This is a presentation from the first Light Painting Workshop at Duke University. This presentation talks about what I believe Light Painting is and gives a very brief history of the Light Painting Art Form.
Light Painting can be defined as the manual movement of light in a three dimensional space, over time, during a long exposure photograph.
LIGHT PAINTING IS ITS OWN ART FORM.
I often hear Light Painting called a “Photographic Technique”. I believe that Light Painting is it’s own art form. The camera is simply the instrument that records the Light Painting art form, just as a canvas captures the brushstrokes of a traditional painter with oils or acrylics. The movement of light, through space and over time is the Light Painting art form. The camera is simply the instrument that the Light Painter uses to record the Light Painting art form! Calling Light Painting a Photographic Technique would be similar to calling painting, a canvas technique.
Light Painting breaks down to 3 basic categories:
1. Light Drawing (Light source is seen by camera)
2. Light Painting (Illuminating the scene with handheld lights, light source not seen)
3. Kinetic Light Painting (Moving the camera during the exposure)
The common denominator in these techniques is that the artist is using the “photographic technique” of long exposure photography to record the Light Painting art form.