Light Painting Photography Challenge
Light painting is a photographic technique in which exposures are made by moving a hand-held light source while taking a long exposure photograph, either to illuminate a subject or to shine a point of light directly at the camera, or by moving the camera itself during exposure.
By using time as a tool, the controled moves of the light sources and/or the camera during the exposure allow to create an alternative reality, which exists only in the final image recorded by the camera.
Two common techniques of Light Painting are:
- Light Drawing / Light Graff / Light Writing
The light sources and their controlled moves are visible from the camera and the drawing created with the light sources is recorded by the camera.
- Light Painting
The light is used to selectively paint surfaces and textures. The light source is not visible from the camera, it’s the projection of the lights on the surfaces which is recorded.
If you are ready to test your creativity and exploration of LIGHT, continue on now
This challenge will require significant research and investigation as a major component of your process. While skill will allow for success, your process and planning of techniques, tools, and creativity will ultimately determine your success.
Utilize the resources below AND do investigation of your own. Application of light painting in creative compositions varies far beyond a long exposure of light.
Light Painting Galleries3rd Party Examples Student Examples coming soon
Apply the design process while clearly and thoroughly documenting your notes and plans on a new Project Page. Read the entire Quest and understand the expectation and requirements before beginning. It’s part of the first stage of the design process.
Create your new project page titled Light Painting. Now copy and paste the following as you will need to complete and correctly document these 7 steps on the your design process:
- Understand the Problem
- Research and Investigate
- Generate Possible Solutions
- Select AND DEVELOP Best Solution
- Model and Prototype (Create)
- Test and Evaluate
- Produce
- Complete Design Process documented on a Project Page
- Include Both Final Prints with an artist statement at the Top of your Project page
- 30-100 exploratory images showing experimentation of your tools and techniques for light painting.
- you must show attempts of at least two differing techniques
- This will be submitted as a proofsheet and some should accompany your creation stage of your process
- 2 Different final Compositions using Lightpainting techniques
- Compositions may be the same or different techniques
- Compositions but be different compositions!
- Select one photos for 12 x 18 print and presentation
- Submit completed Project Page with 2 final images posted at the TOP of your post
Design Process STAGE 1: UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM
Consider what the goal is for this project?
- What is Light Painting?
- Why do photographers use lighting painting
- What is your assignment requirements?
Design Process STAGE 2: Research, Investigate and Inspire
Always record every resource either as a cited source or a linked resource with documentation on your project page.
Research Light Painting techniques and Tools. Find inspiration in NEW resources and photographers
- Find at least two online resources to research
- How do you do it?
- What tools can you use?
- Describes the styles or effects that photographers have created
- Describe 2-3 different trechniques of light painting
- LOOK UP DIY (do it yourself) techniques or equipment and note what you need to find or get to execute or make them.
Top Notch resources I encourage you to check out
- What have you found??
- Light painting 101 from B&H
- Creating and using a Light Painting tube
- Light Painting tools you can make
- Digital Photo School Articles on Lightpainting
- 10 Light painting photographers
Design Process STAGE 3: Generate Possible Design Solutions
Brainstorm ideas – Show your brainstorming as idea webs, clouds, lists, found imagery, sketches.
- Brainstorm – subject matter
- Brainstorm – environments
- Brainstorm – compositions
- Brainstorm – concept/meaning/purpose
- Tools to experiment with?
Create a PHOTO GRID of found images that inspire some techniques you might like to try. If possible list the photographers that made them.
Design Process STAGE 4: Select and Develop Best Solution
Select the best solution
- notate why you have chosen it
- Finalize a sketch of best solution
- create a plan for time place and technical goals
- details on the technique
- When
- Where
- How
- What is your visual goal
Design Process STAGE 5: Model and Prototype (Create)
Begin production of your design
- SHOOT!
- Upload, Evaluate, and Develop
- Do you need to reshoot any images
- Take screenshots of you library showing the variety of images you tried out even if they didnt work out.
- Explore digital development style
- Consider asking Coulson for a brief In-Progress Critique
- Create Virtual Copies
- Use screenshots to show a varient of development styles you are exploring
Design Process STAGE 6: Test and Evaluate
Self-reflect on your design
- Reflect on how they have turned out
- Reshoot? See the Captain if you think an Extension would benefit you.
- How could you take it further or improve it?
- Document at least one other photographers suggestions that extend beyond “it looks good”
- Refine or develop elements of the design that can be improved
Design Process STAGE 7: Produce
Turn in and the final Images
- Turn file into the Captain’s server for printing
- Finalize Project Page with a full self-reflection
- successes
- struggles
- improvements
- what you learned
- Turn in a self-evaluation sheet to the Captain
COMPLETE: You need a fully finished project page including all scanned sketchbook work with captions. Finally Paste the URL to your published project page below and you may then click complete.
Light Painting Photography Challenge - Stage 2
Submit a URL
Great Work Visitor.
Be Proud.
Go hang the finished piece on the Critique wall at the front of the classroom. Other’s need to see what you have accomplished.
MASTERY: To earn your mastery
- Get your photos printed and matted or mounted (If its larger than 8.5 x 11 it will need to be matted or spray mounted. ask the Captain)
Rock ON!!!
Here is some additional bonus loot if you get your artwork displayed in the hall. Don’t forget to come back and claim it when you see on display!
- Have it selected for display in the hall