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In this article, you’ll learn how to make your own DIY lightstick.
You’ll be able to use this to create fascinating light paintings, and the best thing is, you can do it on a budget!
The simple DIY lightstick is made with easily available household objects and a set of fairy lights. Once it’s made, you’ll be able to create beautiful light patterns during long exposure photos.
Using a light stick for light painting can transform a scene.
Light painting is a long exposure technique.
To achieve this kind of photo, you’ll need a camera on a tripod, and usually, the photo will be taken at night. The exception to this would be a studio that is completely dark – this too can be used for light painting.
Most people will know light painting as simply spelling something in the sky with a torch.
There are two main forms of light painting, kinetic light painting, and regular light painting. In this article, you’ll learn about using a light stick to create regular light paintings.
There are light sticks out there you can buy. This photo was taken using a pixelstick.
You can buy a ready-made lightstick.
Indeed, some of these are already quite cheap and will give you the chance to practice some of the ideas presented in this article. There are also those sticks that are more expensive.
It’s worth keeping the more expensive sticks in mind, as they will give you more options when compared to a stick like the one you’ll be shown how to make in this article.
You’ll use tie straps to attach the wire to the tube.
There are some very good cheap options when it comes to light sticks, and you might decide to pursue one of those instead of making a DIY lightstick. If you want a little challenge, then read on and see what you can make.
First of all, let’s gather the supplies you’ll need. You can find most at home, however, you may need to visit your local DIY store or look online for some too.
The battery pack needs to be glued onto the stick as well.
Now you have everything you need, take the following steps to put it all together.
The task is fairly simple. It’s really just attaching some fairy lights to a stick. Why the plumbing tube? That’s so you can break it down to a stick that’s half of its size in an easy way.
This stick divides into two. This makes it easier to carry around and gives you the option of using the stick at half its full length.
The stick is now ready, it just needs the bungee cord put through the middle.
Now you have a DIY lightstick you can use to create interesting light paintings.
Lightsticks work because of the repetition factor – lots of lights moving altogether in a uniform pattern. It’s best to keep your light paintings relatively simple. Use defined movements, like spinning around, to create light cones. Spin the stick around to create circles, or simply walking along with the stick to create light ribbons.
What you do creatively with the stick is now up to you, but enjoy experimenting!
It’s usually a good idea to keep light paintings simple, with a defined message.
It’s always fun to make something for your photography. Have you ever tried to make an accessory yourself? Maybe it was for flash photography, something like a snoot?
Here at digital photography school, we love to hear from you, so please share your experiences. If you have any light painting photos taken with a light stick that you would like to share, that would also be great!