Jadikan-LP

Light Painting Photographer Guilhem Nicolas, also known as Jadikan-LP, has experimented with long exposure photography for many years; in 2008 he discovered light painting photography and has been hooked ever since. Jadikan is a Malaysian word that mean “to create or transform”. Guilhem wants his work to bring a transformation to his viewers. He wants to convey that we are all light and that we are all capable of creating light art. Guilhem is known for being a bit mysterious and secretive in his process and with the  tools that he uses to create his light painting images. He enjoys shooting a wide variety of subjects, everything from the human form to architecture. Guilhem lives in France where he creates most of his light painting work. He recently had the opportunity to travel to Nepal where he paid tribute to one of his favorite street artist, Space Invader, with a light painting photograph titled “Tribute to Space Invader”. View this photograph and some of Jadikan-LP’s other images, read his full light painting photography interview below, and for even more info check out his website JADIKAN-LP.COM for more images and information.

Light Painting Photography interview conducted by Jason D. Page in 2010

1.. What is your name?
Guilhem

2.. Do you have an alias that you go by?
Finally admit that jadikan is an alias 😉

3.. Are you a soloist or are you part of a Light Painting group? If a group who is in your group?
I usualy work alone for the photography and the light painting job but I like to share competencies for specific projects.

4.. What education do you have?
Master of international economic policy …

5.. What is your occupation?
I can maybe say « visual artist » and my my artwork is based on light painting photography

6.. How long have you been a photographer?
Full time job since 2 years but I use photography for different purposes since I am 14.

7.. How long have you been light painting?
4 to 7 years, depend on what level of addiction you are talking about. The first image I can be proud is from 2007. 25 secondes exposure. At this period, I was more into stencilling and in wanted to make a picture of the 2 trompetists I just spray.

8.. How did you discover Light Painting Photography?
Mistakes and repetition to handle them

9.. What was your first Light Painting Image?
Lost in south east asia in 2005, a cigarette and a cheap digital compact camera make me understand the concept.

10.. Film or Digital?
My first experiences with photography were film and I went digital when I discover light painting in 2005. I use film again for some upcoming projects

11.. Do you believe in aliens?
Why not .

12.. What is your standard Light Painting Photography setup?
Camera on tripod with a remote. A location that you feel good with.
Few selected light tools.
Music sometimes… snacks, water and beers can help to, because light painting expedition can last long…

13.. What is your favorite color?
I don’t know yet, and I am not sure I will find one

14.. Who influences your Light Painting Photography work?
Light painting have enough possibility to draw your own way.

15.. is your favorite Light Painting Artist?
Many light painting artists have there own touch, can be subtle with this art, and like a lot of them! In my opinion, Dana Maltby aka TCB is one of those who made some really inventive photographs in this discipline the last two years.

16.. What is your favorite food?
anything I am hungry for …

17.. Do you create in any other mediums other than light painting? If so what are they?
Light painting discipline links you to create lightsources, think about choregraphy,
drawing, installations, videos…

18.. What is your favorite Light Painting Photography image that you have created?
Next one will be so new !

19.. What is your favorite Light Painting Photography image of another artist?
I am in admiration Tokihiro Sato « Photo-respiration » series especially the daylight part Light painting with an 8×10 large format view camera !

20.. What is the most difficult part of Light Painting Photography?
Be sure of what you want to light paint

21.. How do you get you Light Painting Photography work seen?
websites, magazines, galeries, festivals or live show

22.. Do you sell your Light Painting Photography work?
yes

23.. Are you represented by a gallery?
no

24.. Where can we see more of your work?
website www.jadikan-lp.com for some selected images.

Every exhibition have special and unpublished artwork to discover. I like to keep some surprises for those you can join thoses events.
You can also be my « facebookfriend » for updated news 😉

25.. What is your favorite quote?
none

26.. Who is your favorite artist?
I can not say that I have a favorit artist but I try to open my eyes more than necessary to appreciate new stuff

27.. What is you favorite activity other than light painting?
Gardening

28.. Tell me a good light painting story.
So many, but the lightpainting experiences I made with the nepalese people in some temples are unforgetable

29.. Tell me a nightmare light painting story.
Arriving at home and remember that I forget my last homemade torch on location … and this specific location was quite far and not really easy to enter

30.. Have you ever been arrested or ticketed for light painting?
Never, but I didn’t say that I was not close …

31.. What do you say to people when they see you light painting and they ask “what the hell are you doing”?
Please have a look, it is difficult to explain clearly

32.. Where do you find inspiration for your Light Painting Photography?
On location

33.. Who would you like to punch?
no one

34.. Who would you like to kiss?
It is too late to say thank you to Nicephore Niepce but if I could …

35.. Why do you Light Paint?
This question is on my « to do list »

36.. What is your favorite time to shoot?
When the idea of the final composition start to blink in my mind

37.. What is your favorite subject to shoot?
Locations with shadows opportunities

38.. Where is your favorite place to shoot?
I feel well in most of the quite and dark location I choose

39.. If you could travel anywhere to Light Paint where would you go?
I will go there.

40.. Have you ever invented a Light Painting Photography tool? If so what was it and how did it work?
Most of my tools are customised for a special use… and it is quite simple;-)

41.. Do you ever get sick of explaining your work to people?
Never

42.. How many times have you heard the work Photoshop when someone was describing or asking about your work?
Often but they usually quickly understand

43.. What makes you happy?
Good news

44.. What makes you mad?
Things I don’t understand

45.. What part of Light Painting Photography do you enjoy the most?
Walking in a dark and huge location with a very tiny light torche

46.. What part of Light Painting Photography do you hate the most?
Run out of batterie or a sunset just before finalizing the photograph you want can be a nightmare.

47.. Do you have a website? If yes what is the address?
jadikan-lp.com

48.. What is Light Painting Photography?
Being mad about the photography and other possibility to cath light performances.

49.. Give me some advice for anyone that might like to try Light Painting Photography.
If you manage to do it once, do it again to be sure !

50.. Are you scared of the dark?
Sometimes, it depends where you are …