Light Paint

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 19, 20091,271 views54 comments

My Girlfriend has been bugging for a print(BW) of this for months so I finally processed it. I shot it back in March out near Bishop. Had a little bit of help from Benjamin Glatt. He painted the trees with a flash light but I really think he was just enjoying scaring the crap out of the water fowl. They were so loud! We had some not so good light on that trip so we did some night photography to make up for it. Well thanks for the help Ben.

Comments

54 comments

Comment posted by Adrian Klein on June 19, 2009 at 9:40 PM

I think this is great Steve! So perfect looking as if it were a minature scene placed on glass and shot in a studio. Really a cool piece in my book!

Registered on June 10, 2007, 112 Posts, 1506 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on June 19, 2009 at 9:46 PM

So where's the B&W version? Very stark Steve, it really grabs my attention.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on June 19, 2009 at 9:48 PM

Yep superb very graphic the subject is ideal for painting with light good torch work too.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 19, 2009 at 9:50 PM

This is perhaps the best photo that I have ever enjoyed. It plays on all my favorite elements: barren trees, reflections and dark backdrops. Congratulations on this achievement.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Dolde on June 19, 2009 at 9:50 PM

Very nice !

Registered on November 1, 2003, 305 Posts, 3900 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 19, 2009 at 9:53 PM

Ben, oops, I mean Steve....

Crop for symmetry and ship it! This is outstanding!

My only question is, if Ben was scaring off all the ducks, where are the ripples?

Can't muster up any other words, this is fantastic Steve.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on June 19, 2009 at 9:54 PM

I could of spent a little more time on the conversion but Aspen Creek's 16x20 $9.99 sale was about to end. By the way the tube already showed up so they're pretty quick.

Lon, I waited for his enthusiasm to level out first. There was only one small ripple that had to be removed, you might notice it's evidence in the bottom left reflection. I also removed a telephone pole adjacent to one the trees in the bg.

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on June 19, 2009 at 10:04 PM

Oh very cool Steve! I love this, really creative and eye catching. Color version for me - I like the subtle tonal differences.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 19, 2009 at 10:15 PM

I was totally loving the color version, then I worked my way down to the B&W, which I think I like even better. This is great stuff. I love the isolation and simplicity of the image. Excellent work!!!!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on June 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM

Both are just jaw-dropping, can't choose between the two. Great example of flawless execution!

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Burdick on June 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM

Awesome shot Steve! Very unique.

Registered on May 1, 2009, 31 Posts, 197 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on June 19, 2009 at 10:40 PM

This is absolutely killer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great idea, I don't think I would have ever guessed this was light painted (not that that's a bad thing). I can't decide which I prefer, b&w or color, they're both awesome. I think the b&w creates more of an abstract presentation for me. Awesome

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Isaac Bauman on June 19, 2009 at 10:44 PM

Yes, by now you know this is an awesome shot. So simple, but the lighting is so soft and well done. Good job

Registered on June 15, 2009, 22 Posts, 81 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on June 19, 2009 at 10:46 PM

This is very nice. Looks good in color if you ask me. Excellent paint job. How'd you paint the reflection?

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Bruno Silva on June 19, 2009 at 10:50 PM

I´ll go with the colored version. I like b&w but the first post is stuning. love the variety of tones in it. very nice image!

Registered on May 6, 2009, 132 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on June 19, 2009 at 10:55 PM

This is very cool. I don't blame your girlfriend for wanting a print.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on June 19, 2009 at 11:13 PM

Very imaginative and graphic. This is fantastic, Steve.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on June 19, 2009 at 11:16 PM

NIce work, Steve. Very spooky.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Younes Bounhar on June 19, 2009 at 11:20 PM

Love this. Very original and superbly done...or should I congratulate benjamin instead for the perfect painting job?

Registered on November 25, 2007, 81 Posts, 1234 Comments

Comment posted by Marsha Cross on June 19, 2009 at 11:28 PM

Wow. That's really all I can say.....It's wonderful. And I prefer the color version, but both are beautiful.

Registered on June 16, 2009, 5 Posts, 11 Comments

Comment posted by Bret Edge on June 19, 2009 at 11:41 PM

This is one of the best, if not THE best, example of successful light painting I've ever seen. Gorgeous photo, Steve!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 711 Posts, 6363 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on June 19, 2009 at 11:46 PM

This is just fantastic Steve. One of the cooler shots I've seen in a while!
The B&W is great, but the color really does it for me! Not really a "painting with light" fan, but this is just...wow...

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on June 20, 2009 at 12:19 AM

Steve, I dislike light-painting in almost every instance I have ever seen. This is the exception. It's very wierd, very different and very powerful.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on June 20, 2009 at 1:39 AM

One of the best and creative "lightpaintings" I have seen!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on June 20, 2009 at 1:44 AM

Sweet!

