When I’m shooting long exposures in the cold, my lens can start to fog up due to the heat from the camera body. As a result, I am constantly using a lens- cleaning cloth to wipe off the moisture. To combat this, I attach heat packs for hands under my lens.
Light painting: ideas and advice from the experts
Credit: Eric Paré
Light painting – simply put, moving a light source during a long exposure – is often considered something of a dark art. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Some of the most celebrated artists in the genre began with little more than a DSLR, a torch and a general sense of playfulness.
As light painters perfect their art, they often choose to specialise: some like to illuminate a subject or a carefully chosen space, others prefer to ‘write’ with a light source, forming bold, colourful letters or shapes. A few of these set-ups require multiple cameras and teams of assistants, but most start with a simple light source – usually in the form of a torch, acrylic rod, strings or strips of LEDs, plastic tubes, fibre optic brushes or steel wool – a DSLR, a remote shutter release, a tripod, and a willingness to experiment. (Please note: there are dangers involved in using steel wool, so the utmost care must be taken if you decide to use this material.)
Many of the light-painting artists featured here have posted a lot of advice about their techniques and approaches; so check out the social media details at the end of each of their respective biographies.
Eric Paré’ light painting tips
Credit: Eric Paré
Light painting allows you to break out of more traditional approaches to photography – suddenly you are with the subject, instead of watching from behind the camera. There is something healthy and creative about the whole process, and that is what keeps me at it, pushing myself over and over again. Also, because each picture is lit by hand, every photograph is totally unique, which really appeals to me as an image maker.
Move beyond the basics
We all know the basics of light painting: mount your camera on a tripod, select bulb mode, and use a light source to paint in front of your subject. However, if you want to get more creative and use tube lighting, you need a bright torch (about 1,000 lumens), a plastic tube, and some creativity. Armed with all of this you can start ‘drawing’ shapes behind your subject.
Make yourself invisible
To make a perfect circle, start and stop behind one of your subject’s legs (to avoid any overlay). Keep your exposure within three seconds, and within that time ask your subject to be completely still. By keeping good alignment behind your model, you will make yourself completely invisible. Trust me, it’s easier than it looks!
Eric Paré is a Canadian photographer whose work mostly involves light painting and multi-camera installations. Eric travels the world, sometimes with hundreds of cameras and sometimes with a single light-painting tube. See Instagram: @ericparephoto and kimhenry.dance; YouTube: ericpare; Website: ericpare.com.
Daniel González García’s light painting tips
Nikon D750, 38mm, 13sec at f/13, ISO 100. Credit: Daniel González García
Light painting allows you to be very creative, and it helps you to break out of the conventional way of doing things. I see it as a kind of game; playing with lights in the dark. When I’m creating a portrait I like to think about all of the possibilities available to me. You can create many different environments, and you learn a lot about lighting! I really enjoy that brief moment just before you see the picture. It can be a pleasant surprise.
Dim the lights
Mount your camera to a tripod, and make sure the room is dark. If it helps, you can keep a very dim lamp on to see, without it affecting the exposure.
Mix different light sources
Experiment with combinations of continuous light, flash and, of course, the light from a torch (200 lumens works for me, but you might decide you need something brighter). You can also use colour gels.
Nikon D750, 38mm, 15sec at f/13, ISO 100. Credit: Daniel González García
Experiment with flash
Set your camera to rear-curtain sync and use a long exposure so you can paint before the burst of flash comes. Try 5sec, 10sec, 20sec, and so on.
Make your own light painting tools
Take an empty soda bottle and fill it with cellophane, then attach your torch to the bottleneck. Alternatively, use a roll of baking paper attached to a torch – now you have your own lightsaber.
From Mexico, Daniel González García has always had a passion for self-expression through the arts. He is currently working on a dance portrait project entitled Dancing Lights – the images here feature ballerina Patricia Amezcua. To see more of his work visit Instagram: @dgzzfoto.
