Light Painting Photography

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Janne Parviainen – The Dawn

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Light Painting Janne Parviainen and Hannu Huhtamo 01

Janne Parviainen continues to blow my mind. Check out this new imagery and video in collaboration with Hannu Huhtamo, one word WOW!


An improvised stop motion animation journey into a dream about making art. Hundred hours of work, sleepless nights, marveling the moon, enjoying the night wind and seeing the sunrise over the ocean went into this and I enjoyed every second of it! All the effects in the video are done manually with light + long exposure and with forced perspective drawing.

See more at www.jannepaint.com!

Music:
vastaräk feat. Bentcousin – Everybody Loves The Weekend
vastaräk – Aria

Light flower in the third photograph: Hannu Huhtamo.
Model: Jenni Granqvist
Light painting video effect: Hannu Huhtamo.
Woodworking: Lassi Saarinen.
Technical assistance: Ville Olaskari.

Light tools:
Ville Olaskari
Will Wildmot
www.lightpaintingbrushes.com
www.herramientaslightpainting.com
www.olightworld.com

Night Photography and Light Painting Finding Your Way In The Dark. Lance Keimig Interview

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Lance Keimig Night Photography
Accomplished night photographer and educator Lance Keimig has just released the second edition of his book on Night Photography. This new edition is called “Night Photography and Light Painting – Finding Your Way In The Dark” and as you can probably guess from the title this edition has an expanded section on Light Painting! I wanted to catch up with Lance to find out we can expect to find on the inside, check out the interview below.

LPP ∇ Hey Lance congratulations on the completion of the revised version of “Finding Your Way In The Dark”, I know you have been working very hard on it for quite some time now. For those who may not know can you tell me a little more about yourself and your background with Night Photography.

LK ∇ I was introduced to photography by a girlfriend in 1985. The first roll of film that I ever shot was images of her in my bedroom with the lights turned off and waving flashlights around. Sometimes outsde the frame, sometimes in the frame and pointed back at the camera. After exhausting all of the photo classes at my local community college, I moved from Baltimore to SF to study night photography with Steve Harper at the Academy of Art College. Steve was a huge inspiration, and his guidance is the reason that I stuck with night photography all these years.

LPP ∇ I know that this new version will have some pretty detailed coverage on Light Painting, can you tell me a little more about what people will find inside?

LK ∇ First, I differentiate between light painting and light drawing. I consider light painting to be lighting the subject- a la Troy Paiva, with or without the colors, and light drawing to be creating a subject with light- the kind of work you do. There is a chapter on each, where the first edition only had a chapter on light painting. In the new light drawing chapter, I have presented the work of about a dozen of the best known and most original artists working in the field. Since I don’t do much of this kind of work myself, I thought it would be better to let the masters explain their work. Included artists are: David Gallard, Julien Breton, Dennis Calvert, Darren Pearson, Hannu Huhtamo, Ian Hobson, Janne Parviainen, Stu Jenks, Vincent Delesvaux, and of course yourself (Jason D. Page).

LPP ∇ Can you expand a little on the “how to” aspect of the book, what should the readers expect? 

LK ∇ The light painting and light drawing sections include descriptions of the techniques used to create the images in the book, but my goal is more to inspire creativity that to teach people how to copy what others have done. That said, there is much more technical info than in the LAPP book. I discuss camera settings and tools, with suggestions how to use them. The other chapters have very detailed technical information about astro-landscape photography, star trails, and urban night photography.

LPP ∇ Why did you decide to cover Light Painting so extensively in this version?

LK ∇ Well, it’s just become so popular in the last couple of years. My workshop students mostly have night photography down these days, and just want to work on their light painting techniques. It seemed like one of the things that needed more coverage from the first edition.

LPP ∇ Was there some catalyst that made you think that this was the time to do a book about Light Painting?

LK ∇ With the advent of Protomachines LED2, Pixelstick, Light Painting Brushes and the expanding presence of LightPaintingPhotography.com and LPWA, it just seemed time. I know that a lot of people found the images in the LAPP book amazing, but were frustrated by the lack of “how to” information in the book. Eric Curry’s book is great, but covers only a small niche market. Troy Paiva’s eBook is great too, but also pretty narrowly focused. There just wasn’t a good comprehensive book on the subject.

