Get set up to paint with light

You don’t need masses of specialist equipment to create brilliant light paintings

01 Rock star

A landmark acts as a focal point, and helps to give your shot direction. Make sure your focal point is the brightest thing in the scene.

02 Steady does it

With exposure times of 30 seconds or more, a sturdy tripod is vital for capturing every texture and detail with pin-sharp clarity.

03 On the level

You may need to use a spirit level to ensure a level horizon. To avoid noise, keep your ISO low and extend your shutter speed.

04 Different strokes

Think of your torch – and its beam of light – as a giant brush that you can use to paint detail into the scene (see Step 05).