Light Painting Photography

For the promotion and progression of Light Painting Art and Artist.

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Patrick Rochon and Aurora Crowley on PBS

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This was shot last June while I was in New York for the workshop with Aurora Crowley.
Light Painting has been growing significantly for the last decade, now PBS a main stream media channel is talking about our unique form of art. This is an honor and a victory vor all the light painters out there.
Thank’s to the film crew, PBS the Public Broadcasting Service and all it’s viewers.

Words By: Patrick Rochon

Direct link to the PBS Episode:
http://www.pbs.org/arts/gallery/off-book-episode-1-lightpainting/off-book-episode-1-lightpainting/

Youtube Link: http://youtu.be/J-ow6VXYr50

Workshop links: http://www.patrickrochon.com/archives/category/workshop

 

Dennis Calvert Interview, Arch/Matheos Album Cover

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Light painting artist Dennis Calvert quit his “day job” a short time ago to follow his dream of being a full time photographer and things have been falling right into place. Dennis recently scored an album cover with the band Arch/Matheos. I caught up with Dennis to ask him about his light painting cover shot.


LPP ∇ You quit your “day job” not too long ago to follow your dream, it looks like it is working out for you how have things been going?

DC ∇ Pretty good. I’m doing wedding photography right now to help cover those pesky living expenses. It took a while to get used to not going into the office every morning, but it feels damn good : )
Wedding photography isn’t quite a glamorous as being a full time light painter, but who knows what’s in the future

LPP ∇ We all have to eat…
How is the Light Painting side of it going? I saw that you landed an album cover for ARCH/MATHEOS, tell me a little bit about that..

DC ∇ shit, one sec. I gotta check dinner!

LPP ∇ haha

DC ∇ k… think we can edit that out? Back to the album stuff.

LPP ∇ No editing…its SOOI (Straight out of interview)

DC ∇ I’ve been doing this “fire man” technique for a while, I created a series I called “SHC” (spontaneous human combustion). Jim Matheos came across some of the work and got in touch. He said the concept was a perfect fit for a new album he was recording with Fates Warning original front man, John Arch.

LPP ∇ How did he find your work?

DC ∇ The internet is a magical thing :):)

LPP ∇ Did they pick one of the images you had already shot or did you shoot one specifically for the album cover?

DC ∇ It was all work I had already created. One image that really grabbed their attention was one I almost didn’t even make.
“Fourth Dimensional Vision”

LPP ∇ What do you mean you almost didn’t make it? Weather, camera trouble, over the shoot that night?

DC ∇ The night I was shooting it, I was out by myself in a cattle field in a pretty rural area.

LPP ∇ and… you got freaked out or something?

DC ∇ I was already set up and had done a test shot. Then I heard a pack of coyotes really close to me just at the edge of the woods. It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I started to pack up and head out, but I thought screw it. I’m already set up and besides, I have a carbon fiber tripod.

LPP ∇ Yeah that would get you moving… Where did the concept for spontaneous human combustion come from is there something personal behind it?

DC ∇ I was playing around with silhouettes and realized you could use the human body as a stencil and fill it in with different light effects. I had already figured out you could make a pretty neat fire effect with cheap electric glow sticks and it was a perfect fit.
I grew up reading comic books.
Lots of comic books. I was the kid who failed PE and sat in the corner reading comics.

LPP ∇ Its a really awesome series…Back to the band is it your style of music?

DC ∇ Big time. In high school and college I played in a prog rock / metal band. I grew up loving this type of music.

LPP ∇ That’s so perfect… Where are they going to be using the image, is it just one or did they select a few? Are they going on promo stuff and ads? Any idea how many are going to be printed?

DC ∇ They licensed four images from my personal work. All four are being used for art on the album and some promo material. One was used for a t-shirt design. The album is being released internationally.

DC ∇ These are the four shots

LPP ∇ didnt get em?

DC ∇ hey man… not sure if something going wrong on my side.
shit got crazy when I pasted those links.