LPP ∇ Where do you see Light Painting 10 years from now?

LK ∇ Wow, that’s a tough question. I’m continually impressed by the amazing work that comes across my screen everyday. There are so many talented artists working today, and as light painting continues to become more mainstream, I’m sure that we will see more of it in the media. I hope though that there remains a dedicated group of purists- not necessarily SOOC only, but artists who work with light more than with the computer.

LPP ∇ What do you focus on most in your own night photography, whats your preferred subject matter?

LK ∇ Most of my recent work has been made in the American deserts, at the intersection of natural and man-made environments. There are lot’s of people photographing decay and ruination in the desert, but hopefully my style comes thru and the humor and juxtaposition in the images come through.

Light Painting George's Island

LPP ∇ You also do workshops can you tell me a little more about those?

LK ∇ I have been teaching night photography and light painting workshops longer than anyone else that I know of, except for Tim Baskerville of The Nocturnes. We started teaching together at Rayko Photo Center in 1998. Today, I lead 3 and 4 night workshops in National Parks and public lands, frequently in the west, as well as at various photo centers around the country. They have become more specialized too in recent years, focusing on urban night photography, full moon and light painting, or astro-landscape photography. I also lead photo tours featuring both day and night photography to places like Iceland, Cuba, Scotland, and Ireland. I’m working on a light painting workshop in Tuscany for 2016, and will also be doing a night photography and light painting workshop in Santa Fe next year, at the esteemed workshop program there.

LPP ∇ Where would you love to do a workshop that you have not?

LK ∇ Yosemite Valley, Joshua Tree. Both are forthcoming. Tuscany and Umbria- and I am working on a trip to Italy for the fall of 2016. We’ll be staying at a country villa, with a chef, and this will be a light painting workshop, as opposed to a tour, like most of my other international trips. The difference being that there will be classroom instruction and critiques as well as field sessions.

LPP ∇ You also have an online class in the works as well correct?

LK ∇ My night photography and light painting class just launched this week on Craftsy.com. For a limited time, it is available with a $10 discount off of the $54.99 regular price by using this link: www.craftsy.com/ext/LanceKeimig_4754_D. The class consists of 7 lessons which can be viewed online indefinitely once purchased. Craftsy is an online education platform that specializes in arts an crafts. We filmed the class in Bodie Ghost Town in May.

LPP ∇ Where can we get the book?

LK ∇ The book is out now, and it is available either directly from me, or on Amazon. Links for both options can be found here: http://www.thenightskye.com/books/ I’m offering signed copies of the book alone, or with a signed print of the cover image through my website.

LPP ∇ What is your favorite Light Painting in the book and why? I know that is a tough one but you have to answer. ha.

LK ∇ Ha! I have a hard time picking out a single image, but I really love Hannu’s work, and Diliz’ one line series.

LPP ∇Thank you very much Lance for taking the time to answer all these questions, I know you are crazy busy! I can’t wait to get my signed copy and I wish you great success with the new book!

LK ∇ Thank you!

Light Painting Break Down: Johnny Dickerson for Onboard Memory

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Light Painting Onboard Memory

From time to time we come across a light painting and just stare it wondering how the F@#! 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. For this Light Painting Breakdown Johnny Dickerson talks us through how he created the above image titled “Onboard Memory”

So Johnny how the F@#! did you make this?

Originally, I had the idea that I wanted to create a shot where it looked like I was completely immersed inside a computer. The only way I thought that I could it, is to make a “tunnel” of light using the Digital Light Wand (Editor Note: The Digital Light Wand was created by Michael Ross and was the predecessor to The Pixelstick) and have me at the end. I first tried to create it in my backyard with unsatisfactory results.
Light Painting IMG_3210

The walls did not line up like I would have liked, and there was no way to make the ceiling line up right with the walls. I even tried nailing down some string in the ground to give me a straight line to work with. It still was not acceptable with what I had in mind, so I put the idea to the side for awhile.

