Paint light right

EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES THAT WILL HELP MAKE LIGHT PAINTING A BREEZE

1 Universal Connector

Light Painting Brushes’ Universal Connector is an implement that’s designed to slide onto and grip the head of most torches with a 0.975 to 1.5-inch diameter. A protruding tapered end is designed to attach one of the company’s many light painting attachments.

2 Attachments

Dedicated Light Painting Brushes attachments range from Collapsible Light Swords to fibre optic brushes, but our patterns were largely produced using the rounded glow from coloured Light Pens, while also using Opaque Light Writers and Crystal Light Pens.

3 String, tape & card

We used twine and painter’s tape to suspend our torch. Cardboard was placed over the lens to block the beam when removing and attaching multiple accessories during a single exposure. You could turn the torch off, but swapping attachments is fiddly in the dark.

4 Tripod

We secured our camera on a short tripod and extended the thickest legs first for stability. Since the camera is pointing at the ceiling, Nikons with articulating screens make it easier to frame and focus; our D800’s fixed rear LCD meant we had to lay under the tripod!

5 Wide-angle lens

If your field of view is too narrow, you’ll struggle to keep your swinging torch within the frame. We’d therefore recommend using a wideangle focal length. Our choice was an old Nikon 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 – if your torch falls you don’t want it to hit your optical pride and joy…

6 Remote release

If your Nikon has Time mode you can simply press the shutter button to start the exposure and again when you want it to finish. If you’re forced to use Bulb mode a locking remote shutter release is essential as it will leave your hands free to swap out attachments.