How To: Create Powerful Light Painting Photos | Popular Photography: The popular technique called painting with light treats your camera’s film or sensor as a blank, black canvas on which you “paint” in your subject by applying light something like the way artists apply paint to a white canvas. “One of the wonderful things about light painting,” says Harold Ross, who “painted” this idyllic scene, “is that it can transform the mundane into something greater.” Most light paintings are in one of two styles. You can illuminate your subject with a handheld light source, applying light to bring out its color, shape, texture, and dimensions. Or, you can turn your light toward the camera, and move it to create line drawings, patterns, or even words that become your subjects. Light paintings can be done outdoors after dark, or indoors in a darkened room, and your light source can be broad (LED panel) or focused (LED flashlight).
