Painting With Light...help plz - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

09/20/2004 08:32:08 PM · #1

I need to make a Still Life for an "assignment"...i would love to try out the painting with light technique but don't exacly know how...any tips???

thanx ^^

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

09/20/2004 08:34:26 PM · #2

Try using a flashlight during the exposure to wash your subject in light.

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

09/20/2004 08:34:35 PM · #3

Flashlight or other mobile light, low/dark ambient lighting, interesting subject, long exposure.

PerezDesignGroup

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

09/20/2004 08:40:11 PM · #4

Emil Schildt is one of the best at this. View his portfolio below. Unfortunately, every single site of his is currently down. :(

//www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=526277

Also check this out...
//www.photo-seminars.com/Seminars/PaintLight/Paintlight.htm

09/20/2004 08:40:11 PM · #5

how long should i keep the sutter open and the flash light on??...

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

09/20/2004 08:41:48 PM · #6

Originally posted by PerezDesignGroup:

very cool and interesting work

Message edited by author 2004-09-20 20:42:25.

PerezDesignGroup

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

09/21/2004 01:40:24 AM · #7

Originally posted by elsapo:

how long should i keep the sutter open and the flash light on??...

Good question and very hard to answer. It's a trial and error thing. I would start with 4-10 seconds or so and a very soft flashlight shot from a distance of 10-15 feet or so. Then review for results and compensate. Shooting people is very hard. They need to stay very, very still which can be tough in the dark. I would start out with inanimate objects. Finally, don't forget to cover the viewfinder so additional light won't enter.

You'll also need a tripod which you've probably figured out already. Just make sure you don't trip and hurt yourself running around in the dark ;)

alanbataar

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Lensbaby 1.0 (The Original)

09/21/2004 01:26:51 PM · #8

In my attempts at PWL, I figured that I could approach it in one of two basic ways -- highlighting to bring attention to one particular spot, or actually lighting the whole image with the "light brush". Counting seconds in order to meter how much light goes on one spot helps with the ability to repeat your actions for the next shot is a helpful habit. If you're PTL for the whole exposure, it's helpful to use the longest possible exposure.

I also experimented with hand-held flash using the test button to trigger it manuallly, and using multi-colored gels or reflectors to get interesting colors.

It's a tough technique to make work well. I'd say that the single best thing you can do is to block out 3 or 4 hours and play around with it to develop your style.

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=69626

I shot this photo using both the manually triggered flash and the PTL techniques.

aKiwi

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/21/2004 01:36:45 PM · #9

I have used painting with light on the following entries.

and

Generally using experimentation with different aperature settings is important. If the photo is taken in darkness or near darkness, then getting rhe right exposure is done using the aperature settinge, and the light source.

mirdonamy

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/21/2004 02:05:26 PM · #10

My favorite photographer is a light painter. His site is //www.lostamerica.com and his technique is there too! Check out his work!

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

09/21/2004 09:31:36 PM · #11

thanx everyone!!! :)... this is what i ended up with

(inspired by KarenB Renaissance photo)..i'll be playing with more objects soon.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

09/21/2004 09:34:58 PM · #12

Your image has a nice old world feel to it. Blending the lit area into the background more I think would make it even better. Nice work.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

09/21/2004 09:38:55 PM · #13

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Your image has a nice old world feel to it. Blending the lit area into the background more I think would make it even better. Nice work.

thanx ^^

PerezDesignGroup

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

09/21/2004 09:54:28 PM · #14

Originally posted by elsapo:

thanx everyone!!! :)... this is what i ended up with

(inspired by KarenB Renaissance photo)..i'll be playing with more objects soon.

That's a great start! Way to go! :)

digistoune

Canon EOS-20D

09/21/2004 11:29:17 PM · #15

Wow, that's cool, Elsapo!

Hey wait a minute! Aren't you the guy who just got his dRebel who posted about not knowing how to use it?!? LOL