TigTab

Light painting artist TigTab has been capturing images since she can remember and has been light painting since 2009. TigTab is best known for her light stencil work and her images have racked up thousands of views. TigTab’s stencil work doesn’t stop with her light painting, she also creates spray paint stencil work inspired by another one of her fascinations, street art. TigTab’s favorite artist is Kaff-eine and the street art influence can be scene in her light painting work. Check out some of TigTab’s images below, read the full light painting photography interview, and check out her flickr page for more images and information.

Light Painting Photography interview conducted by Jason D. Page in 2011

1. What is your name?
Tigtab

2. Do you have an alias that you go by?
No.

3. Are you a soloist or are you part of a Light Painting group? If a group who is in your group?
I am really lucky to hang out and shoot with a great bunch of talented photgraphers/light painters/artists.

4. What education do you have?
No formal photography qualifications.

5. What is your occupation?
PA.

6. How long have you been a photographer?
Since Santa brought me my first Kodak camera when I was approx 9 years old.

7. How long have you been light painting?
Since 2009

8. How did you discover Light Painting Photography?
After looking in wonder at Cave Clan photos lighting underground locations.

9. What was your first Light Painting Image?
Glow stick hearts.

10. Film or Digital?
Digital.

11. Do you believe in aliens?
Sure do.

12. What is your standard Light Painting Photography setup?
Canon 5D Mk11, tripod, flash units, light stencil boxes, and an ever expanding collection of light stencils (to attach to the light stencil boxes), along with a vast array of lights.

13. What is your favorite color?
The entire spectrum, but I do have a soft spot for blue and purple.

14. Who influences your Light Painting Photography work?
Everyone.

15. Who is your favorite Light Painting Artist?
There are seriously too many to mention – the global light painting community is full of amazing talent.

16. What is your favorite food?
Okonomiyaki

17. Do you create in any other mediums other than light painting? If so what are they?
Drawing, and currently heading towards spray stencil art.

18. What is your favorite Light Painting Photography image that you have created?
I have a soft spot for the journey it took to make `Hidden World’. The location is also one of my favourite places to light paint, so it was great to be able to create in there.

19. What is your favorite Light Painting Photography image of another artist?
My all time favourite (so far) would be Tdub’s `Best Nest’.

20. What is the most difficult part of Light Painting Photography?
When you start light painting, it takes a bit of getting used to working in confined spaces with zero light, and focusing the camera.
Now, it would be lining up multiple components into a shot.

21. How do you get you Light Painting Photography work seen?
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/tigtab/

22. Do you sell your Light Painting Photography work?
I can be contacted via flickr if anyone is interested.

23. Are you represented by a gallery?
Not yet.

24. Where can we see more of your work?
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/tigtab/

25. What is your favorite quote?
(a slightly different take on the confucious quote)…
“If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, then you have still made a great accomplishment. Much better than shooting for the gutter and hitting it.”

26. Who is your favorite artist?
Kaff-eine

27. What is you favorite activity other than light painting?
Designing and creating light stencils, photographing abandoned places, loitering in laneways (shooting graffiti).

28. Tell me a good light painting story.
Depending on how you look at it —- unknowingly setting up and light painting in a well known Melbourne `beat’ (if the weather had been warmer, it could have gotten mighty interesting :o)

29. Tell me a nightmare light painting story.
Hmmm, ripping open the butt of my trousers on a piece of metal sticking out of a concrete loading bay, while entering a building – it was a bit drafty for the rest of the night. Mental note – jump next time.

30. Have you ever been arrested or ticketed for light painting?
No.

31. What do you say to people when they see you light painting and they ask “what the hell are you doing”?
Cant say that I have had that problem with the places that I light paint in.

32. Where do you find inspiration for your Light Painting Photography?
From everywhere and everything.

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

34. Who would you like to kiss?
My partner.

35. Why do you Light Paint?
It keeps me insane.

36. What is your favorite time to shoot?
Anytime of the day or night.

37. What is your favorite subject to shoot?
Light, of course :o)

38. Where is your favorite place to shoot?
Abandoned and forgotten places.

39. If you could travel anywhere to Light Paint where would you go?
The Paris catacombs would be cool.

40. Have you ever invented a Light Painting Photography tool? If so what was it and how did it work?
I wish! Hopefully one day …

41. Do you ever get sick of explaining your work to people?
No, if people are interested, Im happy to explain.

42. How many times have you heard the work photoshop when someone was describing or asking about your work?
Hmmm, Id be kept in battery money if I was paid for every time Id heard the mention of photoshop when listening to people talking about light painting photography. BUT, the look on people’s faces when you explain the reality of light painting – can be priceless :o)

43. What makes you happy?
Nailing a shot that I’ve been working on for hours.

44. What makes you mad?
Having to change a camera battery when Im so close to nailing a shot, and the camera goes dead.

45. What part of Light Painting Photography do you enjoy the most?
The entire journey – from planning the shot, preparing for it, to shooting it.

46. What part of Light Painting Photography do you hate the most?
Recycling times on flash units when Im shooting stencil shots.

47. Do you have a website? If yes what is the address?
Not yet. See flickr.

48. What is Light Painting Photography?
In a literal sense it is the process of moving light sources around during a single exposure to create an overall shot.
To me personally, it is that great feeling of creating entire pictures using only light, and bringing beauty to forgotten places.

49. Give me some advice for anyone that might like to try Light Painting Photography.
Do your research (there is a heap of info online to help get you started), then get out there and play. Have fun with it – light painting is only limited by your imagination!

50. Are you scared of the dark?
How can I be scared of a light painter’s canvas?