Light Painting Photography

I’ve really been enjoying my light painting photography at festivals recently. It’s such a fun thing to do, light painting photography is quite a random process and you never know how the images will look. It keeps it exciting.

How to light paint

It really does amaze people at festivals when they basically wave a torch/light source around in the air and see what they have created.

There’s no tricks or photoshop involved, it’s just photographic technique. Picasso was the first person to develop this and we are using exactly the same techniques today.

You need a camera where you can control the exposure and a dark environment. The camera shutter is opened but does not record you as it can’t detect you in the dark. The camera tower dopes pick up the a light source as you introduce it to the exposure.

You shoot light painting on a phone. HERE is a ‘how to’ video I put together for the brilliant Illuminate Festival in Oldham during lockdown.

Corporate Light Painting

Over the years I’ve worked with companies and organisations shooting at openings, as team building and providing staff led content for websites etc.

I’m really not sure if I’m the only photographer in the UK doing this but I’m not aware of anybody else. Ive worked with La Coste, BBC, Barclays and Manchester art Gallery to name just a few.

Light Painting at Festivals

All over the country there are some brilliant light and art festivals that I have done workshops/demonstrations at such as Doncaster Light Festival, Didsbury Arts Festival, Oldham Illuminate Festival, DIGIT Festival and Manchester International Arts festival. I’ve also shot at music festivals such as The Big Chill and Kendal calling. Here utilising a dark space attendees create their own light painting art within seconds. It’s nice to have a longer period of time with people and watch their creativity really come alive.

Aside from this I have also shot music album covers and book covers utilising this technique

Please get in touch if you are running an arts event or are a corporate client wanting something creative , different and unique.

timsimpsonphotography@gmail.com

07790787732