Neon Light Trail Photography

[Loki Odin]

Here is a simple way to make awesome light fractals with any digi-camera.

-Set the camera to "Twilight/Night Mode" (Sony Models: "Scene mode > Twilight")
-Turn the lights down/off in the room
-Wear dark clothing (to blend in with the darkness)
-Move the light source (Pen-tourch,toy car with lots of lights,multi-color LED bulb etc)

Camera with Shutter-Speed Control
-Set the shutter speed so it takes long to snap a picture
-Turn the lights down.
-Set Iso mode to lowest settings (Example: 80 to 200)

Description: In a low-lit room,the camera takes a few seconds more to snap a picture.Whilst the shutter's open,any form of movement done with a small light is captured.Wearing dark clothing will blend you in with the dark background.
Movement technique: If you want to make 'words' practice 'drawing' the word in reverse in a mirror. And practice following the reverse path of the word (To draw an "L" you have to move your hand Down and to the Left and then to the Right and Up in a continuous motion.Same method applies to all words)


http://gizmodo.com/5735850/how-to-paint-with-light

Watch this video below before starting.
http://vimeo.com/videoschool/lesson/42/painting-with-light

Examples:

here's one in a lit room

I took these shots with Sony DSC-H20 (A pseudo-SLR camera) in twilight mode. Unfortunately i couldnt get the same results with the Low-Iso Settings method.
(I think it too the shutter 3-5 seconds to snap a picture)
Also,i got alot more cooler Neon Trail Photos waiting to be uploaded.
Light Sources used: Colored LED pens,LED Torch.
And Experiment as much as u can! Try adding transparent,refractive and reflective objects and most importantly Have Fun

Some of my Best shots (Will be uploading/posting more soon)
http://loki-odin.deviantart.com/art/Starfall-195733416
http://loki-odin.deviantart.com/art/Orbital-195733570

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

Haha love these type of pictures, however its impossible to write your name like this without reverting the picture and processing it in the process RAW pictures of these sorts are very difficult to capture because you'll have to write your name in reverse Tried it once, failed miserably hehe (using 1100's built-in torch and 15 second exposure time).

 

[master bates]

awesome job . ill try it as soon as i get home with my own camera.

 

[Loki Odin]

Haha love these type of pictures, however its impossible to write your name like this without reverting the picture and processing it in the process RAW pictures of these sorts are very difficult to capture because you'll have to write your name in reverse Tried it once, failed miserably hehe (using 1100's built-in torch and 15 second exposure time).

Yeah,very tedious and nigh impossible to get it in the first try.The more pair of hands u get the harder it becomes to coordinate em all.

 

[Ranger Taffles]

Looks alluring. *stares and stares*

Keep it Up!

 

[opethian]

well the best way is ti use ... either lighter (sastay lighter which have a light in it) or a red optical mouse light with it (but it will leave blinking light trail not a continuous line)
why
cause these sources of light dnt produce too much of illumination in the dark room
hence the simple p&s cameras with night mode enabled do a longer exposures
yes if some one with a dslr here can do marvelous jobs

 

[rameez]

this is called light painting .... search for on youtube ... there are tons of them... go watch them all

 

[opethian]

waisay if u point ur cam at a mirror reflection then i dnt think u need to write in reverse ...

 

[rameez]

mirrors refelect light more than u need ....and cam will capture 2 light tails ... one from the source and the other from the mirror.

 

[opethian]

if ur standing behind the cam then? ...i mean ur standing infront of a mirror and cam is between u and mirror with its lens towards mirror ...

---------- Post added at 11:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 PM ----------

lol how many times ive used word mirror

 

[Loki Odin]

@Rameez
Words require another person per letter,tried alot to write my own name but it's just too difficult.
As for the mirror,i already said "Try adding transparent,refractive and reflective objects" they add to the beauty.Also,do post some of the Youtube Light-Painting Tutorials.

@Opethain
Yeah,that'll work but why write your name when you can basically do the same thing with Photoshop?
Making Abstracts or "Light paint Animations" are alot more cool and fun to do.

Here's an example of using "Refractive Materials"
"LED-light Pen" available in Stationary shops can give your Light Trail a 'shape' or you can try connecting any refractive material to the led.

(Yes,it looks like Level 3 Chaos Blade flame-trail and can be used that way too,with a lil Photoshop tweaking ofcourse ^_^ )

Will be uploading a High-res version on Deviant Art soon.

 

[smjunaid]

awesome job man..