Light Painting – Colorful Light Art with Your Smartphone

Have you ever seen those beautiful photos where people have painted or written with light? The images look spectacular, and you can even create them with your smartphone.

What is light painting?

Light painting literally means “painting with light.” It involves taking photos in low-light conditions or in the dark. Flashlights, LED lights, or sparklers serve as light sources. Using them, you can “paint” images, symbols, or letters in the air and capture them in a photo. This creates beautiful light paintings. Many families have the equipment they need to try light painting at home, since light painting is possible with many smartphones.

Image source: Unsplash/Brunetto Ziosi

Light Painting as a Family Project

Light painting can be a fun media project for the whole family. Even young children (ages 3 and up) can join in by moving light sources. Older children can learn how to do light painting with a smartphone. Everyone can let their creativity run wild together.

All you need for a project like this is a smartphone, a darkened room (with a little experience, you can do it outdoors), and a few colorful light sources, such as:

• Flashlights
• Sparklers
• Glow sticks
• LED Bulbs
• Smartphone screens—there are apps like Color Flashlight (Android) or Flashlight: LED Torch Light (iOS) that can display colorful lights and effects
• Color filters or colored transparent paper to alter the color of a bright light source

You’ll need a smartphone whose camera app allows for a longer exposure time (long exposure). You can check whether your device supports this in the camera app: Look for a “Pro Mode” or “Manual Settings” option. If you can set the exposure time (usually labeled “S” or “Shutter Speed”) to about 10 to 30 seconds, your smartphone is suitable. If not, there are special camera apps available for download (e.g., Wow! Stuff Light Painting for Android and iOS).

Here’s how:

1. Find a dark spot (indoors or outdoors) where you have enough space to take photos. The darker the spot, the better your light painting will turn out.
2. Set your smartphone down securely—either on a tripod or on a similarly stable surface.
3. Open the Camera app or the Light Painting app and position your child—and any other people who will be doing light painting—within the camera frame. Set the exposure time to 30 seconds.
4. Turn off the light. Now let’s get started!
5. Press the shutter button. It’s best to use the self-timer. It prevents the camera from shaking when you take a picture, which can cause the photos to come out blurry.
6. Now, you and your child can use the chosen light sources to draw patterns, objects, or letters in the dark for 30 seconds. Everyone can look forward to seeing the result!

Tips:

• Wear dark clothing if you don’t want to be visible in the photo and want the painting to take center stage.
• If you want to write something, you have to write it in mirror writing.
• If you do not want one of the light movements to be visible in the image (e.g., when starting a new letter), the light source must be briefly turned off or covered.

A nighttime photo session—whether outdoors during summer vacation or indoors in the winter—is sure to delight young and old alike. Keep in mind that it takes a little practice to get great shots. With a little patience, you can create small photo projects like a New Year’s photo with sparklers and the year, a photo of cars driving by on the highway, or a picture of your child as a superhero with a cape or wings. Together with your child, you’re sure to come up with lots of creative ideas!

By the way: If you have a digital camera with a tripod, you can create even higher-quality light paintings. Check to see if you can set your camera to longer exposure times of about 30 seconds. On the website of the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to light painting with a camera that’s easy for even children to understand.

You can find more information on light painting and photography with children on the Kamerakinder website and in the Knipsclub photo community. In this KiKA video, a photography artist demonstrates which light sources can be used to create beautiful effects.