I saw a really cool technique called "light painting" yesterday so I just had to try it. You select a very slow shutter speed (mine was 30 seconds for this one) and then trace or draw something with a light (I used a big flashlight). I was describing the process to Diego last night and he said, "COOOOL!" and was all over it when I asked him if he wanted to try with me. We decided to go into the garage (where it was stifling hot, I might add) and I set up the camera at one end and he positioned himself at the other. I set the camera on the self timer for 10 seconds and ran behind him and got ready. As soon as the shutter clicked open, I traced his body with the flashlight. We had so much fun running back to the camera to see the results and some of the were pretty funny looking. I was having trouble figuring out how to get his feet outlined all the way so I ended up angling the flashlight around his toes which ended up giving the cool light effect on the floor. When we got the hang of it, I told him it would be cool to make it look like he was shooting light out of his hands. Like I really need to tell you what his reaction was ....he's a nine year old boy, afterall. On the next try, after tracing him, I turned the flashlight off, moved it to his hand, turned it back on and moved it up and down. Then I turned it off and repeated on the other hand. It was a race against the clock/shutter and he was repeating "Go! Go! Go! Go!" over and over again. SO! MUCH! FUN!!! I can't wait to try it again! When we came back in the house, I cropped it and added a neon effect which made the light at his feet look like flames and with Diego looking over my shoulder shouting "WHOOOOAAAH!!!! THAT'S AWESOME!!!" I put a frame around it and called it done. My boy is thrilled with it and THAT is MY awesome. ;)
(Diego) (according to him, aka - "Lord Diego, The Other Boy Who Lived")
That is too cool! I had fun trying out light painting a few days back but I didn't try anything that complicated. Now i'm feeling inspired; super-cool shot!
@daizynorth - Thank you! It was loads of fun, especially since I had a partner that wasn't whining "Awww, come on, mom!" ;) Can't wait to try more. Thinking of outlining the whole family. ACK! ;)
