Dana Maltby – Light Painting Artist TCB (Twin Cities Brightest)
Light Painting Photographer Dana Maltby, also known as TCB (Twin Cities Brightest), is one of the most respected and well-known artists in the Light Painting community. Widely considered to be on the forefront of the movement, Dana is known for his prolific creativity, daily image-making, tool-building, and generosity in sharing knowledge with others.
TCB discovered Light Painting while exploring tunnels with a camera—his first images were created by accident, but he was hooked immediately. His images are powerful, his techniques innovative, and his attitude unapologetically real. View his work below, read the full interview, and visit his website: twincitiesbrightest.com.
Light Painting Photography Interview
Interview conducted by Jason D. Page in 2010
1. What is your name?
Dana Maltby
2. Do you have an alias that you go by?
TCB – Twin Cities Brightest
3. Are you a soloist or are you part of a Light Painting group? If a group who is in your group?
My roommate is Jake Saari aka Ectro so we shoot a lot lately, and sometimes a fellow named Mike Greenwell aka 55125. However I prefer to shoot alone.
4. What education do you have?
Bachelors of Fine Arts, Graphic Design from CVA – College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota
5. What is your occupation?
Super hero, super villain, space voyager, star child, felon, explorer, photographer.
6. How long have you been a photographer?
Seriously shooting non-stop since three years ago when I learned about Light Painting.
7. How long have you been light painting?
3 years if you don’t count the shots I did with a lighter about 8 years ago.
8. How did you discover Light Painting Photography?
On accident, then Flickr—people were already doing it and I learned a lot from others. Everyone is very nice and helpful.
9. What was your first Light Painting Image?
Flickr Link
10. Film or Digital?
Digi
11. Do you believe in aliens?
I am an alien.
12. What is your standard Light Painting Photography setup?
Camera, tripod, lights, beer.
13. What is your favorite color?
The red/orange custom white balance shots I take. Example
14. Who influences your Light Painting Photography work?
Back in the day: Tdub303, Pooleshooter Cindi, LAPP-Pro. Now mostly Ectro—kid’s crazy good.
15. Who is your favorite Light Painting Artist?
Eric Staller, LAPP-Pro, Ectro
16. What is your favorite food?
Tie between good chili and stir fry
17. Do you create in any other mediums other than light painting? If so what are they?
I used to do graffiti and I have a degree in Graphic Design.
18. What is your favorite Light Painting Photography image that you have created?
If you knew how much I shoot, you’d know that’s impossible to answer. Let’s just say the most recent image at the time of this interview.
19. What is your favorite Light Painting Photography image of another artist?
Ectro – “imgp1094” Flickr Link
20. What is the most difficult part of Light Painting Photography?
Centering the camera in a perfectly round tunnel, not getting arrested breaking into buildings.
21. How do you get your Light Painting Photography work seen?
The interwebs: Flickr, Facebook (though that’s really pissing me off), and some shows. I prefer to shoot every day instead of explaining my work to strangers.
22. Do you sell your Light Painting Photography work?
Sure.
24. Where can we see more of your work?
twincitiesbrightest.com
Flickr
25. What is your favorite quote?
Straight out of the camera or die.
26. Who is your favorite artist?
Shock.
27. What is your favorite activity other than light painting?
Risking my life.
28. Tell me a good light painting story.
Cops letting me off after being utterly confused as to what the hell I’m doing.
29. Tell me a nightmare light painting story.
The spot got locked down.
30. Have you ever been arrested or ticketed for light painting?
Not yet.
31. What do you say to people when they see you light painting and they ask “what the hell are you doing”?
Being a magician.
32. Where do you find inspiration for your Light Painting Photography?
Sci-fi movies, my hatred for everyone who is lazy.
33. Who would you like to punch?
People who think HDR photos are hot—they are not.
35. Why do you Light Paint?
Because I’m addicted.
36. What is your favorite time to shoot?
In the middle of the day in a tunnel or cave or building basement.
37. What is your favorite subject to shoot?
Gnarly fucking ruins and forgotten places—the grimier and more dangerous the better.
39. If you could travel anywhere to Light Paint where would you go?
The top of the Mayan ruins in 2012 to spin an orb on top of the temple as the apocalypse strikes.
40. Have you ever invented a Light Painting Photography tool? If so what was it and how did it work?
I’ve been a part of a lot of ground-breaking tools. Check out my tutorials.
41. Do you ever get sick of explaining your work to people?
Not when they are hot girls and it’s making me look cool.
42. How many times have you heard the word Photoshop when someone was describing or asking about your work?
A lot. Most people don’t use it to create the light—that’s the easy part anyway. If you can’t get the shot straight out of camera, move on.
43. What makes you happy?
Beer on abandoned building rooftops.
44. What makes you mad?
Not bringing enough beer. Water dripping from the ceilings of drains into my beer.
45. What part of Light Painting Photography do you enjoy the most?
Making awesome images.
46. What part of Light Painting Photography do you hate the most?
Pushing myself way too hard all the time.
47. Do you have a website? If yes what is the address?
www.twincitiesbrightest.com
48. What is Light Painting Photography?
A long exposure photograph with light movement or surface painting. It is not strobing—that’s why strobing has a different name.
49. Give me some advice for anyone that might like to try Light Painting Photography.
Look at my tutorials and on the Flickr group Light Junkies: Light Junkies Group
50. Are you scared of the dark?
Sometimes.
🎨 Visit more artists: Meet the Artists
📚 Learn more: Light Painting 101