Light painting: Difference between revisions
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[[Manual focus]] is often used since [[autofocus]] systems may not perform well in low light. In addition, photographers often use a slow [[film speed]] or low ISO setting on a digital sensor to minimize grain (or digital noise) and increase exposure tolerance, as evaluating exposure is often tricky. |
[[Manual focus]] is often used since [[autofocus]] systems may not perform well in low light. In addition, photographers often use a slow [[film speed]] or low ISO setting on a digital sensor to minimize grain (or digital noise) and increase exposure tolerance, as evaluating exposure is often tricky. |
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Above are the most well known 'painting with light' techniques. But John N. Cohen has a very interesting different photographic technique to create special effects, that also really justifies this description too! |
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John Cohen’s technique is based on using projected images that are not always projected on to a screen, sometimes more than one projector is used and then the projected images are photographed. For example he has projected a portrait of a young girl on to a shell and then photographed what can be seen. This way the screen (in this case the shell) can become part of the new picture. With careful masking more than one image can be blended, when more than one projector is used. So with two or more projectors it is possible to blend parts of different images, but it was also easily possible to mix black and white images with colour and even negative images with transparencies. |
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He discovered these techniques in the mid 1960’s, well before computers were available for photographers; it all began when he noticed how a picture looked that he had projected (before putting up the screen) so that this image appeared partially on the wallpaper and the curtains. He then started moving the projector around and focused the image on to various different items in the room and soon decided it would be interesting to photograph some of the effects he could see. So began a fascinating way of creating amazing photographs. Kodak staged some major one-man exhibitions of Cohen's photographs in both New York and London because they could not believe what he achieved on their transparency film. |
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John Cohen won the highest international photographic art award 'The London Salon Trophy' in 1967 for a transparency of a portrait of the profile of a girl, blended with a negative of a tulip, all achieved as a transparency. Titled 'Spirit of Spring' this picture and many other award winning photographs can all be seen on his web pages at: - http://www.jncohen.net (Also his 'painting with light' techniques are more fully explained, with pictures, in his article ‘The Magic Lantern’ that can also be found at his web site). |
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Over 20 One-Man Exhibitions have been held 2 in New York, 4 in London, The Edinburgh Festival and many other UK & USA Cities. Favourable reviews and comments have been received from; Cecil Beaton C.B.E., Sir William Russell Flint R.A., Lady Clementine Spencer-Churchill, 'The Times' and 'Arts Review' to name a few! |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 17:54, 6 February 2010
Light painting, also known as light drawing or light graffiti is a photographic technique in which exposures are made usually at night or in a darkened room by moving a hand-held light source or by moving the camera. In many cases the light source itself does not have to appear in the image. The term light painting also encompasses images lit from outside the frame with hand-held light sources. The first know photographer to use this technique was Man Ray in his series "Space Writing".
Moving the light source
The light can either be used to selectively illuminate parts of the subject or to "paint" a picture by shining it directly into the camera lens. Light painting requires a sufficiently slow shutter speed, usually a second or more. Like night photography, it has grown in popularity since the advent of digital cameras because they allow photographers to see the results of their work immediately.
Light painting can take on the characteristics of a quick pencil sketch. Pablo Picasso was photographed in 1949 doing a quick sketch in the air.[1]
Flash lights or light pens can also be used to create Full Bleed images. Different colored lights can be used to project an image on the CCD.
Moving the camera
Light painting by moving the camera, also called camera painting, is the antithesis of traditional photography. At night, or in a dark room, the camera can be taken off the tripod and used like a paintbrush. An example is using the night sky as the canvas, the camera as the brush and cityscapes (amongst other light sources) as the palette. Putting energy into moving the camera by stroking lights, making patterns and laying down backgrounds can create abstract artistic images. Also known as "Camera Toss."
Making a light painting doesn't necessarily need to be done in a dark room or at night. Sometimes using artificial light, like LEDs and mobile phones, or through the limited sunlight beaming in a curtained room creates a shadowing effect. Using a mirror creates a double image, which adds up to a more creative result.
Technique and equipment
A variety of light sources can be used, ranging from simple flashlights to dedicated devices like the Hosemaster, which uses a fiber optic light pen.[2] Other sources of light including candles, matches, lighter flints, glowsticks, and Poi are also popular.
A tripod is usually necessary due to the long exposure times involved. Alternatively, the camera may be placed on or braced against a table or other solid support. A shutter release cable or self timer is generally employed in order to minimize camera shake. Color Gels can also be used to color the light sources.
Manual focus is often used since autofocus systems may not perform well in low light. In addition, photographers often use a slow film speed or low ISO setting on a digital sensor to minimize grain (or digital noise) and increase exposure tolerance, as evaluating exposure is often tricky.
Above are the most well known 'painting with light' techniques. But John N. Cohen has a very interesting different photographic technique to create special effects, that also really justifies this description too!
John Cohen’s technique is based on using projected images that are not always projected on to a screen, sometimes more than one projector is used and then the projected images are photographed. For example he has projected a portrait of a young girl on to a shell and then photographed what can be seen. This way the screen (in this case the shell) can become part of the new picture. With careful masking more than one image can be blended, when more than one projector is used. So with two or more projectors it is possible to blend parts of different images, but it was also easily possible to mix black and white images with colour and even negative images with transparencies.
He discovered these techniques in the mid 1960’s, well before computers were available for photographers; it all began when he noticed how a picture looked that he had projected (before putting up the screen) so that this image appeared partially on the wallpaper and the curtains. He then started moving the projector around and focused the image on to various different items in the room and soon decided it would be interesting to photograph some of the effects he could see. So began a fascinating way of creating amazing photographs. Kodak staged some major one-man exhibitions of Cohen's photographs in both New York and London because they could not believe what he achieved on their transparency film.
John Cohen won the highest international photographic art award 'The London Salon Trophy' in 1967 for a transparency of a portrait of the profile of a girl, blended with a negative of a tulip, all achieved as a transparency. Titled 'Spirit of Spring' this picture and many other award winning photographs can all be seen on his web pages at: - http://www.jncohen.net (Also his 'painting with light' techniques are more fully explained, with pictures, in his article ‘The Magic Lantern’ that can also be found at his web site).
Over 20 One-Man Exhibitions have been held 2 in New York, 4 in London, The Edinburgh Festival and many other UK & USA Cities. Favourable reviews and comments have been received from; Cecil Beaton C.B.E., Sir William Russell Flint R.A., Lady Clementine Spencer-Churchill, 'The Times' and 'Arts Review' to name a few!
See also
References
- ^ ""Pablo Picasso" by Gjon Mili". VP Gallery. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ^ Greenspun, Philip (2007). "Studio Photography". Photo.net. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
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