DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/24/14: Pterodactyl Arch
Location: Arch Rock - Joshua Tree, CA.
Settings: F7.1, ISO 100, 303 second exposure.
My first thought seeing this arch was, "Can I climb it and draw something on the top part of it?" After a bit of climbing, I realized the answer to my thought was "Yes. But it's very dangerous, and if you fell, you would surely break many bones." Safety first may not make for the very best photographs, but it keeps me out of the hospital.
*Click image for printing options.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/23/14: Seahorse
Location: Torrey Pines State Beach - San Diego, CA.
Settings: F13, ISO 100, 147 second exposure.
Blue hour light-painting on a mellow summer night in San Diego. This photo was difficult for the reason that every time waves came in, there were a bunch of sand crabs digging under my toes.. Try drawing a detailed picture with someone tickling your toes for similar effect, it's quite a challenge!
*Click image for printing options.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/22/14: Stegosaurus in Flower Field
Location: Oviedo, Spain.
Settings: F7.1, ISO 100, 459 second exposure.
Sidra night in Oviedo! We celebrated the end of an amazing weekend with some drinks, live art performances and of course a night-shooters session. I lit up this stegosaurus in the flower field as Janne Parviainen created his work on another abandoned building to the right of frame. TCB and Diliz were just behind my camera in another abandoned building. Another great night for sure.
*Click image for printing options.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/18/14:Mylo of Danger Brand does the Banana Breakdance
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: 48 shots at F3.5 1 second exposures.
Happy Friday to you! Have a great weekend.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/17/14: Coast of Spain
Location: Barro, Spain.
Settings: F5, ISO 100, 166 second exposure.
The light-painting process here was of trial and error. First shot was blurry - I corrected aperture to F5 from 3.5. Second shot, the colors red and blue were reversed and the end result didn't pop - so I switched the blue lighted background with red. By the third or forth shot, things were looking like this. I love the texture these contrasting colors bring out on the rocks.
*Click image for printing options.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/16/14: Beastmode
Location: Barro, Spain.
Settings: F8, ISO 100, 370 second exposure.
For our last night in Spain we were given the option to rest before our flight, or go out shooting all night.. It wasn't even an option really, the choice was obvious. So we shot here, at this unique location - the natural bridge over treacherous waters. Not for the faint of heart under dark conditions! Extremely dangerous, but it had to be done.. Special thanks to fellow light-painter TwinCitiesBrightest for the red lighting assist! Second choice would have been a scene from Mortal Kombat.
*Click image for printing options.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/15/14: Attraction to Light
Location: Barro, Spain.
Settings: F5, ISO 100, 793 second exposure.
Try as I might to remember where I drew what tentacle, at the end of a 13 minute light-painting I'm not really sure what to expect; I just hope the art is in frame.
We ate a lot of calamari during our trip to Spain, this one is for all the Cephalopods.
*Click image for printing options.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/14/14: Eyes on the Prize
Location: Barro, Spain.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 309 second exposure.
Inside a damp cave on the North Coast of Spain I found myself strategizing how I could jump over the creek, climb up a muddy mound and light-paint a mammoth skeleton without hitting my head against the low hanging stalactite above. Without light of course, because that would show up in the photo.
*From now on you can click the image below to see it larger and printing options.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/13/14: Sunset/Moonrise
Location: Joshua Tree, CA.
Settings: 10 vertical images stitched together at F2.8, ISO 100, 1/250 second exposures each.
Not often to get both of these celestial forces in the same photograph.. So I had to take ten and put them all together. Sunsets in the desert are incredible.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/11/14: Ivan's Lights
Location: Barro, Spain.
Settings: F4.5, ISO 100, 591 second exposure.
During the course of my trip to Spain I met Ivan of 'Herramientas Light Painting' - An incredible person and business owner. I had the privilege of taking a set of his small colored LEDs out for a test-run this night and this is the image I produced. For any of those looking for a good set of very portable LED tools, it doesn't get any better than these. Small, push-button, good color - I definitely recommend them as many lights are of poor quality and without the crucial push-button for more complex illustrations.
