CREATE A PHYSIOGRAM

It’s amazing what you can do with a torch and a piece of string in a darkened room!

Try out this fun technique for creating colourful light patterns using a quick and simple setup

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Intermediate TIME TAKEN: One hour

BEFORE WE KNOW IT, THE LONG, HOT DAYS OF SUMMER WE’VE ALL ENJOYED THIS YEAR WILL BE OVER AND AUTUMN WILL BE UPON US – DARK EVENINGS, DODGY WEATHER AND THAT FAMILIAR QUESTION ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS ASK THEMSELVES WHEN IT’S POURING WITH RAIN OUTSIDE: “OKAY, SO WHAT DO I DO NOW?”

WELL, HERE’S ONE TECHNIQUE THAT WILL DEFINITELY HELP YOU WHILE AWAY A WET DAY AND PRODUCE SOME AMAZING IMAGES AT

THE SAME TIME – CREATING PHYSIOGRAMS. NEVER HEARD OF IT? DON’T WORRY, MOST PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVEN’T. BUT ONCE YOU TRY

IT, YOU’LL BE HOOKED.

THE IDEA BEHIND THIS TECHNIQUE IS THAT YOU SUSPEND A SMALL TORCH (YOU CAN

BUY THEM FROM £1 SHOPS) ON THE END OF A LENGTH OF STRING IN A DARKENED ROOM DIRECTLY OVER YOUR CAMERA. SET THE TORCH SPINNING, THEN USE A LONG EXPOSURE TO RECORD THE PATTERNS TRACED IN THE DARKNESS BY THE TORCH BULB. THE RESULTS ARE INFINITELY VARIABLE AND YOU CAN MAKE THE PATTERNS AS SIMPLE OR AS COMPLEX AS YOU LIKE. THE IMAGES ARE ALSO MUCH EASIER TO CREATE

THAN THEY LOOK, SO WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE?

Right

PAINTING WITH LIGHT

THIS IS THE KIND OF RESULT YOU CAN EXPECT BY SPINNING THE TORCH SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS AND PLACING COLOUR FILTERS ON YOUR LENS DURING A SINGLE EXPOSURE