that because you can move the light around, you
can really light up any part of the subject and
from any angle. The type of lighting tool you use
will also affect how the image is illuminated. A
flash or large flashlight throws out a large amount
of light, a lot like throwing a whole bucket of
paint at a canvas. Using a smaller flashlight with
a tightly controlled beam of light is more like
painting with a small brush.
Deciding how the final image needs to look will
keep you focused on where you should paint with
the light. You can use the angle of the light to
show details or hide them. Take Figures 9-1 andLight painting could be considered the truest
form of photography because it is exactly what
the word photography means: drawing or painting
with light. The idea behind light painting is
deceptively simple and the results can be stun-
ning, but it helps to be set up correctly from the
start and to have an open mind and some
patience. Light painting is not about getting the
same image over and over again, but creating an
individual piece that can’t be replicated. No two
light paintings will ever look the same because
the way the light is moved when doing the paint-
ing will never be exactly the same way twice.
Light painting is all about experimentation, so
take a deep breath and dive right in.
Light Painting Basics
A dark room or location, a camera, an interesting
subject, and a light source are all that you really
need to start painting with light. Well, that and a
great deal of imagination, patience, and foresight.
There are two different types of light painting in
this chapter: the type where you use a light to
reveal the subject and the type where the light is
the subject. Both of these methods usually take
place in darkened areas where the camera is set up
and the shutter is held open for extended periods
of time. This takes a delicate touch and a plan.
There is a second type of light painting and that is
when the light is the subject. These types of images
are more abstract and are really fun to create.
Use light to show the subject
Light painting takes some imagination because
you can’t see the effects of the light until after the
exposure is completed. The fun part is that you
can really control exactly what parts of the sub-
ject are lit — the direction and the intensity of
the light used — and you can create lighting that
would not be possible any other way. Remember
ABOUT THIS PHOTO Using a small flashlight to show the
details of this mask from Tahiti really brings out the features in the
areas where I painted. Taken at 42 seconds, f/18, and ISO 100.9-1