While many people use cameras to capture special events or even just daily memories, others have turned to digital imagery as a form of artwork. One way that you can use your camera as a paintbrush rather than a recorder is by participating in light painting.

First started by the avant-garde photographer Man Ray, light painting appears as streaks of light across a photograph. You may have already accidentally discovered this occurrence if you have taken pictures at night without a flash. Perhaps you noticed that any light sources in the photo made streaks across your image that corresponded with the movement of your hand holding your camera. This is the basis of light painting.

How to Prepare for Light Painting

There are many ways that you can utilize the light painting technique so that you can create interesting and beautiful images. First, you need to change a couple of settings on your camera to ready it for light painting. In order to have your camera open long enough to record the tracings of light, you need to slow down your shutter speed.

Next, you need to pick the light source that you will use. You can take a photograph of someone scribbling in the air if you take a picture of them a night, writing with a flashlight or a sparkler. You can also utilize a fixed light source, such as a street lamp. You can move your camera around in a shape, such as a heart, in order to get the light to streak into a heart shape.

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Light painting is an innovative way to create a compelling image. Just like a true painting, you can turn your light painting photograph into a canvas work of art that you can display for everyone to appreciate. For more information on the process of turning a photo into a canvas photo, please contact YourCanvasPhotos today.