351 Active Lovers [Record: 1991 on 12 November, 2007]
Lost PasswordRegister
  Everything  Articles  News  Trends  Interviews  Popular

Painting with Light


Print this page Print this page


  

**Update: Check out the LICHFAKTOR interview we did for more photos and a new video.

A number of graffiti artists have been tagging everything thought to be impossible without being caught. Well — it’s actually not illegal for them. They’re not using paint. As it turns out, time-lapse photography isn’t just for blooming flowers, skyscapes, or brake lights anymore. Termed Light Graffiti, tag artists are taking their colour to an all new level.

arrow light graffiti

Let There Be Light

Using an exposure of about ten-to-thirty seconds and a tripod for best results, Light Graffiti artists start at the first click. Glowsticks, flashlights, reflectors, and even torches have been used as mediums to create all sorts of designs and tags, as the artist becomes a ghost of a blur, if visible at all.

No Harm, No Foul

Any person, place, or thing can become a central piece of the art. Because all it really takes is less than a minute, light tagging phone booth can be just as easy as something in the privacy of home, though staying home is certainly less fun. Some ‘hardcore’ taggers are set on Light Graffiti not actually being graffiti because it doesn’t have a physical presence, but after seeing photos of it, it’s not too different from tagging a building and having it covered or removed the next day.

light guy

arrow tower

walking the dog

See some more for yourself over at this wicked decent Flickr photo set.

See if you can make some yourself. The general rule of Light Graffiti seems to be experimentation and play, so, if your first ‘tag’ isn’t brilliance, keep at it.

9 July, 2007
Comments 71
del.icio.usnetscapenewsvinetechnoratifurl
    Did you enjoy our post? Get our blog feed by Email or RSS for daily updates.
 
Comments

Showing 1 - 27 of 27 Comments

indiethou…
9 Jul, 2007 @ 10:31 AM
Awesome! I love it. I never would've thought of doing something so brilliant with just light and a camera.

artsykerl…
9 Jul, 2007 @ 11:31 AM

ruecian
ruecian wrote:
9 Jul, 2007 @ 1:13 PM
Wow, nice one, artsykerley. Thanks for sharing.

retsof
retsof wrote:
9 Jul, 2007 @ 2:31 PM
Some college students were arrested for using a slide projector to project slides on the side of a white house next door. Well...they were slides of nudes....pornographic light painting....

R@100
R@100 wrote:
9 Jul, 2007 @ 11:25 PM
wonderful

supermike…
10 Jul, 2007 @ 1:29 AM
We were already doing that years ago! And in a dark room, you can have even more fun by shining your flash light on certain objects or body parts to make impossible compositions (for example making a person with 6 arms by having him stand still with stretched arms, illuminating his whole body, then let him move his arms to a different position, then shining the flashlight only on his arms, etc.). Or you can put someone's head on someone else's body, etc.

How do I upload pictures here?

FreakCERS
FreakCERS wrote:
10 Jul, 2007 @ 1:39 AM
My kid brother (then 14) did one of these 2 years ago - I think this is the first time since I've seen it.. Very cool look...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/71165847@N00/269672703

ampop
ampop wrote:
10 Jul, 2007 @ 1:50 AM
check out the tagtool for more paintings with light: http://www.tagtool.org/?cat=19

jamesspra…
10 Jul, 2007 @ 2:50 AM
Can you give us an idea of all the setitng you used on your SLRs?

Great stuff, got to give this a go.

dylan
dylan wrote:
10 Jul, 2007 @ 5:14 AM
this is amazing - a lot more creative than what I was able to achieve on my Canon compact. Inspiring me to take out my new Sony dSLR and see what I can do :)

optimuscr…
10 Jul, 2007 @ 10:52 AM
an 'all new level'?

http://dsc.gc.cuny.edu/part/part8/articles/gr/picasso2.jpg

picasso's space drawings are circa 1949. tout est vieux.

josefresc…
josefresco wrote:
10 Jul, 2007 @ 11:05 AM
Incredible uses of color and light, a treat for the eyes.

New to the subject I did some Google searching and found a Wired article:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.12/graffiti.html

As well as a DIY at MakeZine

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/07/light_graffiti.html

ruecian
ruecian wrote:
10 Jul, 2007 @ 11:05 AM
Great image, certainly, but I think it's becoming something else, is all. The idea might be old, like dark room experiments, but it's certainly evolving with the coming generations.

ms
ms wrote:
10 Jul, 2007 @ 4:39 PM
Great article - thanx!

lizcrimso…
lizcrimson wrote:
11 Jul, 2007 @ 5:03 AM
cool as always.

