Learning How To Paint with Carl Kruse

Light painting is one of the lesser known techniques in photography and is usually only completed by serious night owls... and several very keen photographers. Mainly performed at night and outdoors, such night charms can make scenes look more dramatic than they would under normal conditions. Light painting is not a new thing either, it's a technique that is used for over 90 years, and contrary to modern beliefs it's not at all easy to get the optimal effect. Accuracy in exposure adjustments, the right tools, the right atmospheric conditions, and patience are all key to a great nighttime capture involving light art work.

The technique involves two methods, moving a light around in the body during a long publicity, similar to writing with a sparkler, on terme conseillé night, or by using a handled light source, for instance a flashlight or speedlight, on or off camera, to light a particular part of the landscape.

The latter is more of the contrived and creative technique that can produce spectacular results, especially in a commercial setting. LED PRE LIT torches are the tool of choice here. $6. 95 from Kmart, will get you a tiny pocket or purse sized, but extremely glowing and useful LED flashlight, which is also sunlight balanced, so you will not likely get any undue green shift in colour to whatever you light up. I often use shaded gels / filters that go with my Cannon speedlight, over the source of light to further raise the dynamic feel of the image. I used this technique on a trip earlier back in to the tip of Cape York.

A major part of sunshine art work involves setting your structure. Often hard to do, when you in the pitch of night, with all the necessary evils at hand. No moon phase, no ambient light, and quite often in the middle of a calm nowhere, all alone. If perhaps you're ready, you'll find that the tiniest amount of sunshine in such a setting will have either a dramatic or devastating effect in your shot, so paint carefully.

Painting Techniques - 3 Things To Know, Light Painting Photography - Tools For Your New Adventure