Photo + Graphy = Light + Writing

/fəʊtəˌGrɑːf/: drawing with light

Sir John Herschel phrased the term ‘photo-graphy’ in 1839 in his Royal Society paper on photography (1839), it is based on the Greek φῶς (phos), meaning ‘light’ and γραφή (graphê), meaning ‘drawing / writing’ – together meaning ‘drawing with light’ (in Schaaf, 2013)

Pablo Picasso / Gjon Mili (1949) from Light Drawings

In this session participants will produce images using light painting techniques / artifical light sources in order to explore the idea of the constructed image, the dependence of the photographic process on light and time, as well as further consolidating learning of photographic exposure / shutter speeds and the representation of time and motion

‘if I should ever seriously photograph, it would be…the flux of things. I wanted then, and still do, to express the ‘thing’ as part of total flow’ (Morgan in Morgan & margolis, 1980)

This Session could be run in conjunction with:

Sculpted by Light
Land into Landscape – post to come

Barbara Morgan (1940) Pure Energy and Neurotic Man

Aims & Outcomes:

For participants to visually explore the nature of photographic seeing and constructing images using light
For participants to understand how exposure and shutter speeds can influence the image
Participant Take Away Outcome: At least 3 different light writing photographs

Matthew Murray (2012-2018) from Saddleworth

You will need:

Digital Camera with a manual exposure setting
Tripods
A darkened room / studio or shoot outside at dusk / night
A selection of movable light sources (e.g. torches, phones, glo-sticks, maglights, fairy lights, flashguns, bicycle lights etc) *if you are outside, car headlights can also illuminate a space
Shutter release (for self portraits etc)
Card readers
Access to computers (or laptops)
An introductory brief & Presentation (below) for participants to outline the ideas and provide examples
A booked room to critique participants work (either via a projector or via print)
Blue tack to pin the work
Costings and Risk Assessment

Man Ray (1935) Self Portrait from Space Writing

While the signature was of course apparent to [Man Ray], the photograph remained for many years an “abstract image” to others. The discovery of this inscription is both a revelation and a resolution. Now, seven decades after he made his own game of Hide-and-Seek, we can finally look back at Man Ray and say: “There you are!” (Carey, 2011)

preparation Work:

Plan at least 5 different approaches to drawing with light and make sure you have all materials. Think about;
- Light Drawing: The light source can be seen by the camera, during a long exposure the artist uses this light source to draw, write or create a design within the frame
- Kinetic Light Painting; The lights in the scene generally remain stationary while the camera itself is moved about during a long exposure to create color and design within the frame.
- Light Painting; The artist uses handheld light sources to selectively illuminate parts of a scene during a long exposure photograph.
Ask participants to read A History of Light Painting Photography available here
Ask participants to think of and draw out some initial ideas for constructing images using light. There are a number of introductory videos to be found online but a good example for beginners is here
Ask participants if they have thier own digital cameras and cards
Make sure you have access to computers
Make sure there are enough team members to support participants (never assume thier prior knowledge)
Decide whether you will project the work or print it.
If you are printing it (6×4) make sure the Photo Lab are aware and be aware of timekeeping so they have space in the session to print the work.
*If you are running this session off campus, make sure there is access to a darkened room, printers or projectors