Simple shot. White board and a paint brush. Light trails from a mag-lite, with a custom aluminium foil 'snood' and some hand shaping of the beam. Just waved the flashlight around until I got the effect I wanted.
Shot with a 100mm macro lens, aperture set after a couple of trials to give good depth of field while enough light over the exposure time. Camera on a tripod and triggered using the timer.
Minimal corrections done - small amount of spoting to remove some dust and hot pixels. Bit of selective gaussian blur applied to tidy up the trails. Levels, curves and saturation adjusted marginally, mainly to boost contrast and tidy up the shadows.
Exposure/ levels/ white balance all as shot.
Statistics
Place: 1 out of 120 Avg (all users): 8.3881 Avg (commenters): 9.1833 Avg (participants): 8.1412 Avg (non-participants): 8.5690 Views since voting: 56425 Votes: 201 Comments: 172 Favorites: 408 (view)
I just borrowed some Popular Photography magazines from the library. Interestingly, in the November 2007 issue, there's a very similar photo by their 2005 Photographer of the Year, Michael Soo. (In an article about using stuff bought from a hardware shop for props.)
This is a fantastic shot. I am a mature student studying photograph at Stamford College in the UK. My Final piece is going to be based on painting with light and you piece have certainly inspired me. Well done on winning.
Even after all this time, it's hard for me NOT to come back to this to look at it. So simple yet so very compelling to me - the movement of the image combined with the gaussian blur make it a continuing favorite of mine.
Thanks - but there wasn't any gaussian blur used in this shot.
But you said there was: "...Bit of selective gaussian blur..."
A true enough, but it was only on the small 1 cm diameter spot immediately above the bristles - probably not where you think it is.
Even after all this time, it's hard for me NOT to come back to this to look at it. So simple yet so very compelling to me - the movement of the image combined with the gaussian blur make it a continuing favorite of mine.
Thanks - but there wasn't any gaussian blur used in this shot.
But you said there was: "...Bit of selective gaussian blur..."
Even after all this time, it's hard for me NOT to come back to this to look at it. So simple yet so very compelling to me - the movement of the image combined with the gaussian blur make it a continuing favorite of mine.
Thanks - but there wasn't any gaussian blur used in this shot.
Even after all this time, it's hard for me NOT to come back to this to look at it. So simple yet so very compelling to me - the movement of the image combined with the gaussian blur make it a continuing favorite of mine.
One of the few images that live up to its title. An expert and almost magical rendition from a very creative person with a unique ultra sense of observation.
Amazing pic Gordon! You got all the elements together here, exposure, composition, lighting, everything. This is a once in a lifetime pic that will be difficult to better. Congrats man, respect!
Gordon, this shot is great! A well deserved first place ribbon. Although your setup was fairly simple, this shot has a real magical quality to it. The title is also very fitting. Congrats!
JD
Gordon, I have to ask about the 'snood'? Is this something you fabricated to control the beam of light from the maglite? Something maybe to concentrate the beam?
First, its a small maglite - lens end is probably about 1 - 2cm across. I used a 3 inch square piece of aluminium foil and wrapped it around the end of the maglite, so you have a tube leading away from the bulb, projecting out about 2 inches. Then you can scrunch and flatten the foil in any way you like. I used this to create a oval 'brush' that was thin and wide, and some of the back scatter from the foil also gives the harder edges on the brush strokes.
It takes a bit of playing to get used to the 'brush' stroke you need to use, this is where the digital feedback is invaluable - try something, check how it looks, try again.
If it isn't exposed enough, use the brush more 'heavily' (linger, go over areas multiple times, change the lens focus, open up the foil) or increase the exposure/ decrease the aperture/ change the ISO
Thanks again for all the comments! Here's some more info on how it was done.
It was a 30 second shot, in a dark room. I used a mag-lite (flashlight/ torch in Europe) to draw the light trails in, moving the light around against the white background where I wanted it. I flicked the light across the paintbrush a few times and stroked around under the edges to highlight those too, and stuck it into the bristles from behind to add the glow.
I used a aluminium/ aluminum/ tin (call it what you will!) foil cover on the end of the light to help me shape it appropriately - you can see the effect of that in the edge 'swirls' that have texture to them. Easy to bend/shape the end of the light by squishing the foil.
