Lightpainting – Colorful light paintings with the smartphone

Have you ever seen those beautiful photos where light was used to paint or write? The pictures look spectacular and can even be taken with a smartphone.

What is Lightpainting?

Lightpainting translates as painting with light. This involves taking photos in low light conditions or in the dark. Flashlights, LED lights or sparklers serve as light sources. They can be used to draw pictures, symbols or letters in the air and capture them in a photo. In the process, beautiful light paintings are created. Many families have the technology to do their own light painting at home. Because light painting is possible with many smartphones.

Image source: Unsplash/Brunetto Ziosi

Light painting as a family project

Light painting can be a beautiful media project with the whole family. Even small children (from about 3 years) can participate by moving light sources. Older children can learn how light painting works with a smartphone. Everyone can live out their creativity together.

All you need for such a project is a smartphone, a darkened interior (with a little experience it is possible outside) and a few colorful light sources, e.g:

• Flashlights
• Sparklers
• Glow sticks
• LED lamps
• Smartphone screens – there are apps such as Color Flashlight (Android) or Flashlight: LED Torch Light (iOS) that can display bright colors and effects
• Color filter or colored transparent paper to change the color of a bright light source

You need a smartphone with a camera app that allows a longer exposure time (long exposure). You can check whether your device can do this in the camera app: Search there for a “Pro mode” or “Manual settings”. If you can set the exposure time (usually labeled “S” or “Shutter Speed”) to around 10 to 30 seconds, your smartphone is suitable. If this is not the case, there are special camera apps to download (e.g. Wow! Stuff Light Painting for Android and iOS).

Here’s how:

1. Find a dark place (indoors or outdoors) where you have enough space to take photos. The darker the place, the better the light painting succeeds.
2. Set up the smartphone securely – either with a tripod or in a similarly stable place.
3. Open the camera app or light painting app and position your child and any other people who are painting with light in the camera section. Set an exposure time of 30 seconds.
4. Switch off the light. Now you’re ready to go!
5. Press the shutter release button. It is best to use the self-timer. It prevents the device from shaking when the shutter is released and the photos from becoming blurred.
6. Now you and your child paint patterns, objects or writing in the dark for 30 seconds using the selected light sources. Everyone can look forward to the result!

Tips:

• Wear dark clothing if you do not want to be seen in the picture, but want the painting to be in the foreground.
• If you want to write something, you must do so in mirror writing.
• If one of the light movements should not be visible on the image (e.g. the positioning of a new letter), the light source must be switched off briefly or covered.

A night-time activity outdoors during the summer vacations or indoors in winter will delight young and old alike. Keep in mind that it takes a little practice to get great images. With a little patience, you can create small photo projects such as a New Year’s photo with sparklers and the year, a photo of passing cars on the highway or your child as a superhero with a cape or wings. Together with your child, you are sure to come up with many creative motifs!

By the way: If you have a digital camera with a tripod, you can create even better quality light paintings. Check if you can set longer exposure times of about 30 seconds on your camera. On the website of the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia you will find a picture guide to light painting with the camera, which is also easy for children to understand.

You can also find out more about light painting and photography with children at Kamerakindern and at the Knipsclub photo community. In this KiKA video, a photo artist shows which light sources can be used to create beautiful effects.