Complete Guide to Light Painting Photography: Tips, Techniques, and Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Camera for Light Painting

Sometimes called light drawing or light graffiti, light painting is the photographic technique of using a moving light source—such as a flashlight, glow stick, light brush, or even a smartphone—to alter an image while taking a long exposure photograph. Instead of just capturing an image as-is, light painters add another element by highlighting an object or creating streaks, colors, or flashes within the image.

As with any specialized kind of photography, you’re going to want to play around with your camera settings in order to figure out the exact ones to use for the effect you desire. But there are some specifics that can help you get started with light painting.

The most essential thing that’s different from the majority of the photos you’ll probably take is the fact that you’re going to want a long exposure. We’re talking really long: at least 30 seconds, if not longer, depending on what you’re creating. A long exposure allows your camera to capture motion in a blur, while stationary objects stay crisp. In the case of light paintings, the motion will be a light source.

Here are the most basic settings you’re going to need to set on your camera in order to successfully get that long exposure and create a light painting:

• Mode: Manual or bulb
• Shutter speed: 30 seconds
• F-stop or aperture: 8 or 10
• ISO: 100

1. 1. Determine base exposures. You need to determine the base exposures of the ambient light, before you even add any new light painting elements. Because you’re working with long exposure times, it can help to set your ISO to six stops higher than the ISO you’ll be using. If you’re using ISO 100, that means you’ll set it to ISO 6400. At that ISO, figure out how many seconds you need to expose the ambient light. One second at ISO 6400 is equal to one minute at ISO 100. Once you’ve figured out the exposure in seconds, set the ISO back to 100 and check the exposure in minutes. If it matches up, you have your base exposure time.
2. 2. Focus the image. It’s important to focus your image before you start light painting, but that can be difficult in the dark. This is where the manual focus setting is useful. If you have the option of turning on an overhead light, you can do that in order to focus the camera. But if you don’t have an overhead light—like if you’re shooting outside—you can simply point a light source at a part of your scene that you know needs to be in focus. Leave that light source on as long as you’re focusing and turn it off once you’ve found your focus.
3. 3. Begin the exposure. This is the fun part! It’s time to begin your exposure and start painting. The majority of cameras will allow exposure times of up to 30 seconds, so if you want a longer exposure time than that, set your shutter speed to bulb mode. Bulb mode means the camera will keep taking the photo until your finger leaves the shutter button (or remote shutter release).

You’ll need some basic equipment to create light painting photography, as well as some slightly more complicated camera settings. We’ll go over both. First, let’s discuss equipment.

• Camera. You’ll need a camera in order to create light painting. A DSLR digital camera with manual settings offers the customizability and accessories you’ll need to get the best light painting results. However, you can also use an iPhone to create light paintings. It’s a good lower cost entry to the art, as most people already have phones. But if you’re choosing to go that route, you’ll need an app that’s designed specifically for light painting—and many of the other tips listed here won’t be relevant.
• Tripod. In a long exposure photograph, your shutter is open for a long time, which means that any movement, no matter how small, can lead to a blurred image. In light painting, some blurs—the ones you create with your light source—are actually desired. However, blurring as a result of camera shake will result in a muddled image. To combat camera shake, make sure you have a good, sturdy tripod. The only exception to this tripod requirement is if you’re doing kinetic light painting, which we’ll go over below.
• Light sources. You can use nearly any tool as a light source for a light painting, but each one will have a different effect—and even a different color. Examples of popular light sources for light painting include light painting brushes, flashlights, lasers, glow sticks, strobe lights, candles, LED lights, even string lights. It’s worth experimenting with different light sources to see which ones work best for your desired effect.
• Remote shutter release. When shooting with a long shutter speed, even the slightest motion can blur the image. This means that unless you’re doing kinetic light painting, you really don’t want to touch your camera or tripod. Instead, invest in a remote shutter release or a cable release for your camera. These tools allow you to snap the image without ever touching your camera! If you’re not ready to invest in a remote shutter release or cable release, the timer function on your camera will also do.
• Stopwatch. A stopwatch can be helpful for light painting, particularly if you’re moving the light sources yourself. You’ll need to keep your shutter open long enough for you to complete your light painting, and counting the seconds in your head can be distracting and difficult. Instead, use a stopwatch to time your movements, then make any necessary adjustments to your shutter speed or movement speed.
• Color gels. A color gel is a transparent colored material that goes over your lens and changes the color of the image you’re capturing. You can buy them online, at camera stores, or even make them yourself out of colored pieces of transparent plastic. Color gels are great for changing the tint of the light you’re working with. Use these if you’re going for certain effects, but they probably won’t be necessary every single time.

There are three main types of light sources for light painting:

1. 1. On-camera light source. An on-camera light source means the element creating the light is a visible subject. With this technique, you actually step within the frame of the image and use a light source to “paint.” It’s a good idea to wear dark clothing if you’re choosing this technique, so that you don’t show up in the image yourself.
2. 2. Off-camera light source. With an off-camera light source, you’re going to shine a light from outside the frame of the photo onto a section of the thing you’re photographing. Off camera light sources are great for highlighting specific objects or for changing the overall tone of the image.
3. 3. Kinetic light painting. With kinetic light painting, you’re actually going to move the camera, not the light source. So, for example, you could create a candle light painting with the light emitted from a candle.

There are a number of different light painting tips techniques worth keeping in mind. These include:

1. 1. Paint from different angles. Rather than shining a light from behind your camera (or directly at it), try painting surfaces from the side or above to bring out their textures. Shine a light source at ground level to add dimension and detail to the surface—this effect is especially great for grassy areas.
2. 2. Wear the right clothing. If you’re using an on-camera light source, make sure your light is the focus of your photo (rather than the person holding it) by having them wear dark, non-reflective clothing.
3. 3. Use a red filter for testing. When setting up your shots, it’s important to keep your eyes acclimated to the low-light setting. Instead of using traditional flashlights, which will ruin your night vision, try attaching a red filter to your testing lights.
4. 4. Experiment with different surfaces. Reflective surfaces like metal, glass, and mirrors can create surprising effects in light painting. For other applications, rougher surfaces like stucco and wood absorb more light, while transparent materials like cloth can filter your light source in interesting ways.
5. 5. Experiment with movement speed. How bright your light painting will be depends on how quickly you move your light source. For instance, the longer you hold a light source in a specific spot, the more time your camera sensor will have to absorb it, and the brighter it will appear in the finished photo. Experiment with fast and slow movements to create shading effects that add complexity to your photos.

Although light painting has been around almost as long as photography has existed, digital cameras have made light painting techniques easier than ever. Some of the very first light paintings were created when a pair of French photographers who were studying movement attached incandescent bulbs to one of their assistants in 1889. The resulting light painting looks simplistic compared to the work artists create today, which tends toward the psychedelic.

Here are a few contemporary photographers known for their work with light painting:

1. 1. LAPP-PRO. The person behind LAPP-PRO is JanLeonardo and he’s one of the best known light painting photographers right now. His work combines choreographed manipulation of light, performance art, time, and photography.
2. 2. Hannu Huhtamo. Hannu Huhtamo is known for his flowers and structures that look as though they could be CGI creations.
3. 3. Michael Bosanko. Michael Bosanko’s work has a playful, whimsical quality. He uses light to create otherworldly scenes that can include humans, animals, and well-known motifs.

Finally, the most important thing to remember with light painting is to experiment, have fun, and develop your own style. Light painting a medium that provides so many ways to express yourself, so dive in and see what grabs you.

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