LPP ∇ No worries, one final question what is next for your light painting photography anything else in the works?

DC ∇ I’m working no a few things right now. But if I told you, I would have to blind you with the brightest lights that I have :):)

LPP ∇ Congratulations again on the album cover and thanks for taking the time to answer some questions.

DC ∇ Thank you!

Check out the band HERE
See more of Dennis HERE

Michael Ross Interview, The Digital Light Wand

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Michael Ross, a.k.a. TxPilot is a light painter and self proclaimed geek, nerd, and techie. He has a passion for creating new light painting tools. Michael is the creator of The Digital Light Wand, it is a programable LED light strip that can create just about any design a light painter can think of. Michael recently uploaded a lengthy and detailed tutorial showing other light painters how to create his greatest invention to date. Below is a interview I did with Michael about this insane light painting tool.

LPP ∇ First give me a little of your back ground how long have you been light painting?

MR ∇ I got started in Light Painting about 2 years ago. The typical long exposures with Sparklers on the 4th of July story. I really got deep into it when I ran across a light painting by TigTab on Flickr. It just blew me away and I had to learn more.

LPP ∇ We have all been there…lol, when did you get into photography?

MR ∇ I have been into photography on an small scale all of my life, but at the start of 2009 I made a decision to try to learn to master it.

LPP ∇ So I saw your massive tutorial recently about how to make the digital light wand, when did you first create this tool?

MR ∇ I had the idea of creating it when I first started to get into light painting. But it was around October of 2009 that I ran across the addressable light strip and I knew I would be able to make it work with that. I experimented with the electronics for a few months and finally had a break through with it in December of 2009.

LPP ∇ Can you explain a little bit about what it is and how it works?

MR ∇ Without getting into the technical details. The light strip is an RGB LED strip that will take software commands. Each LED can be controlled separately for the color mix and on and off state. I used the Arduino Mega Microcontroller board to connect to the strip to send the commands to it to control the colors and on and off sequencing. I then created a spreadsheet program that I use to “visualize” the image that I want the light strip to make and it generates the software code needed to make it happen. Once the software is downloaded to the microcontroller and power is turned on, the strip will play the sequence.

LPP ∇ Holy s@#!, so are you an electrical engineer, mad scientist, of just really smart?

MR ∇ Ha! I have been called a “Mad Scientist” on more than one occasion! I do have a background in electronics as I was an Avionics Tech in the Navy. My Grandfather and Father also were into electronics heavily.

LPP ∇ What inspired the original idea? Were you trying to accomplish a specific image or just exploring the possibilities of light painting? With your original concept I mean…

MR ∇ I have been known to think outside that is outside the box a lot. I am constantly thinking of new ideas and tools that will work with Light Painting and at this point I have a list of ideas so long it will take a lifetime to complete them all! Ha. The original idea was to be able to create a tool that I can use to light paint the Mona Lisa in the air! I haven’t reached that goal yet but I will!

LPP ∇ WOW I really like where your headed with this idea! That takes me to my next question, The tool looks like it can do just about anything what are the limitations of the Digital Light Wand?

MR ∇ There are several things that I would like to improve with this tool, the two major limitations are the color range for each LED and the “Resolution” or basically how far apart the LEDS are from each other. I already have version 2 AND 3 designed in my head and the parts have been sitting under my desk at home now for a year. Just have not had the time to work on them yet.

LPP ∇ Cant wait to see what you can come up with in the next version of this little monster…. Recently flickr has given some exposure to a guy that goes by the name mechatronics for his work with something similar have you seen his images?

MR ∇ Yes, I have seen his images and the tool he created. One of my employees told me about it the day he made his announcement on Reddit.

LPP ∇ Some folks in the LP community feel like maybe he ripped your idea and didn’t give you the credit you rightfully deserve for being the originator of this idea, whats your take?

MR ∇ I don’t really feel that way. He basically had the same vision I did and created a tool that is similar but different in a lot of ways. When he made his announcement, I guess some others must have steered him my direction. He contacted me via email and we are talking about combining our efforts and creating a single tool that will give everyone the best of both worlds! Both of the designs have advantages that the other does not have.

