[Cadence]

Painting with light.

Every camera should have a manual setting. Use a tripod or find a steady place to set your camera and set the shutter speed for a long exposure (usually this'll be done in a dark room or at night if outside).

Take a flashlight or an external flash (or any light source you want) and get creative with how you use the light on your subject.

Make sure your subject is in focus. No blurry photos should be accepted for this. The point is to get a good image and learn control of your camera, lighting and subject.

And we're off.....!

[ApparentlyNothing]

Ah, something I've wanted to try. Great idea. Now I just need to think of what to photograph.

[jump5fan]

this might be kind of hard for me because i use a point and shoot camera but that will also make it more fun. i only have one qestion, why start a new photo challenge now? the poll for the Holiday Photo Challenge is still open for three more days.

[redbaron]

because he can? he won the previous challenge, and the holiday challenge was just a bonus.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Here's a question.... could we get examples? I need some inspiration/direction for the idea. A Flickr group or set would suffice.

[Cadence]

http://www.flickr.com/groups/lightpainting/pool/

[asiammyself]

hmmm this seems interesting....so does it work best with a light source or could I use something like my fingers?.....Could something like a laser pointer work?

[Rainer.]

Laser pointers are generally not bright and wide enough to do this effectively, while flashlights usually have too diffused of a light (well, you'll get what looks like several streaks). Pen lights and candles and other small lights usually work like a charm.

Here is the classic 1924 portrait of Picasso painting with light.

[asiammyself]

Ok, so lets say im looking to get an effect like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicki_b...lightpainting/
Would I be able to do something like that with: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...BSNQZ6EEW1PACN

[Cadence]

here's someone using a laser pointer

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by asiammyself

Ok, so lets say im looking to get an effect like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicki_b...lightpainting/
Would I be able to do something like that with: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...BSNQZ6EEW1PACN

Don't know. Try it out That's the point of the challenges.

[Art]

I have absolutely no idea how to do this. I hope I can find my CF card, so I can give it a shot.

[Rainer.]

Originally Posted by Art

I have absolutely no idea how to do this. I hope I can find my CF card, so I can give it a shot.

If you can manually set your shutter speed, try setting it for the really long times, 10-30 seconds, and you just draw in the air.

[Art]

But won't that capture my movement, as well? I am about 90% sure I can set my shutter speed.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by Art

But won't that capture my movement, as well? I am about 90% sure I can set my shutter speed.

Not if it's dark enough that you can only see the light.