Thank you Ivan! More pink skeletons to come!
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/10/14: International Bones
Location: Oviedo, Spain.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 103 second exposure.
It's not often that I get the chance to meet up with other light-artists, let alone other light-artists that are talented at hand-illustration. This shot was a collaboration between two other fantastic free-hand artists Vincent Delesvaux of France (center) and Janne Parviainen of Finland (right).
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/9/14: Oviedo
Location: Oviedo, Spain.
Settings: F13, ISO 100, 69 second exposure.
Spent the past week in Spain attending/speaking at a Light Painting World Alliance exhibition and congress in Oviedo. It was the most incredible event and I treasure the memories and friends I met.
Organized by fellow light-painter Alfredo Alvarez, this was a dream-come-true to meet with photographers I've followed for many years from all over the world - to learn their techniques, speak in person, and light the night alongside.
This was from the first night we spent doing many collaborations, I spelled out the city name from above which was featured in the newspaper (below) - Every night we got virtually no sleep! Every moment was too good to let sleep get in the way.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 7/1/14: Hypnotize
Location: Hwy 74 above Lake Elsinore, CA.
Settings: 69 stacked images at F2.8, ISO 3200, 18 second exposures each.
The North Star is handy star to know. A good way to find it is to look at the Milky Way, then turn 180 degrees and find the Big Dipper opposite in the sky. After you find the Big Dipper, find the star it would be pouring out from and the North Star is just to the right of it (hint: it's not the brightest star in the sky). You can confirm that it is the North Star if you have a compass handy.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/30/14: Late Night Ride
Location: Hwy 74 above Lake Elsinore, CA.
Settings: F4.5, ISO 100, 168 second exposure.
Met up with Moto tech Alex Frantz for a fun shoot over the Lake this weekend with the Moto Guzzi 2014 California 1400 series. Shiny-Bone Jones approves!
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/27/14: Space
Location: Malibu, CA.
Settings: F2, ISO 3200, 18 second exposure.
Point your camera at the sky, bump that ISO, and see what appears under dark skies.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/26/14: Something Big
Location: Mt. Pinos - Frazier Park, CA.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 283 second exposure.
When you have a large fallen pine in the background, elements of scale become important. The brilliant thing about using a single LED within a long exposure is how many different lines you can build-out to create subjects large enough to fit whatever frame. This light-fossil dinosaur must have been about 20 feet in length.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/25/14: Fuchsia Forest
Location: Mt. Pinos - Frazier Park, CA.
Settings: F3.5, ISO 100, 327 second exposure.
Skeleton friends wave hello as Polaris holds it's point in the night sky.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/24/14: Under the Milky Way
Location: Mt. Pinos - Frazier Park, CA.
Settings: 11 vertical shots at F3.5, ISO 3200, 19 second exposures.
The stars were bright atop Mt. Pinos in Frazier Park, just an hour and a half away from Los Angeles. If you look closely, you can see a small red light of another camera (operated by star-chaser Michael Shainblum) to the lower right of frame.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/23/14: Space Dolphin
Location: Santa Barbara, CA.
Settings: F4.5, ISO 400, 45 second exposure.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/22/14: Santa Barbara (post solstice)
Location: Santa Barbara, CA.
Settings: 10 vertical images at F2.8, ISO 3200, 15 second exposures.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/20/14: Slinky's Midnight Stroll
Location: Mt. Pinos - Frazier Park, CA.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 299 second exposure.
I don't know what to say about this character.. I was going for an ominous look, a tall alien-looking creature or something. What I got was Slinky over here, merrily walking through the forest. I'll strike this light painting up as a happy accident. Happy Friday!
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/19/14: Seeing Stars
Location: Mt. Pinos - Frazier Park, CA.
Settings: (Composite) light painting at F3.5, ISO 100, 169 second exposure; stars at F2.8 ISO 3200, 16 second exposure.
Went on a little adventure last night with fellow night-shooter Michael Shainblum. Threw up some light-bones waiting for the Milky Way to rise.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/18/14: Ride the Light Rail
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: Shot at F22, ISO 100, 132 second exposure.
