Light tagging or light painting is the art of using the movement of light to create images. It is a photography technique wherein the artist controls a light source — anything from a flashlight to glow sticks to flashing toys is fair game — to “paint” an image captured by a camera set for a long exposure time, anywhere from a couple of seconds to several minutes.
As much science as it is art, light painting’s experimental nature and unpredictability ensures no two light paintings will ever look exactly the same. This is what makes it so exciting and fun for those who dabble in it.
Even more impressive is when you find out that most light painters never edit or alter their work. No Photoshop, no Lightroom, no adjustments, nada. In the photography community, this is known as SOOC or Straight Out Of Camera.
While the hardware requirements are pretty basic (all you need to get started is a camera, a tripod, and a light source), the amount of technical skill and practice involved is quite high. Like any other art form, there are those in the field who are gifted with that rare mix of skill, talent, and creativity who elevate their craft to a whole new level.
Here are some of the world’s top light artists who are guaranteed to inspire your spirit and blow your mind.
BRIAN MATTHEW HART
Best known for his incredibly complex mosaics consisting of hundreds of individual photographic exposures pieced together, New York-based photographer Brian Matthew Hart’s work looks more like hand-drawn sketches than manipulated light.
HANNU HUHTAMO
Actively painting with light since 2008, Finnish visual artist Hannu Huhtamo first dabbled with the technique in the 90s when he decided to draw a pentagram using his lighter on a photo shoot with a death metal band. His dream-like style is the result of his DIY ethic: his shoots are mostly improvised, minimally-planned affairs pulled off using homemade LED flashlights and EL wires combined with recycled plastic bags as colored filters.
ERIC STALLER
Reverentially considered by many to be the father of modern light graffiti, Eric Staller’s work exploring the streets of New York in the late 70s earned him the nickname “The Light Master.” True to his reputation of being a genuine artist, he is still actively pursuing his calling and has since branched out into mixed media art and light sculpture among other creative projects.
TCB
Combining photography, graphic design, and performance art, TCB or Twin Cities Brightest prides himself in producing stunning images “…straight from the camera, no computer manipulation at all. Not even cropping or adjusting,” using fireworks, light swords, and a bevy of custom gadgets. TCB is also very prolific; you will get lost exploring his Flickr account which contains thousands of amazing photos complete with tutorials.
LAPP-PRO
A Bremen-based duo comprised of Jan Leonardo-Wollert and Jorg Miedza, their style differs from other light painters in the sense that they capture rehearsed and choreographed light performances, giving their work a distinct 3-dimensional installation effect.
MICHAEL ROSS
Also known as TXPilot, this self-proclaimed geek/nerd/techie is taking light photography to the next level not just doing amazing works of art, but also by inventing tools other light artists can use such as his Digital Light Wand, a programmable LED light strip that can control colors and light switching via software commands. He’s not called “The Mad Scientist” for nothing!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4drDxjGrx8Y
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