The painting with light technique was first developed by forensic photographers who needed to capture scenes of crime or road accident scenes often in complete darkness with the evidence scattered over a wide area. Moving the evidence was not an option, they wanted to show the scene as a whole and the placements within that scene. To use a flash gun was not very successful because the light falls off very quickly the further it gets from the camera, so further away objects are inadequately lit.
The system they developed was to photograph the scene with the shutter set to open and then to move around the scene with a powerful flashlight highlighting the points they wanted to be clear. Landscape photographers often use a variation on this too by using long shutter speeds and then moving around the foreground with a handheld flash gun firing it off when required to lighten shadows and add texture and interest to the foreground.

But what I going to explain is a simple version that most people will be able to do and achieve some very interesting lighting effects with their existing camera.

Equipment required: Camera that has a long shutter speed setting or B setting, a small keyring torch that focuses to a concentrated beam of light and a subject to photograph.
I am using: Canon G6 compact cam, MAGlite solitaire torch, tripod (a pile of books is just as good).

Technique: Set up your subject in a room that can be blacked out or shoot at night. You want to be able to get to the subject easily, it should be 2 - 3 ft away from any background, it is preferable to have a dark background wall or use a dark fabric.
Set the camera white balance to 'Tungsten' and the ISO to its lowest, then set the camera for its longest shutter speed, mine is 15secs. Set the aperture to the smallest, mine is F8. Set the timer control to a short time delay eg.2secs before it fires the shutter or use a remote control if you have one. Make sure the cameras built in flash is set to off.

Now set your camera upon your tripod or pile of books and frame the subject using a medium zoom amount. If your camera focuses in the dark you're lucky and can leave the cam on AF, but for a lot of people you will need to set the focus now and lock it in focus by pressing the manual focus button.

OK almost ready to shoot, but before you switch out the light focus your torch so that it is the smallest beam as possible.

Switch out the room light and use the torch to find your way to and around the cam.

Press the shutter button or use remote control being careful not to upset anything.

Use the torch to paint light over the subject in the areas where you want it. Try working behind it with backlight etc. but keep out the frame. Use the torch from one side or both and experiment to get the effect you want. Be very careful not to move anything - camera / subject or it will appear blurred.

Almost anything is a suitable subject, in my gallery there is an example of using it on a picture on the wall and flowers. Use it to write things on a blank wall. Use glassware or ornaments for some very interesting compositions. Perhaps a room setting lit in a special way.

Message edited on: 11/27/2005 14:29

This shot from my gallery was done by putting the flower in a small necked glass and using the above technique. Exposure time was 15secs, F8, ISO50. I gave the flower one quick burst of light from the front in the centre, then worked around the outside shining the torch down into the petals and from underneath. I hope you try this, post some images, and enjoy experimenting with the intertesting effects as much as I do. Richard.

What a gorgeous shot Richard.I certainly will try this.Thank you for taking the time to explain how this was done.

Going to save this for sure. Thanks Richard.

BOOKMARK!!!! BOOOOOOKMAAAAARKK I TELL YA!!!!! Thanks Richard, mighty fine explanation and absolutely gorgeous shot. #:o)

adding to the tips & tuts! thank you Richard!!! hugz i luv it! :]

way to go Richard!...pure genius...pushing the standard even higher!

Message edited on: 11/27/2005 15:54

Many thanks Richard... this is very interesting... Ill try it too !

Outstanding work!!!!!!! I will surtainly try to do this :) But Ill have to print out how to do...the words are "jumping" for me :) THANK U SOOO MUCH 4 letting us know :) Puss

Thank you for sharing this technique.

Richard, that is fascinating! i never heard of such a way of shooting before!!!! Certainly the effect is FABULOUS!!! Is that how you did "She Sleeps?" i kept trying to figure out the lighting on that one and never could; that's why i asked about it when i left you that comment. Did you do that one the same way??? thanks so much for telling!!! i might have to try this! :)

Thank you to all for your welcoming response :) Yes shiela - the paint brush is not obligatory though ;)

I'm familiar with the process, but have not tried it much myself. Excellent example and tutorial Richard!

Thanks for directing me to this info Richard, well done and very clear.

Interesting to learn how this technique was developed. I read about this subject in a photography magazine but your version is more cool, and so is your beautiful flower photo. I must try this sometime.