Yesterday, I wrote about photographing a dead oak tree and using advanced lighting techniques to light it up after dark.  I can hardly believe this is the same sky in those images.

After Fred and I finished with the strobes, we decided to try another technique called light painting.  This is a process where you actually use a handheld flashlight to add light to your image.  Some photographers use it to draw images in their photographs (hearts, words, etc.), but I only wanted to try to light the images as evenly as possible.

Ata-Girl Photography Co. | Light Painting

You need to set a really long exposure in order to capture the light.  The exposure is usually so long that you can walk around in your image without being seen.  You point the light at the parts of the image you want lit.  You can direct the light from different angles and even keep it pointed longer at parts of the image you want to appear brighter.

These images were taken in complete darkness.  We only had ambient light from the moon and stars.  To capture these images I used a 25- to 30-second exposure.  I would get positioned within the frame and Fred would use my wireless remote to fire the camera so he wouldn’t cause any inadvertent camera shake.  The fstops I used varied from f8-f13 and my iso varied from 160-250.  In a few of the images, you can see where I pointed the flashlight a little too long in places.  To get even lighting, you have to concentrate on moving the light slowly and evenly across the image.

I think my first attempt at light painting was a complete success.  I’m going to light someone’s church up like this after their wedding and I can’t wait.

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I started Ata-Girl Photography Co. in 2010 and I am one of the premier San Antonio wedding photographers who is available for local and destination weddings. In addition to wedding photography, I also specialize in high school seniors and family portraits in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. I am a professional photographer who enjoys documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, hiking, cycling and listening to Elvis!