From time to time we come across a light painting and just stare it wondering how did they do that?!?! Break Down is a series if which I only ask the artist one question “How the F@#! did you make this” its up to the artist to tell as little or as much as they want. Recently Light Painting Photographer James De Luna posted this colorful, magical, stellar, interesting, glorious, luminous and radiant image called “Spectral Super Model” . My mind was blown by this amazing creation so I asked for a “Light Painting Break Down”.
LPP ∇ James, Spectral Super Model is pretty, How the F@#! did you make this?
JL ∇ Well first things first when working with models… make sure they are warm, comfortable and in a good mood, their hair and makeup done nicely etc… oh hang on mine is plastic …
I adjusted the wig.
For this shot I wanted to have the lens above the model so I actually put the tripod on top of 3 large containers.
The next step was to do the background, so I set my focus to the model, aperture to f8 and turned out the lights (I have a room where complete darkness can be achieved) Waving my tool behind the model upwards and downwards I made a silhouette of the mannequin.
Next I removed the wig and stuffed the first el wire up my sleeve. The way I do these is by holding the wire against the model as it flashes on fast mode and on slow mode for the hair. You literally wrap it around the body just once and move the wire, trying to get the coverage even.
Finally I repeated in the two other colours. That’s really all there is to it … but in this case it took 29 minutes, so you certainly need a little patience
GEAR USED:
Sony a6000
Zenitar 16mm lens
Home made RGB led tool
EL wires in pink green and blue
Tripod
Model (A mannequin)
Alex says
Moderator, its not spam. Amazing Light Art Photography by Hannu Huhtamo – http://wowart.xyz/light-art-photography-by-hannu-huhtamo/
dan chick says
Thanks for sharing! When you say “You literally wrap it around the body just once and move the wire” it looks like you are slowly moving the wire, then stopping, then repeating. Yes Otherwise I wouldn’t expect the lines to be so crisp. This would also explain the 29 minute aspect 🙂 If so, how long is each pause?
James de Luna says
its flashing not being turned off for each line… the time taken is to avoid knocking the mannequin in the dark, moving to other body parts and trying to keep most of the wire up my sleeve 🙂
Christina Salinas says
Glad you did not have a moving model…..;-)
James de Luna says
Lol yes that would be difficult
Paul says
Nice break down of your process on this cool photo, thumbs up.
James de Luna says
Thanks 🙂