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Showing posts with label Light Painting Photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Light Painting Photography. Show all posts
12 Nov 2013
Light Painting: Creating Light Spirals ...

  • at 9:18 pm
  • 1
In this project, I played with more examples of light painting by creating different spinning light spirals at home by making use of a torch light. There are a few ways that spinning light spirals can be created at home.

Spinning Light Spirals from a Suspended Torch Light on Ceiling


Torch Light + String

Besides from the torch light, a string with considerable length will be required. One end of the string will be used to secure to the torch light (note: I also use masking tape to 'double' secure it), while the other end will be secured to the ceiling or ceiling light. 

The string needs to be tightly secured on both ends, otherwise the entire torch light may be sent flying off and hit someone or break something. On the torch's end, I had use masking tape to 'double' secure the string to it even after tying it. On the ceiling light's end, I simply wrap the string around the ceiling light and make a knot.

Note: How far the torch light is suspended from the ceiling will determine how big or small the spinning trail is, as well as whether the camera lens is wide enough to capture the spinning trail.

Camera, Tripods and Settings

Have the camera mounted on a low tripod and pointing directly upwards towards the suspended torch light. It would be better if an wide angle lens is used, considering the distance away from the subject and the width of the circular spinning path that the torch light would make.

Pre-focus the camera on the suspended torch light in the air using automatic-focus before switching back to manual focus. 

Depending on the strength of the light from the torch, the aperture and shutter shutter speed would need to be adjusted accordingly. Start with an aperture of F/8 and stop-down the aperture if the spinning trails are overly-exposed. An exposure time of 20 seconds is good as a start - the exposure time will also depend on how long the torch light can be sent spinning in a smooth circular motion.

Spin and Take the Shot

Turn on the light of the suspended torch light and send it swinging in a circular motion. Remember to switch off all other lights in the room before taking the shot (note: best to be done in a dark room without other ambient lighting).

Try other modifications like:
  • Different color gels over the suspend torch light.
  • Instead of circular motion path, try sending the suspended torch swinging in erratic patterns.
  • Try attaching additional colors of light sources to the suspended torch (note: need to make sure that the string can take the weight of additional light sources and they are all properly secured.)

Spinning Light Spirals with Hand (Light Orbs)


Torch Light + String

Same as the 1st example, the torch light needs to be tightly secured to the string on one end. The other end needs to be hand-held as we will be spinning the suspended torch light.

Note: The spinning force can be quite great even for a small torch light. It is best to wear a glove to prevent the string from cutting your hand or causing blisters. I had blister from it for not wearing a glove :)

Camera, Tripod and Settings

The camera and tripod should be a distance away, enough to capture the entire spinning motion. If the house is not big enough, take it outdoor.

The camera settings is pretty much the something that have to be experimented with. For this particular setup, it might be good to set exposure time of 1minute so that sufficient light trails can be captured to give a nice looking orb.

Technique in Spinning

To create a nice looking light orb, it is best to spin and rotate about the same axis on the ground - do so by moving your body in a circle around the axis of the spin. Alternatively, you can try spinning the torch light with the body as the axis to create a different looking pattern i.e. rotate your body on the same spot while spinning the torch light.

For best effect, it is best to do it in a dark open space where there is no nearby objects where the light would fall on. Make sure that you are dressed in dark colors (i.e. best to be in black) from head to toe so that your image will not be captured in the frame causes by light falling on your clothes.

Note: The above light orb is shot in my room, which is a little bit cramp. Not a nice looking orb as it was my first time doing it :)

Spinning Light Spirals with USB Fan (Light Orbs)

I have also tried creating the light orb using an small USB fan (see picture below). Basically, I secured a mini Maglite (torch light) to one of the soft foam blades of the USB fan. When the fan is turned on, I simply rotate the entire USB fan in circle while the blades are rotating.

Although the spinning speed of the USB fan is relatively slow due to the weight of the torch light that is secured on the blade, the fan will still vibrate quite violently due to the unbalance weight on the blades. So make sure that the USB fan is held on tightly while rotating it.

Important: It is quite dangerous, and never try this on an electrical fan as the moving speed of a blades is so fast that it might throw the entire torch light flying, which could be fatal if it hits you.




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1 Nov 2013
Light Painting Photography: Steaming Hot Effect

  • at 10:23 pm
  • 0 comments

Doesn't the "Chee Cheong Fun" looks hot with the steam? Actually, the dish is not hot at all and the "hot steam" is created using light painting effects.

In my earlier post of light painting, I've tried painting alphabets using a laser pointer. This time round, I tried light painting on still life objects (such as bottles, bulbs, tea cups, etc.) with different light sources (e.g. laser pointer and torch light). It was really fun to see different results as I tried various light sources and position of the light sources.

(Please refer to my earlier post on the setup required and camera settings.)

The "Hot Steam" Effect

This is a simple "trick" by using a white rope (.. not thread as thread is too thin to reflect light) and a torch light. Simple hold a white rope dangling above the object (i.e. where the hot steam to appear) with one hand. One the same hand, also hold a torch light point downwards to the object.