Shiny-Bone Jones goes for the gold while City Hall turns purple.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/17/14: Skateboard
Location: Sepulveda Dam - Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: Shot at F8, ISO 100, 78 second exposure.
Spotlight goes for a ride.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/16/14: Running Man
Location: Mt. Wilson - Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: Shot at F7.1, ISO 100, 54 second exposure.
High above the city, each pace is a city-block.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/15/14: Honeymoon is Over
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: Shot at F5.6, ISO 800, 1/250 second exposure.
Close-up of the full moon on Friday the 13th.. Looking slightly yellow and a bit like cheese.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/14/14: Honeymoon Sprawl
Location: Mt. Wilson - Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: F2.8, ISO 3200, .6 second exposures.
A nice bright yellow Honeymoon for Friday the 13th.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/13/14: Singing to Barges
Location: London, England.
Settings: F18, ISO 100, 126 second exposure.
Barges quietly drift along the river as lights reflect and I draw amongst slippery steps.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/12/14: Night Watch
Location: Cheltenham, England.
Settings: F7.1, ISO 100, 339 second exposure.
As I set up for this, our group spotted a fox right where the middle skeleton is standing on the right-hand side. I assume foxes are like California's coyotes - seldom found during the day but always scavenging parks over night. Neat little creatures.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/11/14: Black as Midnight on a Moonless Night
Location: Maui, HI.
Settings: 11 vertical shots at F2.8, ISO 3200, 15 second exposures.
Starry skies in Maui are surreal.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/10/14: Dancing in the Streets
Location: Montmartre - Paris, France.
Settings: F14, ISO 100, 111 second exposure.
Shooting black and white in Paris was a great method for focusing in on the subject.. The busy nature of urban surroundings made it very difficult to hone in on what's important, especially when light-painting under the tinge of yellow street lamps. Here's to dancing in the streets - a nod to David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Degas.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/9/14: Midnight in Montmartre
Location: Montmartre - Paris, France.
Settings: F13, ISO 100, 280 second exposure.
Cigarettes and pole-dancers.. Just as I suspected.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/6/14: Godzilla vs. Eiffel Tower
Location: Paris, France.
Settings: F16, ISO 100, 53 second exposure.
This type of superimposition within light painting is incredibly difficult to achieve.. I tried to illustrate this simple idea over and over with only this moderate success. Vive la France!
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/5/14: Gallop
Location: Eagle Rock, CA.
Settings: 16 exposures at F8, ISO 100, for 71 seconds each.
Looking at this location on a map is a bit deceiving, it looked like a short walk from where I parked the car.. Well, it turned into an adventure half-way up the mountain with rock-climbing and steep edges on each side in the dark. I'm happy to say we made it and the view was incredible. I hope you enjoy this animated horse light-painting.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/4/14: Deadphones - Somnambulator (.gifs)
I put together a few animated .gifs to highlight some of the light-painting animation over instruments used in the music video. Check out the full music vid and links to the streaming album a few posts below.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/3/14: Pachyrhinosaurus
Location: Abandoned railway - Paris, France.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 251 second exposure.
Adventuring around Paris with fellow light-painter Stephane Baba. Had to get a good dinosaur in at this spot.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/2/14: Deadphones Music Video - 'Somnambulator'
I've been working for many months on a music video for my good friends in the band 'Deadphones'. Please take a look, share if you like, and definitely be sure to check out the full album - it's got a psychedelic night vibe to it, absolutely killer.
Deadphones - Somnambulator
Somnambulator is from the album 'Deadphones' released 2014 on Waaga Records.
Stream the album in full
Buy on iTunes
Web - http://deadphonesmusic.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/deadphonesmusic
Twitter - https://twitter.com/deadphonesmusic
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 6/1/14: LAX
Location: LAX Airport - Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: Yashica T4, ISO 400, 35mm film.
Dropped my twin brother off at Southwest terminal 1 and took another trip around the circuit just to catch the sun rise.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/31/14: Cat is Tropic
Location: Black Sand Beach - Maui, HI.
