Lightpainting meet

[biggerry]

Just a few quick ones from last night, I think we are getting the technique and gear sorted, but compositionally and artistically i think more practice is required.

Thanks to Wendell for organising, turning up and on being time (unlike me).

I also have to add - Wendell's a chick-magnet, he walks down the street and they throw themselves at him

I would keen for this again soon, preferably in a dark abandoned warehouse - or even better Cockatoo island over night

[Wink]

Very nice!

I'd clone out that power pack or whatever it is in the 2nd image.

[surenj]

Very imaginative!

Sorry for not turning up. Had to attend to a family emergency. I would have been banished if I said "um...I have a photo shoot... " I hope there were more people than you and Wendell. I got the impression that it was very popular at least initially.

Wendell's a chick-magnet

And it is reflected on his images!

compositionally and artistically i think more practice is required.

I agree but I can't offer any suggestions. The curves and lines and very nice but there has to be a way to integrate them to a wider theme. Perhaps make them only part of the photo; not so dominant. hmm...
I think the second photo can be further developed. I can see a pop of flash and then some lightpainting added in. Where were you located in relation to the models? [Is this the small LED similar to what Glen gave out in the car-painting meet?] BTW that powerpack looks badass! It could porbably power my studio strobes!!

getting the technique and gear sorted

I have heaps of questions about the equipment but will only ask if allowed. [I know that there is a little bit of secrecy in lightpainting circles re: equipment and power sources etc.] I love the light from the light wands.

[craig.rohse]

Looks like you had some fun

The images look great, count me in for the next meet.

I do like the location as well, ads to the photos.

[Glen]

Gerry, very impressive and look like a great night as well!

[Geoff M]

The first is the standout for me, all good work though and something I have not yet tried. Will have to have a go soon. Some info on shooting technique would be much appreciated.

[biggerry]

Sorry for not turning up. Had to attend to a family emergency. I would have been banished if I said "um...I have a photo shoot

no problem Suren, fully understand..

I hope there were more people than you and Wendell

yeah called cameron up and he rocked up later in the night - the funniest thing was, cameron rings me at the end of Darling Harbour..
[cam] - "so where are you guys?"
[gerry] - " hold on, just let me turn this thing on"...*fires up LEDS and starts waving*..."can you see me?"
[cam] - " ahh yeah"

The curves and lines and very nice but there has to be a way to integrate them to a wider theme

correct, thats what I am finding, the pictures are..'cool thats neat', however I need to go to the next level in terms of composition. I think darker environments will be my next move.

I can see a pop of flash and then some lightpainting added in. Where were you located in relation to the models?

wendell had the flashgun going whilst workign the girls, I am not sure where those funky light trails came from, maybe the girls had some light stick thingy...
I suspect wendell will have a better perspective on this scene since his camera was to the right of me.

BTW that powerpack looks badass! It could porbably power my studio strobes!!

lol, could probably also power a few developing nations... (thats wendells powerpak)

I have heaps of questions about the equipment but will only ask if allowed. [I know that there is a little bit of secrecy in lightpainting circles re: equipment and power sources etc.] I love the light from the light wands.

secrecy is for tossers, ask away! I will get some images of my DIY number soon.

Basically I had two systems, cold cathode and LEDS.

LEDS are just 10mm ones from Jaycar (3 bucks each, cost varies depending on colour), i used old computer plugs and wiring to hook them up to 4 or 2 AA battery packs (1.95 jaycar) - different colours draw different currents and also fry at different currents . lots of zip ties, heat shrink and solder, all standard items in the toolbox.. Attached all these to a couple of bits of string (old drawstrings actually )

Cold Cathodes, bought a few from a local computer shop, 8 bucks each, comes with inverter (can power two off one inverter) these are 12V items, they only draw 1.5milliamps but will drain AA baterries pretty quick, that said it lasted fine and danady last night. The bacttery holder I used was a jaycar, it is a qty 8 AA holder giving a bit under 12V. The reason i wanted all AA was I did not want to have to go out and buy more batteries that I wont use.

Zip-tied cold cathodes to a garden stake (the plastic recycled type), free from the petti-coat government (just dont tell her), then rubber banded the power pack to the handle...

Looks like you had some fun

that it certianly was

[Steffen]

I'd love to join the next light-painting meet, just to watch you guys work and see how it's done. I have yet to pick up my jaw from the floor…

Cheers
Steffen.

[colin_12]

Glad to see that all went off well.
Still bummed I could not get there, another after Chrissy would be great.

[Willy wombat]

Come down to Melbourne guys!

[dviv]

Sorry I couldn't make it guys - last minute family thing.

it looks like you had a great time and The photos are awesome Gerry - Well done!

Looking forward to the next one!

[wendellt]

hi gary

images look great it seems like you have a knack for this sort of thing

here are my shots

it was a fun night thankyou for coming

[Willy wombat]

Do you have any shots of the set up guys?

[surenj]

Wendell,
I quite like the lines, curves and colors in the second. The lights interact with the sculpture well. Were you using multicoloured fluoro lights at the same time to get this effect??

[biggerry]

Do you have any shots of the set up guys?

I will post some images of my DIY gear soon, we did not really take any 'setup' shots of us in action.

Were you using multicoloured fluoro lights at the same time to get this effect??

the pictures will speak a thousand words here Suren, the white light is Wendell's fluoro which was very effective, the green and red are the cathode tubes, the pointy lights are the LEDS (red, green and blue).

Come down to Melbourne guys!

I do go to lovely Melbourne for work, I will put a shout out if I am down there and have some gear with me (getting all those batteries on the plane will be fun)

I'd love to join the next light-painting meet, just to watch you guys work and see how it's don

another after Chrissy would be great.

I reckon tee this up with the overnight session at Cockatoo island...early next year!

[biggerry]

Do you have any shots of the set up guys?

I love the light from the light wands.

as promised a few images of my electrical hazard!

click for larger

LED and power packs




action shot


Cold Cathode Powerpak (qty 8 AA)



Light wand (old garden stake)



Action shot

[surenj]

Thanks for taking the time to post these Gerry.

Now I can understand how the lights came about. Very cool idea with the cold cathode. Was there much soldering involved?

I am guessing this cold cathode technology is the same as Electro luminescent wire that I got from ebay?

[auxr8220]

awesome work, my favourite is the first picture

[biggerry]

Now I can understand how the lights came about. Very cool idea with the cold cathode. Was there much soldering involved?

not really, the only soldering I did was to join spliced wires and shrink the 'heat-shrink' to get a bit of insulation, really you could do the same with a bit of electrical tape and a razor blade.

I am guessing this cold cathode technology is the same as Electro luminescent wire that I got from ebay?

not too sure to be honest, I know the cold cathode is similar tech. to that of flouro lights and hence things are pretty fragile and your are dealing with fairly high voltages so some care is required not to break them or get a nasty zap.

if you need and details of my frankstein DIY let me know and if you want to play with'em just PM. I will be up your way towards the end of Jan.

[Willy wombat]

sensational - thanks for the pics!!! They help a lot