Light Painting - Tools of the Trade | Light Painting Photography - light-paint.com

Any light source can be used as a light painting tool, however some are better than others depending on the effect you want to achieve.  Many of my tools are home made as tools woth the effect I wanted are not available in the shops.

Here is a selection of tools that I generally take with me, roll over any item for a brief description.

I will soon be updating this page with more detailed descriptions and images.

1. Dome / Spiro Tool
A bike wheel on a stick - See more details on the Dome Tool

2. Tripod
Essential for long exposures

3. Cold Cathodes mounted on sticks
Cold Cathode tubes mounted on sticks. These are delicate lights so the stick helps to protect them

4. LED Lensalike v24
Homemade light wand with colour changing acrylic rod

5. LED Light Stick - multi selectable colour
LEDs mounted on a stick with switches to select colours

6. Diffused Multicolour LED Light
Homemade light stick with LEDs behind a diffuser with switches to select colour

7. Clip for cathodes
Holds the cathode sticks together to use as one tool

8. Shutter Release Remote
Used to lock the shutter open without touching the camera

9. Flask
Keeps coffee warm. Important for cold nights

10. Steel Wool
Light it with a 9v batter and spin it round for sparks!

11. Tie Wraps
Very useful for repairs or improvisation in the field

12. LED Glow Sticks
Turn 'em on for an instant glow!

13. Lens Hood
Stops unwanted light entering the lens

14. Flash Gun
For freezing action such as silhouettes

15. LED Glow Stick
This one is orange which is orange good for making fire!

16. LED Lenser P7 Flashlight
Brilliant torch with great light output for its size

17. Rolson Small Flashlight
Easy to keep in your pocket

18. Mini Maglite
Incandescent lamp for more natural light than LED

19. Woolly Hat
Keeps my bald head warm and protects it from sparks when spinning wool

20. Gloves
Keeps my little handies warm and protects them from sparks when spinning wool

21. Lighter
For lighting wool with a flame effect

22. 9v Battery for steel wool
For lighting steel wool

23. WD40
Gets steel wool burning like buggery

24. Spare batteries for camera
I soon get through 'em!

25. Red LED Marker Light
For marking position of things in the dark, such as tripod

26. Head Torch
The most useful light source I own

27. Steel Cable for spinning wool
It's simply a bicycle brake cable

28. Spare orb string
They break a lot

29. Power supply and orb string
Homemade 12v power supply with push-to-make button, connected to cable for spinning orbs

30. LED Flexible Glowstick Camera Marker
Homemade glow stick to attach to tripod - Very useful for finding your camera in darkness

31. Elastic Bands
Very useful for repairs or improvisation in the field

32. Single White LED
Just a single LED for writing or drawing with

33. Essential sustenance
I always get hungry while I'm out

34. Scissors
They cut stuff

35. Spare batteries
Running out of batteries miles away from home is a nightmare - always keep spares

36. Electrical Tape
A light painters best friend

37. String
Great for improvisation

38. White Card for White Balance
Helps to get the white balance right

39. Various Filters
ND and CPL filters

40. Orb Tools - See Tutorial
A whole selection of orb tools in various colours and designs

41. Gel Frame for LED Lenser - See Tutorial
Holds gel to front of Lenser to colour the light, with no light spillage

42. GoriallaPod Mini Tripod
It's a little tripod

43. Spare Memory Card
I can't tell you how annoying it is when your only card breaks

44. Colour Gels for Flash
Cover flash to colour light output

45. Colour Gels for LED Lenser
Insert into gel frame to colour light output

46. Screw Driver
Spin things round on it!

47. Wire Wool Holder
Made out of a coat hanger, fill it with steel wool and spin it round for sparks.