Light Painting Tutorials | Light Painting Photography

Camera Rotation Photography Tutorial

February 16, 2021 by Jason D. Page 1 Comment

In this tutorial video I talk all about Camera Rotation Photography. Camera Rotation is a form of Kinetic Light Painting in that the lights in the scene stay stationary and the camera is what moves to create the color and design within the frame. The Camera Rotation Tool that I use in this video is a 360º Panoramic Tripod Gimbal and it is as simple as it gets when it comes to a CRT. As with all light painting the possibilities are limitless, I hope you enjoy the video.

Here are the links to what I used if you want to build your own Camera Rotation Tool:
Gimbal: https://amzn.to/2LZFTnO
Hot Shoe Phone Holder: https://amzn.to/3u3Axsz
Tripod: https://amzn.to/37iDzj4

Want to learn more about Camera Rotation Photography check out this tutorial from some of the best and also this great Facebook Group on Camera Rotation Photography!

Rotating Sunset to Create Pyramids In The Sky

February 5, 2021 by Jason D. Page

In this Light Painting Photography Tutorial I show how to create Pyramids In The Sky using only the ambient light from the setting sun and camera movement. This is a different and unique way to photograph a sunset. The images you see in this video are not edited or layered they are created in real time and captured to the camera in a single exposure! By rotating the camera on a camera rotation tool along with the technique of lens capping these images are built in camera. This is a form of Kinetic Light Painting, in that the camera moving is what creates the design within the image instead of the lights moving. Technically the light from the sun is moving but we are just gonna call it Kinetic Light Painting. Pyramids in the Sky is just scratching the surface with what is possible with this form of Light Painting Photography, if you would like to learn more about this form of Kinetic Light Painting Photography and specifically Camera Rotation Photography please check out this tutorial here: https://lightpaintingphotography.com/light-painting-tutorials/camera-rotation-light-painting-tutorial/

Important tips/steps to keep in mind:
1. Looks for a high location with a clean horizon without any buildings or lights.
2. Wait for the sun to go down, that is when the best colors appear in the sky to photograph.
3. Find you center point then rotate your camera to about the 60º mark.
4. Start your exposure, remove your lens cap then quickly replace it.
5. Rotate your camera about 20º and repeat the process until you have rotated your camera about 120º
6. Stop your exposure and see the Pyramid you created!

In the article linked above there are some examples of Camera Rotation Tools but if you want to skip the read and just get to the point the 360 Degree Panoramic Gimbal Tripod Head is the best off the shelf solution for a camera rotation tool that I know of: https://amzn.to/3a7lxAK

You will also want a hot shoe phone holder to check your angle using a level app: https://amzn.to/3caTJOJ

The Exploding Orb Light Painting Tutorial

January 25, 2021 by Jason D. Page

This light painting video is going to be a new format for some of the Light Painting Tutorials on the YouTube channel that you will see on this channel going forward, filming them in this way will allow me to create a lot more work while also filming more light painting tutorials with this voice over format. If you have not subscribed yet what are you waiting for ya silly goose, all you have to do is CLICK HERE then click on the Red subscribe Button. I will still be making more of the traditional light painting tutorials and light painting volts but this is something new and I am really curious to know what you think of it so if you have read this far please leave a comment down below and let me know what you think of it!

Light Painting United We Stand

January 19, 2021 by Jason D. Page

We are going to be uploading a lot more content to the Light Painting Photography YouTube channel this year so if you are not Subscribed yet please head over to the YouTube channel and click that little red subscribe button. In this Light Painting Video I show how I created the above image titled “United We Stand” For this image I used tools from Light Painting Brushes and Flashlights from Light Excursion. The settings were ISO100, F8, and the total exposure time was 522 seconds. Enjoy.

Patrick Rochon’s 8 hour Light Painting Workshop for FREE!

December 18, 2020 by Jason D. Page

Light Painting Workshop by Patrick Rochon

Back in 2013 Light Painting Photographer Patrick Rochon recorded an in depth 2 day workshop for the Educational website Learnster. Unfortunately the the Learnster team had to close up shop but their closure gave Patrick the ability to release his workshop for FREE. Patrick has allowed me to share all the videos with the Light Painting Photography family here on the website! Patrick’s Light Painting work is amazing and inspiring, especially inspired by his Light Painting Portraits which you will learn about in this series of videos! If you can take the time to watch through these tutorials I am positive you will receive some valuable knowledge from them! I have placed all the videos from the tutorial series with a brief description down below for you to check out! Enjoy!

01 – INTRO
In the first segment, Patrick takes time to introduce himself and show some amazing examples from his personal portfolio to inspire us. He also talks about how he got into light painting and shares some of his experiences living and working around the world.

02 – TOOLS
During this segment, Patrick talks about the basic techniques and camera settings required for capturing your work. He also shares with us a large selection of lights he uses and how he modifies and adjusts them to create stunning and unique textures and effects ranging from fire to water.

03 – STUDIO
In this segment, Patrick explains how to set up your studio, how dark it needs to be, and most importantly – how to work effectively and efficiently in the dark. He shares his tips and tricks for placement of tools, how to use red lights as markers, and how to tape out your working area so you know when you are in and out of the frame.

