My "Get Pushed" challenge for this week from @sjoblues was light painting or light trails. I was REALLY intimidated by this challenge because I still struggle with so many of the "easy" photography challenges, I thought there is no way I could do this. Luckily, I happened to come across a really simple video on how to do this technique.
I was attempting to write the word Hi, but I don't know, I'm kind of liking this abstract butterfly. Or maybe you don't see a butterfly. Rorschach anyone?
I've done no editing to this shot because, well let's be honest, I'm just thrilled to get the technique down.
Light painting is the most fun technique I learned during my 365. The term can refer to so many different ways of using light, but I've always enjoyed it in all the forms I've tried it. So yes, good for you, you've just found yourself something to do in dark closets. ;)
@mej2011 Hey, I'm a Finn. We're known for our modesty and bashfulness, I'm just trying to fight the standard. :D Focusing on that particular sort of light painting is tricky, indeed. You need an assistant and manual focusing, or really small aperture + long enough distance + long enough exposure (bulb mode). Have fun figuring it out, it's really rewarding once you nail it. :)
@mej2011 When you turn the dial (or whatever you have to do) to get to the longer exposure times, bulb mode is usually the last one to come on that list. That's when you can choose the exposure time yourself. But manual focusing is going to be rather essential, in order to avoid your camera trying to focus again in the middle of your exposure. If you try light painting an object (like I've done several times, some pieces of evidence also in my project), you'll focus with the lights on and once you're happy with the focus, you turn the lights off. Easy as that. :)
Thanks so much for the challenge! It's my favorite challenge so far!
Because you expect me to be the type of person that hangs out in dark closets often? lol
Thanks Kareen!
Thanks Candace! I had just broken the light stick, I think if I had waited a little longer the color would have been brighter.
Thanks Penny! Hopefully, I'll remember to use this technique from time to time.
This was the video I used. The Light Painting comes in at 1:36 . The only difference was obviously my focus needs work, and I had to use 10 second instead of 2 timer as my camera doesn't allow for 2 seconds. http://www.buzzfeed.com/patchesrward/7-tricks-everyone-with-a-camera-should-know
You're welcome. Good luck!
modest much? lol. I do need to work on this technique since the focus is pretty bad here.
Blah manual focusing.lol. Ill try with an assistant next time. I don't think my camera has blub mode (unless Nikon calls it something different.)
And I just found Bulb mode. lol
And it being the 4th of July today, it would have been REALLY handy for me to remember where bulb mode was. lol