Create A Series Of Light Paintings

[juju]

The main thing you need for this project is a camera that will let you make long time-exposures by leaving the shutter open for an extended period. We don’t mean just the second or two that the camera may need in low-light situations without a flash, either. Leave the shutter open at least 15 or 20 seconds, or, better still, indefinitely. You’re likely to find the greatest exposure flexibility on D-SLR cameras, such as Nikon’s D70s ($1,299.99; www.nikonusa.com/ ). First, mount your camera on a tripod and focus on a stationary subject. Even a person will do, as long as he or she remains motionless for the duration. The only requirement for your setting is that it be in near- or total darkness—a pitch-black room, for instance, or outdoors on a night without much of a moon, or after sunset with just a thin glow along the horizon. Trip your camera’s shutter release and, while the long exposure is underway, “paint” your subject with a handheld light. Nearly any kind of light will do: a penlight or flashlight, a laser pointer, or even candles held out-of-frame. Experiment with both time and technique. Jitter the light randomly or let it linger on something for a few moments to make it stand out. You can get wildly different looking pictures of the same subject, depending on how you’ve manipulated the light. After each shot, check the results on the camera’s display, so you can refine your technique—more or less light, etc.—with the next one. The wonderful thing about light paintings is that it’s impossible to predict the outcome, so the anticipation of seeing your pictures is heightened that much more.




Tip from Smart Computing