Light Painting Gear Guide - By Susan Magnano

Camera Gear

You can use DSLR, Mirrorless or even your smart phone. Just make sure it has long exposure capabilities. TIP: For the smartphones use built in night mode (iPhone) or Slowshuttercam App. Below is the gear I use.

Olympus OM-1

New to the market this Olympus is revolutionizing the way I create my light painting photos. The Live Composite feature is perfect for light painting because this unique mode gradually builds up an exposure over time without overexposing key elements within the frame. This mode works to only record newly detected light sources over time, and allows live view monitoring as an image develops.

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO Lens

This is a great lens for the Olympus and its Micro Four Thirds System 14-28mm (35mm Equivalent). Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22. Super sharp and small.

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Benro Cyan Bird- Carbon Fiber with 2-1 Head

I love this compact travel tripod for its portability, stability and ease. This new tripod has so many great features including that it ways 2.2 pounds. The 2-1 Head is great for because it has dual panning and a separate ball lock, tilt lock and removable adjustable pan handle for video or panos. I use it for hikes and walks around the city when I want to experiment with long exposures.

Benro Series 2 Adventure Carbon Fiber Tripod with B2 Ball Head

This tripod is great for when Im headed out on a trip and I may need more stability because of weather conditions. Like I may be by the ocean or on the mountain tops and be facing high winds. Or I want to leave my camera out shooting stars overnight and I know it wont blow over.

Benro Polaris Astro Edition 3-Axis Smart Tripod Head

Benro Polaris Astro Edition The Astro version is capable of all intelligent modes, and the Timelapse version is capable of all modes apart from star tracking. The Polaris smart tripod head can capture incredible panoramas, focus stacked images, motion timelapes, and can even remove people from scenes with People Remover. An Astro module add-on is also available separately if wish to upgrade your Timelapse version to be Astro capable.

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DIY Light Painting Tools

Get started with stuff you have already in the house. All really need is flash light, tape and the following:

  • Parchment paper - Roll it up and put a flash light in it to make a DIY light wand. Add a piece of tape at the end if light spills out.
  • Empty Soda Bottle- Tape a flash light to the end of an empty soda bottle. Take the wrapper off the bottle and using a sprite bottle for a spash of color.
  • Use Fairy Lights/ Holiday Lights
  • Colored Gels
  • Sparklers
  • Empty sprite bottles

Do it yourself!

T8 Tube

DIY - Make your own Light Painting wand with T8 Fluorescent Tube Guard. On one side the flashlight will go in and on the far end tape the tube so that light doesn't spill out. You will NEED a flashlight with a pen clip so that the flashlight doesn't fall into the tube.

Another tip is to place tape along the long side of the tube which will block the light on you or the background.

Tube Tribe

Tube Tribe

Amazing collection of colorful Light Painting Tubes. They come in beautiful colors- I recommend the Milky Orange, Milky White tubes and a holographic tube.

Ants on Melon- RGB Critter & accessories

RGB Critter
Black Fiber Optic Duster ( I use this to create the fire)
The BitWhip Attachment

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Nanlite Pavo T-8 Tube

Nanlite Pavo T-8 Tube is an amazing LED pixel tube that lights up different colors on its own. Great for light .

Nanlite Pavo Tube 2 (10inch) - Great tube, I use it for Low Level Lighting.

Nanlite Pavo Tube 2 ( I use this to light up my backgrounds)
Fotogear Magilight

Fotorgear Magilight LED Light Painting Stick Wand- You can put images, patterns and designs on this. Endless creativity.

Luxli Fiddle

Luxli Fiddle

The Luxli Fiddle Pocket RGBAW LED and Magnetic Diffuser Hood Kit from B&H has been assembled to provide you with a compact lighting solution and a removable diffusion hood that can cast a soft, shadowless light on your subject.

I the Luxli Fiddle because of the variety of colors and brightnesses for light painting my backgrounds. It is great for low level lighting because the brightness can go to 1%..

Flashlights

Olight Warrior 3

Olight Warrior 3 has 5 different brightness modes, 5, 14 200, 800, 2300 lumen. It has 2 push bottom switches, on tail cap and on body. It has a strobe feature too. This is one of my brightest flash lights that are great for shooting in the city. (Warning- It does heat up after you leave it on full power on for a long period of time)

Pressure Switch

Olight Warrior 3 has a great pressure switch that attaches to the end of the flash light which is especially helpful when doing tube light painting. The best way to use this once attached is to hold the switch up again the tube and start and stop pressure when doing the pattern. This can be easier then pressing the flashlight button on and off.

LightPainter – Ryu’s Lightworks” Edition

Designed explicitly for lightpainters, by lightpainters, it combines great power (up to 1200 lumens from its Cree XPL-HI emitter) with great flexibility (8 brightness levels, 3 strobe modes, momentary modes) This tool should be part of every light painter’s toolkit.

For a thorough review of all the best flashlights for light painting check out this article by Stephen Knight

Flash

I use a flash is used to create the light on the models face and the star bursts in the back. I do this by putting the flash in manual mode, picking a power -( example 1/8th power), then hit the Test button to trigger the flash. Once you see how bright it is you can either move closer/farther to your subject OR then you can power up or down with the brightness of the flash.

Tip - Any flash can achieve this look. (The link below is for a Sony camera- they have models for Canon & Nikon too.)

LED Hula Loop from Hula Lab

This awesome LED Hula Hoop creates amazing patterns and turns a bunch of different colors. It also comes in a variety of sizes.

Pixel Whip by Fiber Flies

This awesome whip has many different patterns and colors. It is such a great creative tool and it's really fun.

Canon Vello Wireless Shutterboss

Intervalometer - Use this as a remote trigger and to do time-lapse photography. *Get the version for your camera brand.

Yongnuo Triggers (Used for Light Painting) * Get the version for your camera brand

I use these triggers for light painting because they are small and I can hand hold it. A trick is to wear a glove and put the trigger in your hand and trigger it when you fold your hand.

Light Painting Portraits at blue hour

  • Best time is at the end of Blue Hr into Nautical Twilight *Use Photo Pills for timing
  • Need Bright Light Source- 1000 Lumen or Higher
  • Recommended Settings for attaining a long exposure when there is still light in the sky: ISO 100, f/16, Adjust Shutter speed depending on light
  • The sky opposing the sunset will be darker sooner than where the sun just set so it may be a good place to start
  • This is a great time for capturing portraits with cityscapes because you can balance the sky and the glow of the city lights

Light Painting Portraits with Milkyway

  • Expose for ambient light ( background )
  • Flash Light Power- 50 Lumen
  • Recommended Settings: ISO 3200, f/2.8, 30seconds
  • If your light source is too bright out tape over part of it.

Light Painting Portraits in the City

  • Be aware of ambient light constantly hitting your subject because it will cause blur. Dark areas are recommended.
  • In brighter environments like city streets you will have to do faster shutter speeds because you will motion if your subject moves. ( Ex. 1 - 8 seconds)
  • Flash Light Power- 1000 Lumen
  • Use speed light to illuminate your subject by putting it on manual mode- Power the settings to 1/64th power and hit the red test button. And then if you need more power adjust.
  • Photograph your model at a 45 degree angle and add rim light by running around and firing back at the camera.
  • Photograph dancers because they know how to stay still.

Light Painting Portraits with Moonlight

  • Tip: put moon into your frame/ behind your subject or it will cause blur on the model's face if they move
  • Flash Light Power- 1000 Lumen
  • Use PhotoPills app to locate the moon path

Inspiration and Resources

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