SugaBooga
SugaBooga wrote:
13 Jul, 2007 @ 2:20 AM
I do that too from time to time, but mine are not that detailed (.___.) these are just great :D

cleriee
cleriee wrote:
15 Jul, 2007 @ 2:23 AM
... amazing...

jwebber
jwebber wrote:
4 Aug, 2007 @ 7:57 AM
Incredible! I can't imagine how much time that must have taken.

urbanlati…
14 Aug, 2007 @ 4:48 PM
A flickr group called Camera Toss Pretty self-explanatory.

pbrosset
pbrosset wrote:
7 Jan, 2008 @ 11:36 PM
Great article, thanks for the link to lichtfaktor's photos, they're simply mind blowing.
I tried a bit myself too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnackgnackgnack/sets/72157603662652650/

jonms83
jonms83 wrote:
7 Feb, 2008 @ 6:01 AM

jerome LO…
19 Mar, 2008 @ 4:46 AM
[URL=http://www.slide.com/s/ME_32q2Ruj-W4dep8KtpYZou4RhCkQVm?referrer=hlnk][IMG]http://widget.slide.com/rdr/1/1/3/W/90000001606d9e4/1/75/FNvc93MMxj9TTj8e8v85UJgtL5-qidHe.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

jo beezy
jo beezy wrote:
24 Mar, 2008 @ 1:28 PM
Thats killer i love everything about it, but is that just one movement non stop? or different movements layered together?

versi1983
versi1983 wrote:
30 Mar, 2008 @ 6:08 AM
check my myspace to see more light graff, light painting
myspace.com/versi1983

MOLE_570
MOLE_570 wrote:
4 Apr, 2008 @ 7:42 AM
light art

hope you like one i did a while back when i was in college was fun too create

damien

graffiti
graffiti wrote:
24 Apr, 2008 @ 7:44 AM
nice but not much graffiti

SOLA_UK
SOLA_UK wrote:
24 May, 2008 @ 8:45 AM
Hey,
Checkout these LIGHTBOMBING pics from SOLA....

http://www.lightbombing.com


Photobucket





Photobucket


Photobucket


Photobucket


http://www.lightbombing.com
 Add a Comment

       You must be logged in to post a comment.


Trackbacks
44 Trackbacks So Far...Hooray!

