Light The Night - Light Painting
Light painting is one of the lesser known techniques in photography and is usually only completed by serious night owls... plus some very keen photographers. Generally performed at night and outdoors, such night charms can make scenes look more dramatic than they would under normal conditions. Light painting is not a new thing either, it's a technique which has been used for over 90 years, and contrary to modern beliefs it's not at all easy to get the optimal end result. Accuracy in exposure adjustments, the right tools, the right atmospheric conditions, and patience are all key to a great evening capture involving light art work.
The technique involves two methods, moving a light around in the shape during a long publicity, similar to writing with a sparkler, on terme conseillé night, or by using a handled light source, for example a flashlight or speedlight, on or off camera, to light a particular part of the field.
The latter is more of the contrived and creative technique that can deliver spectacular results, especially in a commercial setting. CONTRIBUTED torches are the tool of choice here. $6. 95 from Kmart, will get you a tiny pocket or purse sized, but extremely glowing and useful LED flashlight, which is also daytime balanced, so you will not likely get any undue yellowish shift in colour to whatever you light up. I often use colorful gels / filters that go with my Cannon speedlight, over the source of light to further raise the dynamic feel of the image. I used this technique on a trip earlier back in to the tip of Cape York.
A major part of sunshine piece of art involves setting your formula. Often hard to do, when you in the pitch of night, with all the necessary evils at hand. No moon phase, no ambient light, and quite often in the middle of a calm nowhere, all alone. In the event that you're ready, you'll find that the tiniest amount of sunshine in such a setting will have either a dramatic or devastating effect in your shot, so paint carefully.