Light Painting USA - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Photography Terms [1]

Light Painting Light painting is a photographic technique that involves using handheld light sources, such as flashlights, LEDs, or portable light sources, to selectively illuminate or "paint" a scene during a long exposure photograph. Light painting allows photographers to create dynamic and creative images with streaks, trails, and patterns of light superimposed over a dark background.

By moving the light source strategically through the frame during a long exposure, photographers can "paint" with light to reveal details, add highlights, and create visual interest in the composition. Light painting is often used in night photography, light graffiti, and creative long exposure photography to produce ethereal and surreal effects that are not possible with traditional lighting techniques. It requires experimentation, practice, and careful control of exposure settings, light direction, and movement to achieve desired results. Light painting offers photographers a unique and expressive means of storytelling and artistic expression, allowing them to transform ordinary scenes into extraordinary visual experiences through the creative use of light and movement.