Bram.us » Light Graffiti
9 Jul, 2007 @ 11:10 PM
[...] Time-Lapse Photography meets Graffiti : damn nice! Be sure to check out the flickr set! Spread the word! [...]
Painting with light
9 Jul, 2007 @ 11:23 PM
[...] Here is the original article.. [...]
Hakanin.Blog » Blog Archive » [From Digg] Painting with Light: Awesome
9 Jul, 2007 @ 11:58 PM
[...] cool indeed.read more | digg [...]
Hetisietsmet.nl » Verven met licht.
10 Jul, 2007 @ 12:08 AM
[...] Color + Design Blog / Painting with Light by COLOURlovers [...]
| Hitslot.com | - Eye Candy Gadgets and Worthy Products
10 Jul, 2007 @ 2:48 AM
[...] : colourlovers.com Share This News Up? Something to [...]
Grafitis de luz | hombrelobo, una mente dispersa
10 Jul, 2007 @ 4:09 AM
[...] en colourlovers sobre los grafitis de luz, o pinturas de luz, o como queráis llamarlas. Y también sobre estos otros ejemplos en [...]
All that is Weird, Wise and Wondrous on the web | Novatronic » links for 2007-07-10
10 Jul, 2007 @ 4:25 AM
[...] Painting with Light Had to post this again… just pure genius! (tags: art cool design Graffiti inspiration light photography) [...]
ClolourLovers has the right color for your design
10 Jul, 2007 @ 4:37 AM
[...] articles Painting with Light Magnets Change Liquid’s Color Color Inspiration from the Masters of Painting Ultimate HTML [...]
Euro RSCG 4D Digital : Lightwriting - graffiti evolved
10 Jul, 2007 @ 5:24 AM
[...] out these fantastic examples of lightwriting. The artist uses torches, glowsticks or reflectors coupled with [...]
Seg Meant » Light Graff
10 Jul, 2007 @ 6:09 AM
[...] Check it out [here]. [...]
What Do You Think About That » Blog Archive » Light Graffiti
10 Jul, 2007 @ 6:10 AM
[...] Part of the fun and excitement of being a graffiti artist is not getting caught. If you want to become a graffiti artist minus the illegal aspect, then go for Light Graffiti. [...]
Invisible Graffiti - you can only see it in the dark… « Amnesia Blog
10 Jul, 2007 @ 6:53 AM
[...] Invisible Graffiti - you can only see it in the dark… Great post here on Light Graffiti. http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/07/09/colored-in-dancing-lights/ [...]
Peterwrites » links for 2007-07-10
10 Jul, 2007 @ 7:18 AM
[...] Painting with Light Termed Light Graffiti, tag artists are taking their colour to an all new level. (tags: art design photography) [...]
Painting with Light: Awesome | Sex My Code
10 Jul, 2007 @ 8:01 AM
[...] read more | digg story [...]
Painting with light | the daily rumpy pumpy
10 Jul, 2007 @ 9:42 AM
[...] being caught (well, its not really anything to be caught over seeing as it isn’t illegal).read more | digg [...]
More boring stuff from the Net :|»Boringest :| - Moolah!!!
10 Jul, 2007 @ 4:47 PM
[...] Color + Design Blog / Painting with Light by COLOURlovers light graffiti…awesome!!! (tags: cool) [...]
Zahra Productions » Blog Archive » Graffiti With Light!
11 Jul, 2007 @ 12:18 AM
[...] Source: COLOURlovers.com [...]
Light Graffiti at Candyjar - David Ward
11 Jul, 2007 @ 8:00 AM
[...] COLOURlovers Bookmark to: [...]
Grafitis de luz // menéame
11 Jul, 2007 @ 9:28 AM
[...] Grafitis de luzwww.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/07/09/colored-in-dancing-lights/ por rubmena hace pocos segundos [...]
Painting with Light « Joshjoy ::
11 Jul, 2007 @ 11:28 AM
[...] Jul 10th, 2007 by joshpp [...]
Painting with Light : Tuesday Creative
11 Jul, 2007 @ 1:11 PM
[...] with LightJul 10, 2007Click here.Image BookmarkingJul 09, 2007FFFFOUND!DuPont EnergyJul 03, 2007Today's FWA site!More Myspace Ad [...]
links for 2007-07-11 « toonz
11 Jul, 2007 @ 3:24 PM
[...] Color + Design Blog / Painting with Light by COLOURlovers (tags: photography graffiti art light) [...]
I broke my blog with Murphy Brown! » Light graf
12 Jul, 2007 @ 7:29 PM
[...] And it’s only fair that I link to some folks that are doing this well. [...]
Wochenrückblick KW28 at trilodge computin blog
13 Jul, 2007 @ 12:06 AM
[...] Graffiti nicht bleibenden Schaden hinterlassen muss zeigt der kreative Weg mit Licht und Langzeitbelichtung bei einer Kamera. Grandiose Bilder und Ideen. Ein [...]
deedee.brainstream.net - Licht-Graffiti
13 Jul, 2007 @ 4:06 AM
[...] ziemlich cool aus. Das Ganze erinnert etwas an einen der iPod Nano-Werbespots von Apple... [1] http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/07/09/colored-in-dancing-lights/[2] [...]
light tagging at >{therealnickjones}<
13 Jul, 2007 @ 7:39 PM
[...] So I was talking to my friend Amanda the other day about an upcoming photo project we are working on, and the topic of light tagging came up. If you haven’t seen it before it’s basically artistic graffiti through the use of time lapse photography and light. It’s really a great process that I think more people should play around with. Read more about it here. [...]