Flash-forward several months, while out scouting for potential areas to light paint, I came across a bike tunnel that was about 12 feet wide by 8 feet high and about 200 feet in length.
Light Painting IMG_9202

There was not (and still to this day) any lights in there; which makes it perfect to light paint in. It’s completely dark for the most part, except for a warehouse floodlight that spills in a little, but you can shoot further down and avoid it’s light pollution. This is what it looks like when you shoot straight down the middle.
Light Painting IMG_9207

I thought I just hit the jackpot for light painting! Even to this day, I refer to it to my light painting buddies around town as just “the tunnel”, they know. I was ready to try my idea of being immersed inside a computer.

I had a pattern of a computer that I used for the Digital Light Wand and decided to walk down the tunnel against the wall.
Light Painting IMG_9234

By using the walls of the tunnel to walk down, the pattern lined up exactly how I wanted it! I later came to realize how dark it was in there and needed a reference point from where I needed to start light painting. I found a fairly large rock outside and placed it halfway through the tunnel in the corner. So, when I start the exposure, I slowly walk to the rock and start light painting at the same spot every time. For the shot “Onboard Memory”, I walked the Digital Light Wand against each wall, twice on the floor, and twice on the ceiling making 6 passes. Realizing there was nothing in the corners to “connect” the DLW passes, I decided to make a pass with the LEDs on a bike tire (made well known by TCB).
Light Painting IMG_9236

Once I seemed up the corners, I went back to where the rock was and spun some steel wool. To top it off, I created some flares by just shining a flashlight at the camera for a couple of seconds, hoping the flares would line up with some of the computer pattern.
Light Painting Onboard Memory

So obviously this is amazing work but Johnny also sent in a few others that are absolute JAW DROPPERS that were created very much in the same way, check these out!

If you are not following Johnny’s work you are missing out. Be sure to check out his website, his Facebook page for more incredibleness!

Light Painting Podcast with Dana Maltby a.k.a. TCB

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Dana Maltby Light Painting 05

As you can see from the images above Dana Maltby a.k.a. TCB sucks at light painting. All his images are photoshopped and he has zero creativity… Ok I am full of s#@! Seriously I am a TCB fan, a huge fan. He is beyond creative and ridiculously technical with the ghetto rigs he takes into the underworld where he makes his work. Dana’s work is SOOC or better yet its MALTBYSOOC which means there aint no f@!%ing with it. I would love to tap into his brainwaves and just see what the hell goes on in there, thankfully Dan McCreight and Johnny Andrews a.k.a. Stimulight The Night did just that. Dan sat down with Dana, drank some whiskey and recorded the very first episode of their Light Painting Pod Cast! In the interview Dana talks about how he went from “Hatchling Alien Egg to a Huge Clone City Metropolis”, the tools he likes, shooting on film, exploring locations, shooting SOOC, and how he creates some of his mind bending work. Check it out below and be on the look out for more Light Painting Podcast by Stimulight The Night!

ILPA 2015, JanLeonardo Interview

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International Light Painting Awards 2015

We are now a little past the half way point into the submission process for the 2nd International Light Painting Awards by JanLeonardo. As a member of the Artist Jury I know I have seen some cool stuff so far but I wanted to hear from the man himself to see how the contest was going and to maybe get a few pointers for those Light Painters that have been waiting to submit their best work! If you don’t know what the hell I am talking about check out this previous post about the ILPA here. If you do know what I am talking about you better get to work because the prizes for this FREE Light Painting contest are incredible and you only have a few weeks left to submit. Read on below…

LPP ∇ JanLeonardo now that we are in the final weeks of the submission process for your 2nd International Light Painting Awards I wanted to check in with you to see how is everything going? How many entries have come in so far?

JL ∇ Its going well, we have 350 entries from over 50 countries so far.

LPP ∇ How does that compare to the first ILPA, how many entries did you get for that contest?

JL ∇ We had a total of 1050 pieces from 74 countries!

LPP ∇ Wow so I think that you are going to get tons of images at the last minute, do you think that people are waiting until the final hour to drop in with some mind blowing creations?

JL ∇ Absolutely! They are looking and waiting for the last minute call … and then they submit their Masterpieces 🙂

LPP ∇ Are you seeing some standouts already? What are you looking for in a winning image?

