LOOOng time no show

[!~DeViNe~DaRkNeSs~!]

Has been a long time since I have been about here....sorry but life has been busy..
Have heard all about this light painting business so had my first go the other night behind my house after a ride...
Just playing about but very happy with results so bought a corded remote to have a better crack next time....also will clean the bike before next time haha.
Any suggestions as what torch to use? I used a 12LED super cheap auto work light.... next time I might put a white sock over it just to soften it alittle
Tips or hints in a polite manner welcome. Yes u can see alittle of the light to the right lol

[gstark]

Welcome back. I know about how life gets in the way of doing stuff that you like.

Nice effort; light painting can be a lot of fun, and many here have played in that sandpit. I'm sure you'll get some very interesting responses ...

[zafra52]

Welcome back and nice picture too.

[ozimax]

Welcome back.

[biggerry]

Tips or hints in a polite manner welcome. Yes u can see alittle of the light to the right lol]

polite eh?

vehicle light-painting is always fun, like any type of photography you need to nail the technique and then concentrate on the composition and surrounding elements. The actually illumination is easy, you can use a LED torch inside a softbox (or flash) and this gives nice diffused even light then just walk it around the vehicle making sure you shield the light from the camera, hence the softbox is good for this.

The other elements and composition is where you will make a picture that is more than.... just a cool lightpainting technique. For stuff like this the Background plays the most important part. in you image the bright road at the end of the lane distratcs and draws the viewer away from the bike. try another spot

have a look at previous images on this forum - particularly look at Wink's images of cars.. very cool.

there are plenty of other images here too.. planes too viewtopic.php?f=18&t=42431&p=442156&hilit=light+paint#p442156

just for kicks and giggles I did this one the other week..

Out with the old, in with the new.. by Gerard Blacklock, on Flickr

[Matt. K]

Traditionally, PWL was employed to solve a particular problem, for instance, how do you photograph a very large subject at night if you only have one light. Imagine something like a train wreck or an overturned semi trailer that had to be recorded for forensic purposes or some other very large subject such as an amphitheatre or church interior. A flashgun, fired multiple times overlapping each shot, or a large spotlight kept in motion were the usual techniques employed. For very large structures the light operator would dress in dark clothing and keep himself, or, horror of horrors, herself... in motion so as not to be recorded on the film. The operator could work in front of the camera this way. The lens was usually stopped down to about f 11 or f16 so as to further inhibit image ghosting. There was a particular photographer whose name escapes me, he was featured in one of the more up-market camera magazine of the 1970s, his pictures were beautiful, softly lit church dome interiors of exceptional beauty, the images captured on a 5 x 4 plate camera. This was the first time that I became aware that the technique could be useful for artistic purposes. When done skillfully it produces a lovely, shadow free, high detail lighting that can have a pleasing painterly effect. I have seen it used on still life table top type pics...flowers in a vase etc with stunning results. It's nice to see some forum members keeping the technique alive.

[!~DeViNe~DaRkNeSs~!]

Thanks guys awesome advice!
I'm thinking it's quite difficult finding a dark background so it doesn't overpower the subject but I will get on the map at some stage and hunt somewhere.
I have solved the light issue by putting a white sock over the LED, tested it the other day and it comes up perfect however I got a second light to light the ground as the sock light now isn't strong enough lol