The art industry in Australia
There is no debate about it, art business in Australia is booming. Each year, thousands of established and emerging artists create and sell their work. Recent estimates suggest that the art industry in Australia contributes around $15 billion a year to the economy. In 2020 alone, Australia’s major auction houses sold $108 million worth of artworks thanks to increased demand from buyers. What these figures show is that there are plenty of opportunities for aspiring artists to make a living from their work. And thanks to the advent of digital platforms, it is now easier than ever to connect with potential buyers from around the world.
Gone are the days when an artist had to rely on the support of a gallery for recognition and sales. Now, through platforms such as Instagram and Etsy, artists can make their art available to a global audience and achieve success.
Is it easy to become a professional artist?
Becoming a professional artist isn’t easy. It takes dedication, hard work, and an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed. You need to be willing to invest your time and money into creating a portfolio, growing your audience, and marketing your work. You also need to be prepared for failure along the way as there will be plenty of rejections, disappointments, and frustrations.
However, once you have honed your craft, developed a portfolio of work, and learned how to successfully market and sell your artwork, you can make a living from being an artist. Doing so will give you the freedom to pursue your creative passions, express yourself through art, and make a living from doing something you love. Plus, just think about the level of satisfaction you’ll get from having your artwork appreciated and collected by buyers from around the world!
Take these steps to pursue becoming a professional artist
1. Embrace self-discipline and structure
Like any new venture, whether it be training for a marathon or starting your own business, becoming a professional artist requires dedication and discipline. You need to create a daily routine that centres around your art and includes time for creating, marketing, networking, and selling.
Devoting a portion of your day to really honing your craft is essential for creating a high-quality portfolio of work. And besides attending art school, there exists a plethora of courses and online classes available that can help you develop your skills. No matter what artistic medium you pursue, it’s important to commit to the journey and be prepared to put in a lot of hard work.
2. Build a portfolio
A great portfolio of work is essential for selling your art. Before considering purchasing or exhibiting your artwork, prospective buyers and art galleries need to be able to get a sense of your style, quality, and range.
Your portfolio of work should contain your strongest pieces and those that can be displayed online or in person. Think about the type of artwork you want to focus on, then create a consistent body of work that reflects your unique aesthetic and artistic vision.
3. Get your artwork noticed
Once you’ve created a portfolio of work, it’s time to start getting the word out. If you’re comfortable, use your own social media channels to share your work and let your network know what you’re doing.
You could also look for opportunities to exhibit and display your work in galleries, pop-up events, online exhibitions, and art shows. Even building relationships with local businesses or cafes can help get your work out there.
Make sure you invest in high-quality images of your work so potential buyers can get a sense of the quality before committing to purchase. Ultimately, having professional marketing materials and an online presence is key to getting your work noticed in today’s digital world.
4. Enter competitions and awards
Many artists enter competitions and awards to build their reputations. Whilst you may not be entering the Archibald Prize just yet, there are plenty of local awards and competitions that offer a great platform for emerging artists. For instance, the Australian Watercolour Muster 2023 Biennale presents a unique opportunity for amateur artists working in the watercolour medium to showcase their work on a national and international stage.
5. Network and collaborate
Don’t underestimate the power of networking and collaboration for your burgeoning art career. Working with an established artist in your chosen medium is a great way to learn new techniques, access resources and build relationships within the art world. Try attending art events, conferences, or artist-run initiatives to meet and collaborate with other creatives.
You may also consider joining a professional body or artist collective. While becoming an artist can sometimes feel like a lonely journey, having a network of likeminded peers can help you stay motivated and inspired in your creative journey.
6. Seek feedback from peers and other artists
Whilst exhibiting, it’s important to remember that feedback from peers and art professionals is an invaluable tool for self-development. Once you’ve established a network of fellow artists, use their feedback to expand your practice. Critical feedback can be an extremely useful tool for refining and improving artwork as well as setting realistic goals for yourself. Don’t be too hard on yourself if the feedback is not what you expected. Instead, make sure to use it constructively and remember that art is a never-ending journey of self-exploration and discovery.