When the shutter opens, simply start rotating the wrist of the hand that is holding on to the white rope and torch light. To achieve the right effect, the wrist should be rotating fast enough by pointing the light around the object circumference. The whole idea is to get the light to be reflected by the rotating and dangling rope which will create the "hot steam" effect.
I had tried with various intensity of light source and noticed that a lower intensity light source appears to work better in creating the "hot steam" effect.

The settings for my shots were ISO 100, F/13 and 20 secs exposure. I had spent the first 12 secs doing the wrist rotation with the white rope, and the remaining time just pointing and painting on the tea cup (or the chee cheong fun picture above) using my torch light (without the rope).

You can also try spinning a torch light above the tea cup to see how it appears.

Note: I did not invent this technique - I had seen this done by someone else in a YouTube video sometime back (let me see if I can find it later).

Nice Internal Reflection Within Lightbulb

I've tried the light bulb and it produces a nice reflection internal within the light bulb with it's shape. With the light bulb held standing upright, I simply run through my torch light around the circumferences of the light bulb to and fro.
Camera settings: ISO 100, F/20 and 15secs exposure.

Laser Pointer Works Well with Sticks

I've tried using laser pointer on the reed diffuser on my desk and it turns out great. The reed sticks appeared to be glowing from within.
Camera settings: ISO 100, F/20 and 30 secs exposure.

Reflective Surface Matters

I've used a reflective black surface for the background and table top while playing with laser pointers on one of my decoration/ornament. Because the decoration/ornament is also a reflective surface, the reflective background and table top further bends the reflected light causes it to look magically nice.
Camera settings: ISO 100, F/20 and 30 secs exposure.

Rotating Light Source

Try tying a small torch light and rotating it around the object (e.g. a bottle).

Moving Backlight Behind Object

Also try moving the torch light behind the object (e.g. a bottle).

There are simply too many ways on how light painting can be applied on the objects that you are painting. Each way produces different artistic results and mood of the picture. It is really fun to try out!

Please visit http://jefzlim.smugmug.com/Studio-Works/Light-Painting for more photos ...



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27 Oct 2013
Light Painting Photography: Writing with Laser Pointer

  • at 10:43 pm
  • 1
While I was clearing a box "useful" junk in my room. I found my old laser pointer. It was more like a laser gun as the green laser beam emitted is so strong and powerful that the beam can be seen on the wall of a flat that is 100m away.

As I sat down at my sofa playing with it, the idea of light painting photography struck me. Quoted from lightpaintingphotography.com … "light painting photography is a photographic technique where the artist opens the shutter of a camera for an extended period of time and uses various light sources to create color and design with in the frame...".

Although I am  not an artist that can paint well, I am keen to explore the different types of light painting techniques. With only a laser pointer on hand, I wanted to start off with something basic and simple - writing and drawing with laser pointer.

Easy and Simple Setup for Light Painting

No extensive setup or flash required is the beauty of light painting photography. The following are basic setup required for any types of light painting photography.
  • A dark location - If experimenting at home, you will require a dark room that is without any source of direct and indirect light (e.g. ceiling light, table lamp, monitor light, etc.) that could be affecting what you are painting - the darker the room the better. If experimenting it outdoor, then the location must be dark enough - street lights, lights from car headlight, etc. should be avoided.
  • Tripod - As long exposure will be used, a tripod is definitely needed so that you do not end up with a bad picture due to shakes.
  • Various Sources and Types of Lights - These are the "paint" that you will be painting with, e.g. laser pointers, torch lights, light sticks, sparkles, etc.
In this particular exercise that I'm doing, I am using my laser pointer as the only source of light. I also had a black background, which is the "blackboard" that I will be writing and drawing on.

Camera Settings

Small Aperture with Long Exposure Time

In light painting photography, a small aperture is typically used as it allows lesser amount of light to pass through, which will help to create a dramatic light effect as the subject is painted with light when exposed over a period of time. The amount of exposure time varies depending on how the subject is painted.

Pre-Focus Beforehand

As the shot is taken in the dark under long exposure time, a pre-focus on the subject is required. At home, simply do an auto-focus on subject using the room's ceiling light or table lamp, and switching it to manual focus once is pre-focus is done (note: remember to switch off light in the room before taking pictures.) If outside, use a torch light to shine on the subject so as to allow pre-focusing to be done.

My Results of Writing Using Laser Pointers

I wanted to create a set of handwritten A-to-Z using the laser pointer on the blackboard. 

Initially, I set my camera to bulb mode to capture my writing, however I find that it is really difficult to align the written characters properly if I do so. Furthermore, I cannot gauge the edge of the camera's frame in the dark which makes writing really difficult.

So I ended up taking taking a set of 26 alphabet photos, each with an exposure time of 3-seconds (just sufficient time for me to finish writing a character). After which, I combine all the alphabets together into a simple picture. As you see from the alphabets written above, it is actually not that easy to write neatly using a laser pointer!

I look forward to try out the other types of light painting techniques and share is with everyone when I've done so.



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