Andy brown
Well-known member
Just playing around..
Working on my signature
Got it!
Working on my signature
Got it!
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Writing with light - signature
- Thread starter Andy brown
- Start date
Michael_Stones
Member
I remember light painting years ago with my first SLR - a beloved Yashica. The setting was a cliff top in Newfoundland. Your images are more abstract and delicate but bring back happy memories of those times. Thanks for that. Mike.
Andy brown
Well-known member
Glad it brought back memories Michael.
These are specular highlights on water's surface. Macro in a rock-pool.
These are specular highlights on water's surface. Macro in a rock-pool.
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Just playing around..
Working on my signature
Got it!
I am not sure yet how to "Read" these pictures. I really do like the white lines. Especially the last two. I wonder why you chose the aperture you did? How do such images appear with a very well defined b.g.?
Asher
Last edited:
Tom Robbins
Member
Nicely done, Andy. I've done my best to avoid whirling highlights when photographing close-up water through the years, but making them the subject works very well in these examples.
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
So, Andy, what's the method by which the light just gives the speculation highlights. Is it that all the other light distribution is so diffused, or is the light a point source?
Asher
Asher
Andy brown
Well-known member
Thanks Tom. Yeah, if you can't beat it work with it.
I've always enjoyed the dance of light, I rarely feel like it detracts from the image.
Asher, I'll try to explain the process. But first I'll admit that there's a large slice of guess work involved and although I've become familiar with some of the vagaries involved I never quite know what I've got till after the shot is taken.
I was shooting macro (extension tube with a 50 mm 1.8 lens). I'm crouched on rocks (complete with barnacles and sharp edges) and peering into rock pools with about 6 - 8 inches depth of water.
I'm always trying to explore plays of light, so I have reflection, refraction and also I believe, diffraction to play with. This sets up a set of circumstances where clear focus is extremely difficult to achieve. especially over the whole frame. Don't forget, my depth of field is very shallow even at F22.
So anyway, I've learned to abandon hopes of particularly sharp images and rely on dreamy, swirly, colourful imagery to carry the day. It's certainly the point at which I'm treating light as the medium and just try to have fun with it.
Here's a sample of a scene that I feel might have some potential when the water starts to move. These rock pools are being fed by waves so the are periods of stillness, mild rippling (wind also plays a part), surging, foaminess,...all somewhat predictable and also quite random.
Now we have some movement and things get interesting and wacky
Notice the specular reflections at the bottom left over the purple shell.
Now when you slow the shutter speed down, roughly 1-1.5 seconds the writing/scribbling effect comes into play.
The point of focus is beyond the water's surface so it's the fine point nature of the highlights which keeps them sharp. The water surface is in a state of flux which includes rising and falling so it is again difficult to select a point of pure focus.
It would be fair to say that there is no point of focus in this style of imagery but I like it anyway!
I've always enjoyed the dance of light, I rarely feel like it detracts from the image.
Asher, I'll try to explain the process. But first I'll admit that there's a large slice of guess work involved and although I've become familiar with some of the vagaries involved I never quite know what I've got till after the shot is taken.
I was shooting macro (extension tube with a 50 mm 1.8 lens). I'm crouched on rocks (complete with barnacles and sharp edges) and peering into rock pools with about 6 - 8 inches depth of water.
I'm always trying to explore plays of light, so I have reflection, refraction and also I believe, diffraction to play with. This sets up a set of circumstances where clear focus is extremely difficult to achieve. especially over the whole frame. Don't forget, my depth of field is very shallow even at F22.
So anyway, I've learned to abandon hopes of particularly sharp images and rely on dreamy, swirly, colourful imagery to carry the day. It's certainly the point at which I'm treating light as the medium and just try to have fun with it.
Here's a sample of a scene that I feel might have some potential when the water starts to move. These rock pools are being fed by waves so the are periods of stillness, mild rippling (wind also plays a part), surging, foaminess,...all somewhat predictable and also quite random.
Now we have some movement and things get interesting and wacky
Notice the specular reflections at the bottom left over the purple shell.
Now when you slow the shutter speed down, roughly 1-1.5 seconds the writing/scribbling effect comes into play.
The point of focus is beyond the water's surface so it's the fine point nature of the highlights which keeps them sharp. The water surface is in a state of flux which includes rising and falling so it is again difficult to select a point of pure focus.
It would be fair to say that there is no point of focus in this style of imagery but I like it anyway!
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Thanks so much for the details. I was quite surprised at the f22 setting!
Asher
Asher
Antonio Correia
Well-known member
Thanks Tom. Yeah, if you can't beat it work with it...
...
When I saw the first images with specular light I said to myself that I liked them.
But when I saw the beauty of the last one one, I was greatly surprized and amazed !
Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
"Working on my signature"
Very Zen!
Totally extraordinary and worthy of the term "Art" it "ART".
Asher
Very Zen!
Totally extraordinary and worthy of the term "Art" it "ART".
Asher
Michael Nagel
Well-known member
Light is the brush and the world is the canvas.
The first three are similar to something I saw earlier this year.
Best regards,
Michael
The first three are similar to something I saw earlier this year.
Best regards,
Michael
Andy brown
Well-known member
When I saw the first images with specular light I said to myself that I liked them.
But when I saw the beauty of the last one one, I was greatly surprized and amazed !
Thanks Antonio, glad you like it. This style doesn't appeal to everyone but clearly you are an advanced soul.
Andy brown
Well-known member
Thanks so much Asher.
I showed this image to my sister, she didn't quite get it at first so I explained it.
She said "So it's the signature of the sun!"
Couldn't have said it better myself.