JL ∇ An outstanding performance, new ways of light painting, a fantastic composition, like the new submit from Karin Brodowsky!
Light Painting Karin Brodowsky

LPP ∇ That is a beauty, What advice would you give to someone looking to stand out?

JL ∇ GO NEW WAYS! Amaze yourself and show how to insert an outstanding light performance in a background.

LPP ∇ Can you tell me a little more about the prizes?

JL ∇ I organized $16,000 Euro in products! Photokina supported the Grand Prize Award 2015 with an prize for an artist exhibition, complete printing of 1o photos, wall space and lighting! Also all traveling expenses with two nights at a local hotel for 7500,00 Euro!

The rest breaks down like this:
1st Place
Sony A7R + Sony (Zeiss) Sonnar T* FE 35 mm F2,8 ZA (2,900 EUR)

2nd Place
Carl Zeiss Distagon (1,700 EUR)
Lens Carl Zeiss T* 2.8/21. Super wide-angle lens and the leader in its range.

3rd Place
LED LENSER (1,300 EUR)

  • 1 x LED LENSER® X21R.2
  • 1 x LED LENSER® M7RX
  • 1 x LED LENSER® X7R
  • 1 x LED LENSER® M5
  • 1 x LED LENSER® H7.2
  • 2 x LED LENSER® P7QC
  • 2 x LED LENSER® T2QC
  • 1 x LED LENSER® P5R.2
  • 1 x LED LENSER® M3R

4th Place
Novoflex BALPRO TS + Adapter
(1,250 EUR)

5th Place
Lucroit Set (1,200 EUR)
First filter holder and adapter sets.

6th Place
Manfrotto MT055CXPRO3 055 Carbon + MHXPRO-3WG (720 EUR)
Manfrotto 055 Carbon Fiber Tripod 3 Sections Geared with XPRO Geared 3 Way Head with Adapto Body

LPP ∇ That is pretty incredible! Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions and even more so I think I speak for the whole community when I say THANK YOU for organizing such a wonderful opportunity for light painting artist!

JL ∇ 🙂

Click here to find out more and submit your images NOW the deadline is August 1st, 2015.

Light Painting AD Campaign by Julien Breton and Studio-LightPainting

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Light Painting INGELEC-3

Julien Breton’s and Cisco and Will from Studio-LightPainting are three remarkable light painting artists. Julien’s Light Calligraphy work is incredible. He has mastered the syle and his spacial awareness while creating his work is pretty astounding. Cisco and Will are not only talented light artists themselves they have also created a very innovative system that allows for light painting work to be viewed and recorded in real time in the highest quality! (Check out the video at the bottom)

Recently the Morocco based advertising agency Billy & The Kid teamed up with Julien Breton, Cisco and Will to create “a global and integrated advertising campaign based on real-time light painting calligraphy for Ingelec, the leading Moroccan brand in electric goods and home appliances.”

Billy & The Kid said this about the project;

“We were looking for a never-before-seen creative approach in a category too often neglected by advertising agencies. So when we discovered the work of Julien Breton and Cisco et William (studio lightpainting), we immediately knew we had found something awesome!” proudly says Christian Penichou, Executive Creative Director at Billy & The Kid.

Light Painting Ingelec1

“The strength of this idea lies in Light Painting’s ability to live on every media. Tv commercials, viral videos, outdoors, newspaper and magazines, we even created a mobile app and augmented reality press ads. We were literally everywhere!” explains Jonathan Lereculeur, Executive Creative Director at Billy & The Kid.

Light Painting Ingelec2

“It’s the kind of idea that speaks to the heart of all. It takes its inspiration in one of the greatest form of artistic expression in Arabic culture: Calligraphy. And thanks to Julien’s and SLP’s technological skills, it led to the perfect balance between tradition and innovation.” concludes Christian Penichou.

I reached out to Julien, Cisco and Will to find out more about the project!

LPP ∇ Hi guys congratulations on the completion of the campaign for Ingelec! It beautiful work can you tell me how did this project take shape? How were you approached and how did they find your work?
Julien ∇ We were approached by the advertising Agency. They saw a video of my light calligraphy artwork, they called me and told me about the project so I said “Yes, and it’s time to try to work in Real time video…”, I asked Cisco and Will if they will be interested they were onboard and so the history started.