Settings: Yashica T4, ISO 400, 35mm film.
Welcome to the jungle.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/30/14: Mahalo
Location: Maui, HI.
Settings: F7.1, ISO 1600, 26 second exposure.
Bitten by many mosquitoes during this one. Mahalo you bastard-bugs.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/29/14: Around Midnight in Paris
Location: Sacre Coeur - Paris, France.
Settings: F2.8, ISO 200, 5 second exposure.
We met an italian couple here and ending up sharing stories and grabbing drinks after shooting, the man had a tripod with him so I knew we were in good company. Always nice to meet new friends when traveling, makes the world feel more connected.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/28/14: Othnielosaurus in Maui
Location: Maui, HI.
Settings: (Composite) Lightpainting - F5.6, ISO 100, 157 second exposure. Environment - F2.8, ISO 3200, 15 second exposure.
I got lucky with this one. It's not often that you get a glimpse of the sunset along with a sky full of stars.. and a dinosaur to boot.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/27/14: Ode to Degas
Location: Parc des Buttes Chaumont - Paris, France.
Settings: F9, ISO 100, 148 second exposure.
I owe a special thanks to French light-painter and Architect Stephane Baba for his help with this image, he lit the columns while I paid tribute to Degas, and my girlfriend provided the music. We collectively owe thanks to a stranger on a bicycle that had keys to the gate we were having some difficulty with on the way out. Here's to the city of light.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/23/14: Parisian Souls
Location: Montmartre - Paris, France.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 565 second exposure.
Sipping coffee, smoking cigarettes, playing cards, and philosophizing the current state of affairs.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/22/14: Aloha
Location: Maui, HI.
Settings: F7.1, ISO 100, 49 second exposure.
The moon did not rise until past 1am most of the nights I spent in Maui, it was hard enough staying up til then with the jet-lag from London so most of my options for light-painting the rainforest were out. I was still able to shoot a bit of the stars at night and the ocean under city-lights. Aloha Maui, and Mahalo!
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/21/14: The Floor is Lava
Location: Maui, HI.
Settings: (Composite) Light Painting - F13, ISO 100, 203 second exposure. Environment - F5, ISO 100, 15 second exposure.
This kind of jagged rock was incredibly difficult to walk around on in the dark, I do not recommend it in flip-flops. Nevertheless, it provided a great location for this Ouranosaurus light-fossil and I'm glad to have captured it at blue hour.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/16/14: Banksy Listening Party
Location: Cheltenham, England.
Settings: F18, ISO 100, 160 second exposure.
As luck would have it, there was a fairly new Banksy piece up in the town I stayed at for a wedding. It was a short walk away from where we stayed, so naturally, I wanted to pay it a visit at night. The problem was that it was a highly lit area at night.. Street lamps everywhere and even an interior light to the phone booth itself. I borrowed the scarf of a friend and used it to block the light inside the phone booth with a few stickers I had on hand; a high aperture took care of the rest. Cheers to Banksy, it's one hell of a piece.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/15/14: Paris
Location: Paris, France.
Settings: F13, ISO 100, 30 second exposure.
The city of light, I miss it already.. Anywhere I travel, I have to try and add to my postcard project series. It's become a goal to photograph and write the names of every major metropolitan city on the globe. It is a goal that may take my entire life to do, but you know what they say - shoot high ;)
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 5/14/14: London
Location: London, UK.
Settings: F11, ISO 100, 18 second exposure.
I've just gotten back from a trip to Europe and I will be sharing many photos day by day over the next few weeks. Here is a light painting from the other side of the London Eye, the reflected LEDs on the River Thames looked like a great spot to add in my postcard project series.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/30/14: Laser Tunnel
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: F3.5, ISO 1600, 24 second exposure.
Messing around with a high-power laser, I may have to get one of these..
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/28/14: Dino Portal
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 200, 256 second exposure.