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 20, 2009 at 4:27 AM

I agree with Marc A--this is reeeeaaal nice, and a refreshing way to use the lighting in a 'natural' looking way.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on June 20, 2009 at 6:08 AM

although light painting is sg I stay away from, I like this very much. It is the size of the subject and distance that seems to make light-painting rather unlikely here. it proofs that if you take concepts to an extreme, it often turns out very unusual and interesting. if the original hold many details, this should really make for a good comercial fine art print.
georg

Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on June 20, 2009 at 6:09 AM

DUDE!!!! This ROCKS!!!! One of the best, most unique images I've seen on NPN in awhile! EP all the way!!!

I think you are going to owe Ben big time when this image hits the general public!

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Vaughan on June 20, 2009 at 6:58 AM

Outstanding Steve, what else can you say.

Registered on April 29, 2009, 57 Posts, 670 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on June 20, 2009 at 9:19 AM

Both are great but the B&W is outstanding. Great paint job!

Best,

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on June 20, 2009 at 9:52 AM

This is awesomeness Steve! I love both color as well as B&W version. A huge print would definitely look awesome. Excellent work!

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on June 20, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Wow totally awesome Steve. It has that microscopic feel to it, almost like a viewing something under a microscope. Great job of being creative and crafty here. I do however think you should of told Ben to swim to the spot. Light a torch and weave in and out for some fire light, maybe next time.

Great job

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on June 20, 2009 at 10:44 AM

Great Steve, with an assist to Ben. Both images are fantastic, but I prefer the color version, and I also liked your treatment of the same scene in Photo Art. All are tremendous.

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on June 20, 2009 at 11:24 AM

Steve very cool. I've got a spot near by that is perfect for something like this. Great work and Great inspiration !

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on June 20, 2009 at 11:39 AM

great shot Steve! One of your best night shots

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 20, 2009 at 12:34 PM

Wow! Fantastic light Steve. Very ethereal especially the B&W (my preference).

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on June 20, 2009 at 12:59 PM

Very unique and original. I quite like it.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on June 20, 2009 at 3:17 PM

Great idea and execution here. I like the color version better--it seems more relaxing. The b&w version, while excellent, conveys a different mood entirely (thinking Blair Witch Project).

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on June 20, 2009 at 3:49 PM

Love it - especially the b/w. How far away was the light source?

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on June 20, 2009 at 4:28 PM

Steve! Haha, I totally forgot about these. This reminds me that I need to go through my shots and process them. I really did enjoy scaring those ducks, haha. Wow. Great shot man, glad you posted this.

Registered on July 15, 2007, 171 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on June 20, 2009 at 10:46 PM

Steve, after staring at this for a while I think this ranks up there as one my favorites of yours. I vote color.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on June 20, 2009 at 11:51 PM

This shot is pretty incredible. I really like the stark contrast of it. I'm glad you got around to process this because it's a real winner in my opinion. I definitely like the color version.

Registered on September 17, 2008, 44 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Lawson on June 21, 2009 at 12:58 AM

Very cool Steve. I like the choice to leave the left and right edges black. I'm more a fan of the color version than the b/w.

Registered on March 3, 2008, 29 Posts, 337 Comments

Comment posted by HuHu Lin on June 21, 2009 at 5:20 AM

It should be the best of the month here, great job

Registered on April 8, 2007, 19 Posts, 147 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on June 21, 2009 at 6:34 PM

Great effect, kudos to Benjamin for his assistance. I really like the spotlighting

effect.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Leann Greene on June 21, 2009 at 10:46 PM

Whoa both a stunners but the B&W is jaw dropping for me.

Registered on January 25, 2006, 223 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on June 22, 2009 at 1:50 AM

This turned out so cool, great idea and great execution.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by fernando brito on June 22, 2009 at 2:38 AM

In my opinion, it's even better than Benjamin's image, because of the more directional lightning. And the B&W version it's astonishing!!
Great work!!

Fernando Brito

Registered on December 21, 2003, 124 Posts, 486 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on June 22, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Wow, seriously did not think this one would do this well with the crowd. Rick, Ben mentions it being 100 yards away but I'm guessing maybe 50 yards away. The color version is my favorite of the two. I really appreciate all the comments. Hope my next light painting does half as good. Thanks again Ben.

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on June 22, 2009 at 5:54 PM

This is stunning, Steve. One of the better light painting images I've seen. Well done!

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on June 23, 2009 at 6:01 AM

Wow, did I miss this? Just can't figure out why! Steve, this really gets my highest votes because I know how difficult it is to make a good picture by mean of light painting. Considering then that you haven't just a "good picture", but an incredibly striking image... Amazing work Steve, both colours and b&w. Congratulations on a more than deserved ep!

Paolo

Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on June 23, 2009 at 4:20 PM

Exceptionally well done, Steve and most deserving of your ESS recognition as the
EP.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Kim on June 23, 2009 at 5:05 PM

What a striking image... Wonderful execution!

Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on June 23, 2009 at 11:35 PM

WOW! The best example of light painting I have ever seen. Congratulations!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments