So, you weren’t feeling normal enough you decided to come explore the chaos! That’s great, I love it and appreciate it. If you popped in by accident, browse the site, enjoy and I can promise, still, nothing will make sense.

Back to deciding to buy that camera I had no idea how to use. I’m not quite sure where or how the light painting compulsion even came about. Maybe social media. probably. Anywho, I started one night with christmas lights in my dining room.

With my camera set on a tripod, a string of christmas lights tied to the chandelier (Ok, it’s not as fancy as a chandelier, more like dust repository) and started snapping shots. Of course I did a little research on the old internet first. I learned light painting is about extended exposure, light and movement. Got this, and above was the first shot. not bad, kinda cool.

A little more movement combined with improving focus, I was starting to get the hang of this experiment. I recall attempting to include my cat in this experiment and she was not having it! That may be an idea to revisit now that she is older, hmmm. The cat wasn’t willing, but the kid was. I don’t think I even had to bribe him this time. Light painting is pretty fun and the results turn out rad or hip if you will. Who could resist?

We set up in front of Dom’s chalkboard wall. What a perfect backdrop. Camera on tripod, remote flash, shutter button, what could go wrong? Very little suprisingly! Light painting is supprisingly versatile and forgiving to photograph. Sure, I still took the photos to lightroom. I’m not Leonardo, geesh. Dom was a great sport and having as much fun as I was, that’s what I tell myself anyway.

Then the experimenting started to get deep or weird, I can’t decide. Along the way we were having fun, giving and taking input and snapping shots. Making memories too. In order to get the effects, a long exposure is used. When I first learned photography with the hamster wheel version of camera, you couldn’t preview your experiment. With these fandangled digitals, that were new to me at the time, you can. I loved that you could instantly see your shot. While we were taking these photos, after each shot we would eagerly check them out. That was when I started noticing the blurred effect going on with the human portion.

Now this I had a smidgen of experience with. I remembered at summer camp playing with leaving the shutter open for long exposure to get ghost like pictures. Like chewing wintergreen lifesavers with your mouth open in front of a mirror in the dark to see sparks, this experiment had campworthy wisdom to impart on my kid.

All in all a good experiment. Now I just need to start revisiting some of these ideas. My problem is I have too many ideas. That is where the chaos comes in. That is also the reason you should stop back often and see what other kind of trouble I can stir up.

Peace, Love and Long exposures,

Hippie Ang