Photograph by: The collective efforts of Claudia Ward, Peter Tooker & Sarah Ward
Most of you know that I've been taking an eClass on Night Photography. This week's assignment has been Light Painting. Quite honestly, it's not the easiest form of photography to explain, but I encourage everyone to explore the subject in detail with Kent Weakley in his classes.
For the purpose of this post, let me simply say that light painting is done in a completely dark environment, with sources of light like flashlights, pen lights, and small LEDs. For this kind of photography, shutter speed is almost a "none-event" ... you can open the shutter, paint a still-life scene with various colored lights and when you're done simply close the shutter. It's a very different way of thinking ... at least for this photographer. The results are unpredictable at the start, happy accidents as you practice and improve, and thrillingly dramatic and artistic as you give yourself to the process, and the freedom and creativity it affords.
Now picture this: my little sister, my husband, and me, all in a roughly 8x8 bathroom, in the dark with the windows covered to blacken the room. We are all dressed in black and bent over a small bench which is draped with a black cloth, holding a sometimes empty and sometimes full martini glass. One of us is holding multiple flashlights covered with colored gels, one of us is operating small battery operated LED lights, and the last of us is counting out seconds .... in the dark. This environment is electrified with anticipation but also dangerous, because who in their right mind would put three grown adults in a small, dark room, with expensive camera equipment, a tripod, and fine glass ... no one I know!
The images in this slide show are the results of our very first foray into Light Painting. We had fun and can see the potential, we hope you do too. PLEASE, let us know what you think and if you have suggestions, we'll gladly receive them too.
BTW, Happy New Year to One and All! "see you on the flip side!"
Photos & slide show: the collective efforts of Claudia Ward, Peter Tooker and Sarah Ward
Music: West End Blues by Bob Barnard on Jazz Giants - the album
And we like your smile, Kent. Thanks for sharing so much of what you know. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Claudia | Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 04:02 PM
Fabulous video! It's great to see all the time you put into this. Awesome job, creative and very well done. Makes me smile :)
Posted by: Kent Weakley | Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 03:07 PM
very interesting colours. but the thought of the process makes the photos more enjoyable for sure.
Posted by: ally | Wednesday, January 04, 2012 at 07:46 PM
Happy New Year to you all. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm! More in 2012!
Posted by: Claudia | Friday, December 30, 2011 at 05:11 PM
loved the pictures, the music, the story........Happy Healthy Prosperous New Year
Posted by: carl | Friday, December 30, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Well done! How creative and it does look like fun. I can see you selling these in a fully blown up size
Posted by: Carol | Friday, December 30, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Absolutely Luminisious !!! love it !! now all you need is a martini painted with phosphoresent (sp) paint !.. I would love to see an infared photo of the 3 of you working on this! You continue to impress and surprise!
Posted by: Robert | Friday, December 30, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Oh you kids... the things you come up with. Seriously creative, fun, tons of what if's. Loved it and bravo!
Posted by: BAFA Studio | Friday, December 30, 2011 at 10:58 AM
It was a lot of fun!!!!!!!!!! and not as easy as one would think. Now that I am home, I have a couple of ideas and can't wait to try them in the next day or two.
Posted by: Sally | Friday, December 30, 2011 at 09:25 AM