LPP ∇ Where did the shoot take place and how many nights did it take to complete the project?
Will ∇ The shoot took place in Morocco. We shot for two nights, one night in Casablanca and two nights in Essaouira.

LPP ∇ What was the most challenging aspect of the shoot?
Julien ∇ For me, the most challenging was to work with a feedback screen. I am used to do light-painting since 10 years and my brain is tottaly formated to have no feedback… But sure, it’s easier in this way than the other. It allows to me to created exactly as in front of a paper. You can see what you are doing in real time, so the possibilities are huge.
Will ∇ To work in the dunes with the wind/sand in Essaouira was the most difficult challenge for me.
BTK_Ingelec_Making_Off-2

LPP ∇ What do you feel was the best part of the shoot?
Julien ∇ For me, in the Hotel in Essaouira (the last spot we did). After working for a week to understand correctly how the system works and after a crazy night in the sand and the cold, it was nice to be light painting in the hotel.
Will ∇ The meeting with the team, their professionalism and the end of the Essaouira’s shoot was the best part!

LPP ∇ Can you tell me more about software you were using, it is your own system correct?
Will ∇ Yes, It’s a software I developed since 2011 alone and then since 2014 with Studio Light Painting. We try to push the quality up and find other ways to interact with the light. 4K, stereoscopy, video mapping, FX are some of what we are working on. The software is in constant evolution.
Cisco ∇ William is my associate on light painting studio we have together is invented image processing system continues … This is not just a software but a complete system.
LPP ∇ So everything we see in the video is really happening in real time and being recorded in 4K, the traces of light created are not created in post production?
Will ∇ All of our work is in process in real time, no post production!

LPP ∇ Do you have plans for any new Live Light Painting projects?
Julien ∇ Sure, create a 10 minutes live performance to start and maybe after adding dancers.

LPP ∇ Is there anyway for other light painters to have access to the Live Light Painting software?
Will ∇ Our goal is not to sell this software, there is free softwares, or not free, since long years. We want to improve it again and again by meeting artists, making performances with them, creating shows, exploring new technology…

Again congratulations on a great project and the software looks incredible can’t wait to see what you guy work on next!

From more check out the making of video below and also check out Julien’s website Kaalam and Studio-LightPainting.

LPWA Special Event in Astana, Kazakhstan

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Official_Banner_IG
If you happen to be in Astana, Kazakhstan July 4th-6th 2015 be sure to check out the LPWA special event, dedicated to International Year Of Light. The light painting exhibition will be a part of the Astana City Celebration Day, and a part of the National ArtFest with the theme “Future Energy: Solar Fire, Earth, Wind and Water”. With 25,000 visitors expected to pass through the LPWA exposition and live light painting show (photo booth) it is sure to expose many new people to our art form! Light Paintings from 54 artists from 17 countries will be on display.

If you are not a member of the LPWA you should check them out. The organization presents many opportunities for Light Painting artist all over the world! Click here for more info on the Light Painting World Alliance.

“Infinite Creativity” P8 Light Painting Instagram Contest

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Huawei P8

Huawei the maker of the new P8 cell phone designed for light painting  (check out what madman Ben Von Wong did with the phone Here) is having an Instagram contest and giving away 6 brand spanking new P8’s. If you would like to participate you need to follow the Huawei Instagram account @huaweiconsumer and tag your image using #IgniteCreativity but PAY ATTENTION its not just for any light painting you MUST follow the theme of the contest which is “Participants are required to continue the story as presented in the [18th / 20th / 22nd / 26th/ 28th May 2015] #IgniteCreativity post, by answering “What Should The Next Word Be?” under the comments section of the corresponding #IgniteCreativity Instagram post.”

For instance this is a post for the @huaweiconsumer Instagram account: “submit your own light painting of any word from Einstein’s quote “Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” to win” SO the way I understand it you light paint “Creativity” tag #IgniteCreativity be sure to follow @huaweiconsumer and have a public profile so they can see your entry and you are in the running to win a brand new phone. The contest ends  June 21st so get to work, to see all the details click HERE. Enjoy.