LPP ∇ Thats good to hear…. It is awesome that you made the tutorial for everyone to try to create their own but for those of us who will electrocute ourselves do you plan on making any for SALE?

MR ∇ I don’t know if I will market them. My goal with the tutorial was to try to make it as detailed and easy to follow that anyone with some basic DIY skills could build one. I will keep working towards that and by releasing the way I did, I am really hoping that some others will take it and add to it to make it even easier to build and use. At this point I am looking forward to moving on to some other projects for Light painting that I think will even put this one to shame!

Oh… and no one should worry about being electrocuted with this. There is no way any part of this tool could hurt anyone. Unless you were hit by it that is!

LPP ∇ Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions we are all looking forward to seeing your next invention!

MR ∇ No problem at all. It was my pleasure.

To view the entire Digital Light Wand tutorial visit Michael’s website HERE

July Light Painting Contest

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The theme of the light painting photography contest for the month of July is to create a light drawing incorporating a 3D object. It can be a cube, pyramid, an impossible triangle (super bonus points for that one) or anything that is three dimensional. Get 3D and submit your images to contest@lightpaintingphotography.com by the 21th of the month to win your LPP prize pack! Please remember to follow the THEME of the contest and resize your images to 600 pixels on the longest side and 72 dpi. Click here to see the rules of the contest and how your images will be judged!

P.S. COAST is sponsoring the contest so you have a pretty sick prize pack to win.

 

 

Cubism #1 by Light Painting Artist Jason D. Page

Cubism #1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its Official.

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Light Painting Master Partick Rochon officially declares it and I agree what are your thoughts?

I now declare Light Painting as form of art on its own.
It is the art of moving light and mixture painting and photography.
This art is a new way to express and explore the inner and the unseen. From now on, it is a form of art here, for all of us to enjoy.
Light Painting is now born.

Patrick Rochon, Light Painter.
Montreal, June 28, 2011


Okinawa Light Painting Workshop

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Light painting artist Trevor Williams will be holding a light painting workshop in Okinawa Japan, July 8th and 9th. Here is what Trevor says about the event…

I am extremely pleased to announce I will be hosting a light painting and night photography workshop in Okinawa, Japan.
Come join me for two nights of fun and photography. I would like to introduce the magic of light painting and night photography. The first night we will be covering long exposure and night photography essentials. Learn how to make an image rather than take an image. Use time and light to build up your picture from a black canvas in to exactly what you envisioned.
You’ll then be prepared for the second night which will focus on light painting and other creative techniques. I will reveal some of my secrets and show you step by step how to create amazing light paintings. You’ll also learn how to make custom tools and use them creatively.
Light painting and night photography has a certain magic about it. When the shutter closes you will find your self running back to the camera to see what you have captured. Friends and family will be stunned by the images you’ve been able to create. After the weekend you’ll have the knowledge and skills to go out and start painting the night with light.
The course is being organized by Okinawa photographer/write Chris Willson. I ripped this from his blog. You can read all the details over there by clicking here.

Dates: The two night course is scheduled to take place on the evenings of July 8th and 9th. July 10th is a backup day in case of rain on both the 8th and 9th. In the event of a typhoon leading to a base lockdown the course will be rescheduled. The course will take place in central Okinawa (Yomitan / Uruma City).

Booking: The course is limited to 12 students. To reserve a place send an email to chris@travel67.com (please write WORKSHOP RESERVATION on the subject line) A 50 dollar deposit is required to book a place on the course. I’ll send a paypal request for the deposit to those who are booking the course.

Requirements: At a minimum you’ll need a DSLR and a tripod. We’d highly recommend a cable release or a remote also. If you have a hotshoe flash and or flashlights bring these along also.

You’ll get the most out of the course if you already confident manually selecting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. If you’re new to photography and not sure about this, I’ll be running Photography 101 workshops on the weekends of June 25&26 and July 2&3.