Timelapse Light Painting - andrewgentle.com
16 Jul, 2007 @ 5:11 PM
[...] read more | digg story [...]
Best of Feeds - 37 links - google, blogging, facebook, wordpress, tips « Internet Duct Tape
18 Jul, 2007 @ 6:17 AM
[...] [GRAFFITI] Painting with Light (colourlovers.com, 185 saves, 59 inbound links, 2292 diggs) [...]
links for 2007-07-18 at Will write for food
18 Jul, 2007 @ 2:32 PM
[...] Color + Design Blog / Painting with Light by COLOURlovers (tags: cool beautiful photography design graffiti light art timelapse) [...]
Trip Hop Clan » Blog Archive » Painting with Light
22 Jul, 2007 @ 9:17 AM
[...] http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/07/09/colored-in-dancing-lights/ A number of graffiti artists have been tagging everything thought to be impossible without being caught. Well — it’s actually not illegal for them. They’re not using paint. As it turns out, time-lapse photography isn’t just for blooming flowers, skyscapes, or brake lights anymore. [...]
Inspirational photography
5 Aug, 2007 @ 8:25 AM
[...] Painting with Light on COLOURlovers. Not only great photography, but also great ideas are an inspiration to me. I’ve long known about the concept of “light painting” whereby a handheld light is used to draw images in the air, or ulluminate a subject during a long exposure. However the creative people discussed on this page have taken it to a whole new level. You’ve probably seen some of my photos that have been inspired by this idea. [...]
Painting with Light at Sean Buckley Blog
6 Aug, 2007 @ 6:55 AM
[...] Color + Design Blog / Painting with Light by COLOURlovers These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
Color + Design Blog / Interview with LICHTFAKTOR: Light Graffiti Artists by COLOURlovers
8 Aug, 2007 @ 7:18 AM
[...] posting Painting with Light, I had the pleasure of speaking with the LICHTFAKTOR crew, the artists responsible for the photos [...]
Balance In Eden « citizen geek
8 Aug, 2007 @ 9:20 PM
[...] Light painting. [...]
Lichtfaktor im Interview | streetart & kram !
9 Aug, 2007 @ 12:58 AM
[...] posting Painting with Light, I had the pleasure of speaking with the LICHTFAKTOR crew, the artists responsible for the photos [...]
Gilbert “Gilbitron” Pellegrom » » Light Graffiti
14 Aug, 2007 @ 12:48 AM
[...] From http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/07/09/colored-in-dancing-lights (No Ratings Yet)  Loading ...     Share [...]
Chasing Lights « Just my two pixels
24 Sep, 2007 @ 6:55 AM
[...] else. Some even take pictures of only the light, but that’s just straight out insane to paint with the lights and in that way make the light the scene [...]
LICHTFAKTOR COLLECTIVE « RASMUS BRØNNUM
3 Nov, 2007 @ 4:24 PM
[...] Website: www.lichtfaktor.eu Største billeder: ModArt Magazine Artikel: www.creativereview.co.uk Artikel: www.colourlovers.com [...]
Fotografie: Malen mit Licht » Huwis Achterbahn durchs Leben
5 Nov, 2007 @ 10:18 PM
[...] wenn es Dich dann wirklich packt, dann solltest Du auch die Website von Color+Design besuchen. Dort gibts viele gute Tipps und Beispiele zum Thema Light Painting, so nennen die Profis [...]
Light painting/graffiti « kslog
19 Jan, 2008 @ 2:49 PM
[...] “Painting with light” . Feature on light [...]
Calmarfrit » Blog Archive » et la lumière fût…
21 Jan, 2008 @ 10:24 AM
[...] voici plusieurs liens pour en apprendre plus : - Painting with light [...]
Pastor Painter dot com » Blog Archive » Very Cool Taging
21 Feb, 2008 @ 6:12 AM
[...] article “Painting with Light” tells of a new type of street taging, very cool. Posted in Fanciful, Uncategorized | Leave a [...]
Interview with LICHTFAKTOR: Light Graffiti Artists - A Great Place for News, Articles & Free Web Resources
8 May, 2008 @ 3:47 AM
[...] posting Painting with Light, I had the pleasure of speaking with the LICHTFAKTOR crew, the artists responsible for the photos [...]
Painting with light! - Photoshop Tutorials | Photoshop Contests | Photoshop Forums
8 Jun, 2008 @ 4:18 PM
[...] by photographers, but you can get a similar effect using photoshop. You can see some cool examples here On to the tutorial... source picture courtesy of ugaldew at Stock.xchng I also added a [...]
Most Loved Blog Posts
Feeds & Favorites


Contribute
Share the Love Do you have something interesting and colorful you want to share with
over 600,000 lovers per month? We'd love to have you as a guest
author, so send us an email with your tips or what you'd like to write about.

Send Us Your Ideas or Tips
Blog Search & Archives
Browse Archives
Search Blog
Latest Palettes & Patterns
Recently Active Lovers