Light Painting Photography

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Patrick Rochon and Timecode Lab’s 24×360 Light Painting Project

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By now most of you have probably already seen this amazing 360º light painting project by Patrick Rochon and Timecode Lab [Stephane and Eric]. I tried to get these three creatives together for an interview when this first came out but Patrick was in Vegas creating more light painting awesomeness for a show out there. Now that things have settled down a bit for this light painting master and the geniuses at Timecode Lab I had the chance to catch up with them to hear a little more about this project.

24×360 from Timecode Lab on Vimeo.

LPP ∇ Your 24×360 light painting project looks really great can you tell me a little more about it, who was involved and how long did it take for the project from concept to finished images?

TCL ∇ [Stephane] Timecode Lab started doing bullet time photography for brand activation events on 2011 and Eric has been involved since the beginning. After about 20 different events and an absolutely crazy 2012 summer, it was time go back in our studio, set up the rig for ourselves and start having fun with it.

LPP ∇ How did the project come about? What was the inspiration?

[Stephane] We then met Patrick who was doing light painting for a Chevrolet project were Timecode Lab was involved. All of a sudden it became clear that light painting + 360 bullet time would create something new and magic.

LPP ∇ The set up for something like this must be immense, what kind of equipment did you use and how much of it?

TCL ∇ [Stephane] We used 24 Canon T3 with kit lenses (18-55) at 18mm. All the cameras are mounted on a 19 feet steel rig. They are all triggered at the same time via a custom “trigger cable” that was
developed by our team. Shots are done in manual mode, so the light painter can really decided how long he wants the exposure to be. Once the light painting is done the artist can visualize is creation on a preview screen were all the 24 images starts rotating

LPP ∇ Was the shoot sponsored by anyone?

TCL ∇ [Eric] No. Most of the people involved in the project did it for free.

LPP ∇ How many tries until you got the first good one?

PR ∇ [Patrick] It’s random and it depend on what you want to achieve. I had some sow come out great from the first go and others take 10-12 takes…

LPP ∇ What was the average exposure time?

PR ∇ [Patrick] I go for an average of two minutes

LPP ∇ What will the images be used for?

TCL ∇ [Eric] It was an artistic project. My harddrive (and my backup) could have burned and I would still be happy. Being able to showcase the pictures is cool, but it is nothing compared to the joy of making the project itself

LPP ∇ Which one is your personal favorite?

PR ∇ [Patrick] On every shoot there was challenges and victories so all that we show means something important. The first shoot with Genevieve Borne stays special because it was such a new way to work and light paint having cameras that sees every angle of your lights plus you can’t be in the way of any of the cameras or you create shadows. We did the shoot in three hours and were blown away by the result. All instinct no fears! Here is my first shoot using a live model in 360:

http://24×360.com/artist/genevieve-borne

LPP ∇ What is the next step? Do you see this 360 project as an evolving one or do you feel it is completed?

TCL ∇ Next step, well pushing the 360 video of course….

Check out a few of the 360º images below and for even more amazing 360º light painting photography check out http://24×360.com/gallery

Light Emitting Dudes – LED Freerunning

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If this little diddy doesn’t spark your light painting imagination then just go ahead and give up now.

Light Emitting Dudes – LED Freerunning from Frank Sauer on Vimeo.

Light Emitting Dudes takes a team of freerunners, geared up from head to toe with LED lights, and sets them loose on the streets of Bangkok at night. With acrobatic grace, they carved up the already buzzing nightlife spots while adding their own flair and colour to the mix.

Hugo Baptista 3D Cross-Section Light Painting

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Light Painting Photographer Hugo Baptista is taking 3D light painting to the next level. As a 3D animator and avid light painter is was a natural progression. This is some exciting and ground breaking work and Hugo is more than happy to share it with you! Check out some of Hugo’s images, videos, and a little interview I did with him to find out more about this radical advancement in light painting photography.

LPP ∇ How long have you been creating this type of light painting?
HB ∇ I made my first one on 11 Jan 2011

LPP ∇ How did you discover this technique? What inspired you to create these images?
HB ∇ Two years ago I was inspired after watching Making Future Magic. I wanted to do that too and I figured out how. Amongst other things I am a 3D animator so it was a very natural process for me to incorporate that knowledge into my other passion, light painting.

LPP ∇ What are you calling this light painting technique?
HB ∇ I call it 3DCSLP (3D cross-section light painting) but classifications mean very little to me so please call it whatever you want.

LPP ∇ Can you tell me a little bit about the process?
HB ∇ First I create a 3D model in 3dsmax, then I render an animation of a scan of that model like an MRI scan. Light painting a 3D model with that scan can be done by playing that animation on any screen (ipad, phone, TV) and transporting it (in the direction of the scan) while the shutter of the camera is open.

LPP ∇ Are there any limitations that you see or can you pretty much create a 3D light painting of any object?
HB ∇ Yep I can model pretty much anything and it will be very recognizable if it’s Light Painted smoothly. Plus there are thousands of free 3D models available online already so I wouldn’t need to model the Eifel tower for example, only make the scan of it.