Funny story here.. I contacted a French light painting artist by the name of Alex VI through the LPWA website (Light Painting World Alliance) because I will be visiting Paris soon. I asked him if he might like to collaborate on something while I would be in town? He emailed me back saying that sadly he will not be around when I am there, but that by coincidence he is actually in Los Angeles at the moment and returned the same question to me. So we met up and were able to create this Dinosaur Portal by our combined efforts. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it. Please be sure to check out Alex's other work, it's great!
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/27/14: Zion
Location: Zion National Park - Zion, UT.
Settings: F2.8, ISO 100, 21 second exposure.
And that's the last of the Zion posts! Until next time, it's been real.. mystical.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/26/14: God Bless this Mess
Location: LA River - Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: F16, ISO 100, 61 second exposure.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/25/14: Rams in Anza
Location: Anza Borrego, CA.
Settings: F2.8, ISO 3200, 13 second exposure.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/24/14: Zion Layers
Location: Zion, UT.
Settings: 11 vertical images stitched together at F22, ISO 100, 1/50th second exposure each.
Bonus: Tiny girlfriend with peace-hands.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/23/14: Albertaceratops
Location: Zion, UT.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 260 second exposure.
Guess where they first found this dinosaur? Not so subtle hint: It was in Canada.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/22/14: Camping in Zion
Location: South Campground - Zion, UT.
Settings: F7.1, ISO 100, 429 second exposure.
The skelightons huddle around a campfire, singing songs of their travels.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/21/14: Land Before Time
Location: Zion, UT.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 200, 176 second exposure.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/18/14: Uncle Rico's Time Machine
Location: Zion, UT.
Settings: (Composite) Foreground - F5.6, ISO 100, 80 second exposure. Background - F.2.8, ISO 3200, 14 second exposure.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/17/14: Big Horn
Location: Zion, UT.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 203 second exposure.
My sister suggested doing an Aries ram for my birthday light painting. This one is for all the other Aries out there. Happy birthday to all of you - Ram on.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/16/14: Bones of Zion
Location: Zion, UT.
Settings: 13 vertical images stitched together - shot at F5.6, ISO 100, for around 81 second exposures each.
This is a huge image file. The best view would take up your fullscreen.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/15/14: Blood Moon 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: Composite of 10 images, shot with a 300mm lens around F22, ISO 3200, 1 second exposure.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/14/14: Saber-toothed Cat
Location: Zion National Park, Utah.
Settings: F5.6, ISO 100, 184 second exposure.
One of my favorite light paintings from the trip. The color blends and texture on this saber-toothed cat make it stand out.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/13/14: Zion at Night
Location: Zion National Park, Utah.
Settings: F2.8, ISO 3200, 16 second exposure.
Had the pleasure of visiting Zion over the past few days, and it was a light painter's dream come true! I saw surreal locations almost everywhere I turned, with rock sculpted over millions of years. There were layers upon layers of interesting geological formations with a big bright moon lighting up the entire landscape. I can't wait to share more over the next week or so, it was a truly amazing place.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/8/14: Ostrich Bones
Location: Joshua Tree, CA.
Settings: F7.1, ISO 100, 155 second exposure.
One of the coolest locations I've had the pleasure of shooting back in 2012 had these old light-up motel signs around the property. You could flick them on with a switch located at the back of the house. There must have been 6 functioning signs scattered around the lot. The owner requested the signs not be left on very long due to the amount of electricity they used.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/7/14: Fire Skull
Location: Lake Arrowhead, CA.
Settings: F2.8, ISO 100, 61 second exposure.
Light painting with a candle.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/4/14: Peace Beach
Location: Santa Cruz, CA.
Settings: Point and shoot with the Yashica T4 35mm camera.
Film tones are where it's at - warm, moody, analog.
DAILY LIGHT LEAK - 4/3/14: LA pre-storm
Location: Griffith Observatory - Los Angeles, CA.
Settings: F2.8, iso 100, 1/1600th of a second exposure.
Held up an umbrella from where I was to shoot this one.. That doesn't happen often in LA.
If you're curious about my photographic process, or just want to try light painting for yourself, click the bar below for a video tutorial and explanation:
Themed image sets:
|