04 – DEMO
This segment is a live demonstration in the dark of all the different tools/light that he brought with him. He also shows us how he moves with the lights and how to create interesting patterns using movement, speed, and space.

05 – JAM
Patrick truly believes that anyone can light paint, all you need are some lights, a camera with a manual setting, a long exposure, and a dark space and away you go. He proved this by selecting a couple of members of our crew for a live impromptu demonstration and the results are pretty impressive considering they have never done anything like this before.

06 – REVIEW
During the first segment of day two, Patrick takes some time to share some online resources. He also shares some examples of portraits that he has done and talks about how he gets prepared to shoot a portrait. He also reviews some of the basics including the camera settings from the previous day.

07 – BASIC
For this segment, Patrick explains how he prepares the model for working in the dark. He also explains eye sensitivity and how to deal with models that have sensitive eyes. He then teaches how to light the models face first using different styles of light and why it is important that this step is done first and only once.

08 – EFFECTS
Building upon the information in the previous segment, Patrick now moves into the more creative background lighting effects. He demonstrates different lights and how to create mood and texture in the space around the model. The end results are absolutely stunning, all of the images you see are straight out of the camera without any photoshop or alterations.

09 – AIRBRUSH
During the final segment with a live model, Patrick continues to build and teach additional lighting techniques that he used when shooting portraits. He focuses mainly on soft airbrush-like lighting on the model’s face then continues to add drama in the background with more effects and lights.

10 – POST
Patrick goes to great lengths to get remarkable images straight out of the camera but understands that sometimes some post-production might be required. During this segment, he takes one of the images from the workshop and demonstrates some of his favorite post-production tools and tricks.

11 – Q&A
At the end of the workshop, Patrick sat down with Rob Lawrence of Learnster to reflect on his time here and to answer some questions from the audience.

Drone Light Painting Tutorial by Russell Klimas

December 9, 2020 by Jason D. Page

Light Painting Photographer Russell Klimas has been pushing the limits of Drone Light Painting for a while now. He creates complex Light Painted shapes in the sky and even takes it a step further by using forced perspective, animating 3D light paintings and he has even created a light painted horse chasing the moon across the sky!

Last month Russell released an in depth Drone Light Painting Tutorial on his Youtube channel, and even though I am subscribed to his channel and have my notifications on (which you should be too) I still somehow missed it, but that’s besides the point… Thankfully I have finally seen this awesome tutorial and I wanted to share it with the Light Painting Photography Family! Check out the tutorial video below! Russell has also created a Facebook group that is dedicated to learning and sharing everything Drone Light Painting so if you want to learn more be sure to check that out here!

If you have not seen it here is the First Tutorial Russell refers to in the above video:

Faberge Orb Light Painting Tutorial

November 20, 2020 by Jason D. Page

In this light painting photography tutorial I show how to light paint a shape I like to call the Faberge Orb! These light painted orbs are really easy to create all you need to do is turn in a circle while moving your arm in a back and forth motion. The resulting images from this simple Light Painting technique look more complicated than the technique itself leaving you with some really interesting images. The more random you make the movements the more interesting the orbs become. It you add in different colors and textures you can get some really cool looking Faberge Orbs! I used tools from Light Painting Brushes in this tutorial. Enjoy!

How To Light Paint A Skull – Light Painting Photography Tutorial

October 28, 2020 by Jason D. Page

In this Light Painting Photography Tutorial I show you how to create a dramatic fiery effect using the Black Fiber Optic from Light Painting Brushes. Pairing this fiery effect with a cheap plastic skull can make for some pretty cool images especially with Halloween just around the corner! If you are checking out this video just before or after Halloween its a great time to head over to your local shop and pick up some Halloween decoration on sale, they make great props for Light Painting! Enjoy.

Light Painting Brushes Starter Kits Introduction

October 26, 2020 by Jason D. Page

I am guessing that most of the regular readers of Light Painting Photography are already going to know most of the information contained in this video tutorial introducing the Light Painting Brushes Starter Kits but in case you are new to Light Painting or are unfamiliar with the Light Painting Brushes system here is a video that I recently uploaded showing how the Light Painting Tools in the Light Painting Brushes Starter Kits works and also showing some example images of the types of Light Paintings you can create using the tools in each of the kits. If you already know all the info in these videos maybe you will find some inspiration in the images! Enjoy.

Light Painting Tutorial How To Light Paint an Interstellar Traveler

August 12, 2020 by Jason D. Page

In this episode of the ongoing series of Light Painting Photography Tutorials I show you How To Light Paint an Interstellar Traveler using Light Painting Tools from Light Painting Brushes. This light painting series is created to hopefully spark your imagination and get you thinking about different Light Painting Ideas. The possibilities and worlds that can be created with light through the art of Light Painting are truly endless and I really hope that this tutorial and some of the other videos on this channel help to inspire you and get your creativity flowing!

Here are links to the previous two light painting videos that I referenced in this tutorial:

Light Painting with a Kaleidoscope: https://youtu.be/BWN-T23oxco
Light Painting with Cotton: https://youtu.be/2u7xvuYXzto

The Light Painting Tools that I use in this video are from:
https://lightpaintingbrushes.com