advice
< Reply # 4 on 1/24/2015 6:27 AM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Some great advice. Thanks. I took a quick look at that link as well and lots of stuff in there. I'll dig into more in the am. Yes I am behind the camera lighting it up. I've done a few other things but more of tri pod, timer, paint and were done. In outfall 44 I had my friend hide behind a half wall and gave it a different look as well.

With the extra lights I'm going to get might have some other options as well. I'm already thinking of my mine explore that we do in the summer and should be able to place those lights in other spots to give it more depth.

I use a fenix something or other.... 680 lumens, fenix light. Seems pretty awesome and bright. I would like to shoot video but all in good time.




sirpsychosexy 


Location: Netherlands
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 396 likes




 |  |  | Bas de Mos
Re: Light Painting advice
< Reply # 5 on 1/24/2015 12:53 PM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Some more tips from my own experience:

Consider diffusing your light to avoid light streaks. There are tons of cheap ways to do that. I use brown baking paper to change the LED's dirty colour temperature and make 'adapters' from toilet paper rolls. They're almost always on my flashlights except in huge places where a LOT of light is need, they do block a bit of light. Another big advantage with the diffusors is that you don't necessarily have to 'paint', you can just put the flashlight somewhere around a corner and it will look good. So when you're on your own or just don't want to bother your friends, you can still create endless combinations with a couple of flashlights.

Contrary to what I said above, don't be afraid to walk through your composition while the shutter is open, but keep the light hidden at all costs. Keep your body in between the flashlight and the camera. This will make you walk in very weird ways, you'll probably break a leg or two and your friends will all laugh at you, but it's worth it. When I'm running around like a ninja with down's syndrome I usually keep my hand over the flashlight letting only enough light through for me to see where I'm going, while the camera won't capture much of it. So I paint from around a corner somewhere for maybe 5 secs, run to somewhere else, paint 5 secs again, run again etc. I often combine it with the first method of stationary lights too.

Lastly, take the same photo multiple times. Have a look at the LCD to see what you want to change and do it again, but don't delete the earlier photos. Even when you paint almost the same there's always one that sticks out as the best. Sometimes it's the one you considered to be bad on the spot, the tiny LCD won't give you an accurate representation.

This is all kind of focussed on natural looking lighting. If you want weird photos, do weird stuff. Experimenting is always fun.




www.basdemos.com
ZenCanadian 


Location: High Park, Toronto
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 524 likes




 |  | 
Re: Light Painting advice
< Reply # 6 on 1/24/2015 7:25 PM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Trial and error is a fun way to learn how to light paint




Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life.
Darkzero 


Location: Nova Scotia
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 62 likes




 |  | 
Re: Light Painting advice
< Reply # 7 on 1/24/2015 8:48 PM >
Reply with Quote
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Posted by ZenCanadian
Trial and error is a fun way to learn how to light paint


Agreed. I think I got it pretty good. At least the pics are clean and everything is lit up. But I always want to improve. I see some pics on this site and so jealous I can't ones like them.




UER Forum > UE Photography > Light Painting advice (Viewed 1095 times)


Add a poll to this thread



This thread is in a public category, and can't be made private.



All content and images copyright © 2002-2024 UER.CA and respective creators. Graphical Design by Crossfire.
To contact webmaster, or click to email with problems or other questions about this site: UER CONTACT
View Terms of Service | View Privacy Policy | Server colocation provided by Beanfield
This page was generated for you in 78 milliseconds. Since June 23, 2002, a total of 737098827 pages have been generated.