I figured I wanted more paint/light at the tip of the brush so I concentrated it a bit more heavily there.
The blue colour comes from setting a custom white balance using a reference card prior to the shot, then tuning it slightly in Photoshop.
I did a small amount of cloning to remove some small light flares and dust - also there was a pencil line on the back board where I'd traced out and planned the shot ahead of times which was blurred out of the final shot. The light trails and everything else you see are as shot - nothing was added, only cleaned up or removed - and even then not much at all.
Took about 15 minutes to do the whole thing from concept to finished result.
Gordon, I have to ask about the 'snood'? Is this something you fabricated to control the beam of light from the maglite? Something maybe to concentrate the beam?
I really liked this photo. It is totally awesome and I wish someone could tell how to get it to work. Maybe ( although this was impressive) I'll look forward to seeing one like it by you in the future.
Gordan I was very fasinated by your photo it is very different than any I have seen. I would love to try it someday and see what results I get from it... Great shot.
This is one of my favorites of all the site. Congratulations on an inspirated artistic idea, and a great result. It's amazing and encouraging. BRAVO!!!
Well, it took you nearly two years, but you've finally managed to show some improvement since starting at DPC. ;) Awesome shot, it's going straight into my favorites.
Congratulations Gordon - were you aware of your score throughout the week? You must have been going mad :-) A clear and obvious winner from the moment if=t first came up on screen
Has to be a ribbon. Unpretentious in its literalism, and the focus is bang on. I love the broken lines of light-- addes interest and the smooth blue tones going to midnight in the corners is wonderful. 10
Probable winner right here. To be thematically consistent, it mighta been nice to have no light trials underneath the brush, ie, where you haven't "painted" yet. But that's a very small nit. Nice job.
Absoluteluy fabulous! I haven't handed out this score since participating in these. but in my mind you have done it well and met all criteria. I must add...WOW!
Well done. I might like to have seen farther back on the light trail and maybe a hand holding the brush, but still one of the three best in the challenge.
I dont know how to vote on this subject but I think this looks very professional focus and composition are great probably a winner Nice colour and sharp 8
Wonderful execution of the idea here. Everything is smooth and whimsical; fitting for an image titled "Fantasia." I wish there was a bit more space in the top and left to keep the "flow" going, but by no means does that make this bad. :) I love it.
10 - this better win. Of all the photos, this is the most amazing shot I've seen. I love this! You did a wonderful job, I wish you luck in pulling a ribbon!!
This has got to be the winner in this round. Creative, beautifully composed, sharp as pin, tastefully designed. Simple, beautiful. What more can I say. You deserve the blue one!
This is absolutely awesome, a definate 10 in my books. Color, composition, lighting... its fantastic. Tell me, what post processing has been done in PS?
awesome pic....a very well defined photo. It fits the subject "painting with light" to the T.
I gave you a 10! I would, as well as others would like to know how this was done after the voting!
I'm not a member anymore, so I can't vote. But this is beautiful. Wonderful execution of a simple idea, and an idea I thought would be boring to see. Nice use of the negative space, could have used more with same impact. Good job! I give you a virtual 10! (bamaster)
There are several who have done this idea .... this one is by far the best of them. Sensational shot, meets the challenge on several different levels. Masterful, I am highly impressed! 10 - Absolutely no doubt. Has to be a ribbon here, certainly my favourite by far.
Excellently executed and one I cannot find fault on.
One of the handful that have used the accepted photographic definition of "painting with light" and also an excellent pun.
still looking for a fault - still can't find one.
Still can't....
even the damn border is a perfect choice.
I do hope you are making money from your photography. If I can you certainly could
David
ps
Still can't find a damn thing wrong with it and I'm jealous.
Fantasia is a perfect title - the light reminds me of that. Great effect. Wish there wer a little less light around the handle of the brush - it takes away from the feeling the light is being laid out by the bristles. 8
Seems a couple of people had the same idea, but your execution of this idea is wonderful. Maybe just a tiny bit over exposed and the tips of the brush, but I like it that way. A 10.
We all knew that there would be a fair amount of shots just like this, but this one is BY FAR the best execution! There is no doubt that this should place for a ribbon and if not a blue one....then you got robbed! Can't wait to put this into my favorites
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