Light Painting

Light painting is a creative form of low-light photography where you move a light source or the camera during a long exposure to “draw” with light. The result is glowing trails or illuminated subjects against a dark background. It works best at night or in very dark environments. You’ll need a camera with manual controls (especially Bulb mode for long shutter times)​digital-photography-school.com, plus a sturdy tripod and a shutter release (cable or remote) to avoid camera shake​digital-photography-school.com​digital-photography-school.com. Choose light sources such as LED flashlights, glow sticks, laser pointers or even your smartphone screen (an app like ColorScreen can turn your phone into a colored light brush​therunngun.com). In practice, you set a low ISO (to reduce noise) and a small to medium aperture, then open the shutter for 5–30 seconds (or longer) while “painting” with your light. Remember to focus before starting or use manual focus, since the scene may be too dark for autofocus.

• Gear & Settings: Use a DSLR or mirrorless camera (or even some smartphones) with manual/Bulb mode​digital-photography-school.com. Mount it on a tripod for stability​digital-photography-school.com. Attach any torch, LED bar, or light wand as your paintbrush. Switch to manual focus and Bulb shutter; typically ISO 100-400 and aperture around f/8–f/11 to balance depth of field and light intake.

• Basic Steps: Frame your scene and focus. Open the shutter (with remote or timer). Wave your light source through the frame – e.g. draw shapes, write words, or illuminate parts of the scene. You can also have a person hold a light or flash a strobe briefly to “freeze” them. Close the shutter, check the shot, and adjust. Take several tries – each movement yields a different pattern.

• Common Mistakes: Forgetting the tripod (handshake blur), or using too short an exposure (light trails will be faint). Overexposing by keeping the shutter open too long or using too bright a light can wash out the image. Forgetting to cover the lens (using a black frame “clean slate” shot) can leave unwanted glow. Also be careful not to shine the light directly at the lens unless you want a flare.

Pro Tip: Experiment with colored light or gels. For example, use your phone’s screen (with a color-changing app) as a light panel to paint vivid hues​therunngun.com. You can also try swapping different light sources between exposures or using multiple lights at once. Practice by moving smoothly and deliberately – adding more overlap and complexity over time to create richer patterns. Finally, if you want the subject to appear frozen, briefly illuminate them with a flash mid-exposure while the light trails continue around them. This combines painting with a “spark” of flash for a professional effect.

Sources: Techniques and gear are adapted from photography guides​digital-photography-school.com​therunngun.com, which emphasize using manual settings, tripod, and creative light movement for successful light painting.