How Does Light Graffiti Work?

How to make Light Graffiti?

• I'm sure many of you have seen the new art trend called light graffiti... it's where you take a source of light (any source of light really) and wave it around in front of a time lapse camera and next thing you know you can draw numerous images and designs (I think the latest sprint commercial has it on there if you don't know what I'm talking about) well I want to try it out for myself... only problem is, I don't know how to get my camera set up to do it? and I don't even know if my camera CAN do it in general. I have a FinePix f470 digital camera, it's made by FujiFilm, I guess it's just an average digital camera... can someone tell me how to (if it's possible) create light graffiti images with this camera?

• Answer:

  Hi! You are very lucky, as the latest issue (#70) of Digital Camera Magazine just came out—and there is a 6 page article of step-by-step instructions and photos for creating light graffiti. This is a very high quality magazine from the UK, so it is expensive, but the BEST, and well worth the price you pay for it. You should be able to find Digital Camera Magazine at any quality bookstore that also sells magazines. I would call first—Barnes & Nobel, B. Dalton, Hastings, etc. Once you find who carries the magazine, at least you can go take a look at the article to see if you want to buy it. Here is a link to their website, where you will see the cover of the current issue. plus the first pages of the article (albeit small). Unfortunately, there is no part of the article on the site: http://www.dcmag.co.uk/Digital_Camera_issue_70_is_on_sale_now_Issue.YcCDp8Roo2oJ6A.html Gear is a small collection of flashlights, biking-lights and flashing LED lights—all work with batteries so that you are mobile. You also get nice results with fireworks & torches. There are 3 different type of lights commonly used—Xenon: makes a warm golden light; LED: makes a thin precise line; Cold cathode: thick line. The best results are achieved by experimenting—use filters and things which reflect light. To get the best results you need a tripod. The exposure should be around 10-30 sec. or longer if needed. Stay in front of the camera and do your writing or design. To avoid overexpose, set the camera to about ISO 100, and close the aperture as much as possible. If there is still too much light you may have to use a ND-filter. Integrate the surroundinga into your picture. There are also several links where you may view photos for ideas using this technique, and see some video tutorials: http://www.linkinn.com/_Light_Graffiti http://www.flickr.com/photos/lichtfaktor/show/ http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/07/09/colored-in-dancing-lights/ http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/07/light_graffiti.html http://www.metacafe.com/watch/849134/light_graffiti_tutorial/ Thanks for asking this question. Best wishes!