Light Painting

Info on how I created the image Silver Phoenix :-

The basic principle of digital photography is 'the process of recording the light reflected off the objects or scene via the cameras sensor, and Light painting works in exactly the same way by recording the light source from a torch / illuminated object utilising a long exposure.

To create the image Silver Phoenix, the camera was set up outside in the dark, in manual mode as follows; ISO 100 (to minimise, avoid any digital noise) F stop f/8, and an exposure time of 4 seconds (although these settings can be increased or decreased to suit the desired effects you are after).

An LED torch was then swung around in the dark in front of the lens by my son (taking care not to shine it upon himself or adjacent objects) and each swing or successive stroke of the torch is accordingly recorded for the duration of each take, showing brighter when the light is directed at the lens.

Effectively, I ended up selecting two, of about 15 photographs, from simple streaks, to bundles of figures in 8s, circular configurations and ovals, With the notable 3 dimensional effect arising from the direction in which the torch pointed, and the physical shape of the beam of light provided by the three LED bulbs (set in a single row) producing the thick and thin effect, like an italic nib.

Choosing the 'globe' effect as a starting image, a colour balance adjustment was made to emphasise the Blue (and as with any post processing you can select small areas to tweak, introduce any effects you desire). A new layer was then opened, and the Phoenix element (created from a figure of 8 motion) was then pasted in, resized and positioned to suit the composition.

The combinations and creations are limitless - have fun.