Recently I saw a post from Carlotte Bertelli showing some 3D live light painting. I said HUH, Wait WHAT?!?! it was incredible, something I have never seen before.
Then I started to check out her LampLighter Project website and fell face first into live light painting madness the likes of which I have never seen. To say that Carlotte is pushing the boundaries of live light painting would be an understatement. I like to think I am pretty knowledgable about whats is going on in the light painting community, how this incredible work slipped by me I have no idea, but I am glad I have finally found it and can share it. Carlotte was kind enough to answer a few questions and share a little more about her incredible work. Check out the videos and short interview below and for even more awesomeness check out The Lamplighter Project!
LPP ∇ WOW Carlotte, you are doing some incredible things with live light painting with your LampLighter Project.
CB ∇ THANK YOU!
LPP ∇ How long have you been creating your work?
CB ∇ I STARTED LIGHTPAINTING 3 YEARS AGO – I USED TO BE A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER, UNTIL I HAPPENED TO FIND MYSELF ON SET WITHOUT ELECTRICITY – I HAD TO USE A FLASHLIGHT AND FROM THEN ON I’VE NEVER STOPPED. IN 2013 I FOUNDED THE LAMPLIGHTER PROJECT AND NOW I WORK AS A FULLTIME PROFESSIONAL LIGHTPAINTER.
LPP ∇ Obviously there has to be a team of talent involved, who are you working with?
CB ∇ OF COURSE! THE LAMPLIGHTER PROJECT IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL TEAM OF CREATIVES AND EXPERTS FROM ALL KINDS OF FIELDS. IN PARTICULAR, IT IS THE SYNERGY WITH THE BEST VIDEO AND SOUND DESIGNERS THAT GUARANTEES THE MOST INNOVATIVE LIVE PERFORMANCE!
LPP ∇ Can you tell me more about the software that your using, is it something that you can buy or custom created?
CB ∇ IT WAS CUSTOM CREATED BY THE GENIUS OF ANGELA DI TOMASO AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING FOR BUSINESS ANGELS TO TURN IT INTO AN APP.
LPP ∇ Are you doing these performances for events? If so what has the reaction been?
CB ∇ YES! WE HAVE JUST DONE A PERFORMANCE FOR “TISSOT POWER OF LIGHT EVENT” – IT WAS HOSTED BY THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN MILAN IN FRONT OF 200 FROM NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS & BUYERS. IT WAS THE FIRST LP LIVE PERFORMANCE EVER MADE IN ITALY AND THE FIRST IN THE WORLD OF THIS KIND (JUST THINK ABOUT ALL THE MEDIA INVOLVED)…I DON’T MEAN TO SOUND BOASTED, BUT GUESS WHAT THE REACTION WAS! 😉
LPP ∇ What is the most difficult part of putting a performance like this together my guess would be either the technical or the choreography?
CB ∇ YOU GUESS RIGHT – BOTH! WHAT DISTINGUISH OUR PERFORMANCE IS THE STORYTELLING: AFTER A BRIEFING WTH THE CLIENT WE PRODUCE A STORYBOARD, LIKE A SHORT MOVIE! THEN WE MIX TOGETHER LIGHTPAINTING INTERACTION AND VIDEO PROJECTION AND SYNC IT ALL TOGETHER WITH MUSIC TO CONVEY THE CLIENT’S MESSAGE IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY.
LPP ∇ How long does it take you to put a piece like TISSOT POWER OF LIGHT together?
CB ∇ IT TOOK US ABOUT 2 MONTHS OF HARD TEAM WORK, DEALING WITH BOTH TECHNICAL AND CREATIVE ISSUES.
LPP ∇ What if you screw up mid performance, how do you get back on track?
CB ∇ IMPOSSIBLE! 😉 just kidding, luckily it never happened but I think in these cases the best thing to do is to keep going somehow… THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
LPP ∇ I saw you have been working on some 3D light painting, can you tell me more about that?
CB ∇ SURPRISE! WE ARE FINALIZING IT AND RESULTS WILL BE SOON PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE.
LPP ∇ I feel like you are really making some breakthroughs with this work, whats next? What is your dream?
CB ∇ I AM ALWAYS WORKING ON NEW DIFFERENT PROJECTS, NOW I AM PREPARING MY NEXT EXHIBITION IN PARIS MID NOVEMBER DURING THE PARIS PHOTO BUT WE WILL SOON BE BACK WITH A NEW LIVE PERFOTMANCE! NEXT YEAR IS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF LIGHT AND WE DONT WANT TO MISS ANY APPOINTMENTS!
MY DREAM? TO KEEP EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE WITH MY FLASHLIGHT, TO INSPIRE AND INVOLVE ALL THE PEOPLE I COME ACROSS WITH THE LIGHT OF HEART…AND, LIKE A LAMPLIGHTER, TO LIGHT UP THE WORLD!
LPP ∇ Awesome, well I am sure you are inspiring a lot of people, I for one am inspired by your work! Keep going I can’t wait to see what is next and please keep us informed of your 3D live light painting work!!
CB ∇ THANK YOU.
Felipe Ferreira says
Really happy to see Carlotta doing so well;
First time we meet I told her that she was one of the firsts to be able to speak to a great crowd via her art. That time she did something for Renault and was developing the Lamp Light Project in Brazil. We had the opportunity to shoot together (It was my first colab and I was excited). She kindly put one of our work on her first app.
Other light friend who is also doing a great job is our friends Cisco and Will. They both are putting their strength together to bring us their reality.
I loved the mapping, the projection, the interaction and I really loved the way you created the watch. Congrats Carlotta for such a inspiring talent. Your team is really really really good too and your art, bright!
Light for us all.