Draw with Light

Step 1: You will need...

• Dark space
• Camera with shutter speed control
• Tripod
• Cable release (or a friend to help)

Step 2: More things...

Gather a variety of light sources. You can use any light source to draw with:

• Flashlights
• Coloured LEDs
• Lasers
• Finger torches
• Glow sticks
• Smartphone

Step 3: Arrange your space

Create a dark space. It could be a room indoors or shoot outdoors at night. The darker your space, the better the image. Be careful in the dark – look out for trip hazards!

Step 4: Adjust your settings

Set your camera for long exposure. Use Manual setting and select a shutter speed of between 5-30 seconds and set your aperture to it’s widest setting (f2 or f2.8 for example) and your ISO to it’s lowest setting.

Step 5: Set up your camera

Mount your camera on a tripod. If you don’t have one, just place the camera on a surface to keep it steady.

Step 6: Draw with light!

Using your light source, draw shapes in front of the camera to test it. Try adjusting your exposure setting and shutter speed. Use a cable release if you have one or a friend could press the shutter button.

Step 7: Develop your ideas

Experiment with different styles of drawing. What happens if you include people and objects?

Step 8: Experiment with camera settings

Play with exposure time until you know which time suits your space best. You can shoot from just a few seconds or many hours! A longer exposure time will mean more time for detail.

Step 9: Try different light sources

Different lights create different effects, and the slower you move your light source, the sharper the lines. Try drawing around an object or yourself.