PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

I really, really like this!! Thanks for sharing your steps in creating it! Our small local camera club is planning to experiment with light painting at our meeting tomorrow night. You've given me another idea to share at the meeting. As I'm writing this, I can't see your post to know how many seconds you painted this with light. I'm thinking you said you used a 10 second exposure; I'll need to remember that. Did you use a narrow beam of light to paint this? I've never tried doing this, but I'm really looking forward to playing!

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Thank you Patty. You can set the exposure for anything you want. On one set I had it at 15 sec. I shot in an almost totally dark room that made it hard to find my trigger on the camera. (Should have pulled out my remote trigger). Anyway I had my small flashlight, some call it a torch, in my right hand and I used it to find the camera trigger then hit it. I then washed the light over the area for about 4 sweeps keeping it moving then turned the light away, then a couple of seconds later you would hear the camera close the shutter. It will take some trial and error to get it right and the distance from you object. This picture took about 5 shots that were blended using photoshop. The camera is only capturing the image as you have the light on it, the rest of the time its open won't affect the picture. Yes I do use a narrow beam of light. Yours might be too bright. My flashlight has 3 output levels, yours might not. I use a cheep shower curtain for a defuser, cut a piece fold it over and cover the flashlight attach with rubber band that will soften the beam. Tissue paper might work too.

You might look on YouTube for some visual aids before you have your next club meeting.
Happy shooting,
Jim

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Thank you so much for commenting. When I first saw the pitcher I was thinking it should make a warm antique picture. Wasn't sure if I needed 2 objects or not but worked out kind of nicely.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I try not to get the cabin fever, always looking for something that I hope will make an interesting picture.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Excellent work there Jim. I did a light painting like this once of pool balls on my pool table, and I also used two flashlights, one with 3 settings and a broad light pattern and one more of a spot light.

I set my timer on the camera, then hit the trigger, then turned out the lights, waiting to hear the lens open.

It was neat you could walk around in the picture w/o the lights on and were invisible to the camera. I used 15 seconds as well, doesn't really matter as long as you have plenty of time to do your thing. My first try turned out great. Few months later, with a different and better camera not so much. I think the first time I thought about it a bit, second time I *thought* I knew what I was doing...

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

BigDaddy

You are so right on when you said, "My first try turned out great. Few months later... ????????
Me too 🤔

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Excellent result!!

SoHillGuy Loc: Washington

Right to the left of the pitcher, there appears to be something that looks like writing etched into the background which draws my attention. Otherwise, the composition has lots of merits.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

There might be. When I was PP full size I think I saw a face. I removed it.😏

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Looking great Jim..

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Nicely done!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I like the results very much. It's very reminiscent of some of the almost photo-realistic still life paintings done by the great masters of centuries past.

PattyW60 Loc: Northwest Illinois

Thank you, Jim! Good idea on using the defuser! I don't have a fancy flashlight with different levels of output, so that's a good tip! I will also work on something to create a narrow beam of light, so I can control it better. Thanks for the tips, Jim! I really appreciate it!
Patty

NikonGal Loc: Central Oregon

Really enjoyed your image. I like how you handled the lighting and the monochromatic tone/color. Great idea for the backgrround. Bev

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I've seen some people make a small opening by using duck tape. Not sure how hard it would be but might give it a try. I have used black paper and rolled it to make the smaller opening.