There are limitations like not being able to do a 360° turn of an object because there aren’t any double sided screens (yet). But now that I mention it and in an attempt to plant some seeds: I had an idea some time ago of projecting the video on translucent paper. The projector and paper screen would be on wheels and with that you’d be able to shoot 360° around an object…

LPP ∇ What is the next step? I know you have a plan for your running man animation?
HB ∇ Yes, my plan is for the running man to be free of geographic constrains and run by the hands of other lights painters out there who have the patience required to make a stop-motion light painting video. I recently made this “Erect part 1”:

At the end you see how the running man looks when running. I would love to collaborate on Erect part II where he’d be running in other countries, with other tools, and with other light painters, new ideas. Why? Because it’s a lot of fun and didactic to work together and not have the enormous distances between us be the deciding factor.

In this vimeo group: https://vimeo.com/groups/lpobjects I have more 3D cross-section objects for you to try and plan on regularly uploading more objects. If any light painters make a sequence of photos of the running man please message me http://www.oddballgraphics.com/contact/ so I can send you a dropbox link for you to share your photos with me. I will edit them into Erect part II and working together we will make something to be proud of.

LPP ∇ Thank you Hugo, really looking forward to seeing how this technique progresses and Erect Part II!
Below you will find the RUNNING MAN animation if you would like to contribute to Hugo’s Erect project, WHICH YOU SHOULD!!!


cross-section animated man for light painting: 30 poses of 10 seconds each. Direction of scan is up>down down>up as to avoid resetting the position of the device for each frame.
To make a light-painting stop-motion video out of these animations you need to swipe your mobile phone, tablet, computer screen or TV during a 10 second exposure for each pose. Because this is an animation you need to make the same motion consecutively while taking photos of each “pose” to create your own video of a running man made of light. The best way to transport the light-giving device manually is to imagine it a CT scanner (in this case a vertical CT scan) and you’re essentially assembling an imaginary object with light.

Hugo also was cool enough to make a 3D animation of the Light Painting Photography Logo, If you create any light painting images using this animation we will post it to the LPP Facebook page with a link to your work.


To make light-painting photos out of these animations you need to swipe your mobile phone, tablet, computer screen, TV during 10 seconds (or more if you intend on drawing more objects) while the shutter of your camera is open. You then have a photo with a 3D object that can be rotated depending on the direction you transport it. The best way to “swipe” manually is to imagine your device is a CT scanner and you’re essentially assembling an imaginary object with light. Each object has a different length which means some animations are to be swiped over a shorter distance than others. The size of the screen also obviously affects the distance it has to travel.

Light Painting Crew MLS needs your vote.

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Quinten Decleyn from Belgium and his light painting crew MLS (MotionLightSessions) are trying to get to Burningman Festival 2013. The way they make it there to create light painting photographs at this amazing event is by you clicking the like button on their Urban Crafters contest page HERE. Its really that simple. Below is a their video entry for the contest, some of their light painting work, and a short (ENGLISH) interview with some more info…

Light Painting – Quinten DC from Urban Crafts on Vimeo.

LPP ∇ What is the name of your light painting crew? Who are the people involved?

MLS ∇ The name of my crew is MotionLightSessions or MLS. The team exists of me and some friends, but there is no permanent team except for myself. Also all the tools and efforts to think of new thing or to the buy new stuff comes from my direction. But I sure do thank everyone who has ever joined me in one of this cool late-night sessions.

LPP ∇ How long have you been light painting.

MLS ∇ I’ve been lightpainting for 20 months and bought my first dslr camera especially for long exposure photography.

LPP ∇ What is you style, what light painters influence your own work.

MLS ∇ I don’t have any specific style yet but I’m getting influenced by flickr and sites like this one, a lot. Some abstract work, work with models and work on locations. Although I am doing some research and test about extruding forms/bodies/parts with a display or a screen, inspired by the work of Frank Schott with his project 12:31. ( www.project1231.com ). It’s very intriguing. I’m having contacts with radiologists to get my hands on mri scans.

LPP ∇ What do you hope to accomplish by entering the competition?

MLS ∇ By entering the competition I hope to have the honour to photograph and make light paintings on the Burningman festival in 2013. But by participating I already achieved lots of things. I’m giving
workshops frequently and just had my first little exposition. Also I have met so many interesting people in the past year. Some of them became good friends.

LPP ∇ What do you win.

MLS ∇ Like I said above, the main price is a trip to Burningman 2013. Other prizes depends on the participant his crafts itself I think.

LPP ∇ How can other light painters help?

MLS ∇ All my companions out there can help me by clicking on the following link where you will be directed to my profile on the site. There on the site is a ‘Like’ button from facebook. Click it and you’re
done.

http://www.urbancrafts.tv/crafters/quinten-decleyn-motionlightsessions/62715

It’s a small effort for you guys, but really a BIG gesture for me.

Thanks everyone and thank you, Jason!

Quinten (MLS). 21yrs old, Belgium.