First Time Light Painting

[samhail]

I posted this on another thread but got no response. Maybe I'll have better luck here. I know your not supposed to critique on this thread but any advice would be appreciated.

This is my first attempt at light painting. The "light flower" just doesn't seem to be in focus to me but I don't know if that's how it's supposed to look or if I did it wrong. I kept trying and trying but I just couldn't get the light to be in focus. What can I do next time to get the light more in focus?



Camera: Pentax K100D
Exposure: 30
Aperture: f/19.0
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[sheltiesmama]

Cool shot but I can't answer your question. I've never tried this.

[samhail]

Thanks anyway for replying.

[Barbara554]

I have never tried this either, but it looks pretty good to me. May I ask how you took this shot?

[samhail]

Originally Posted by Barbara554

I have never tried this either, but it looks pretty good to me. May I ask how you took this shot?

Thanks Barbara. I put a small LED light into the vase. Set my aperture to f/19 on AV priority which made the exposure 30. This gave me long enough time to move over to the vase after I pushed the shutter release (on a cable). I used a light pen wrapped in yellow tissue paper to make the flower. Started at the bottom of the vase to make the stem then went up to make the petals. It took me about twenty shots before I made a flower I was happy with. Did some slight PP with photoshop to help bring the middle of the vase in clearer. I shot in RAW so all I really did was bring the brightness up a tad. Tried to sharpen the "flower" but didn't really have any effect on it.
Thanks for commenting.

[pjflan7]

light is not sharp to begin with and this is in motion too. For light painting, I think that it is cool looking

[samhail]

Originally Posted by pjflan7

light is not sharp to begin with and this is in motion too. For light painting, I think that it is cool looking

I didn't take into account that it is moving. Makes sense. Others I have seen have been so clear so I don't know what they are doing different. Thanks for the compliment and the comment.

[Barbara554]

Originally Posted by samhail

Thanks Barbara. I put a small LED light into the vase. Set my aperture to f/19 on AV priority which made the exposure 30. This gave me long enough time to move over to the vase after I pushed the shutter release (on a cable). I used a light pen wrapped in yellow tissue paper to make the flower. Started at the bottom of the vase to make the stem then went up to make the petals. It took me about twenty shots before I made a flower I was happy with. Did some slight PP with photoshop to help bring the middle of the vase in clearer. I shot in RAW so all I really did was bring the brightness up a tad. Tried to sharpen the "flower" but didn't really have any effect on it.
Thanks for commenting.

thanks very much!

[kgb224]

I didn't try this yet. Outstanding effort painting with light.

[samhail]

Originally Posted by kgb224

I didn't try this yet. Outstanding effort painting with light.

Thanks for the compliment.