Joshua Tree National Park

It resembles something out of a Sci flick if you ask me.

 

I was going to light paint all night long here but decide to leave after

these two light painted shots. I think I spent more time driving here then

visiting the place but I found it well worth it. Plus the clouds were

coming in and they were not going break up enough until a few hours

before sunrise. And knowing that the clouds would not be lingering

around at dawn that's what justifide my decision on leaving.

 

The Journal - SteveSieren.wordpress

simply terrific. how could you manage to give such a perfect exposure and get details at all parts of the frame at such a low light condition?

Excellent image Steve. Well composed, and the use of light painting really made the image work. Well done!

All the best,

Neil

Arup, thanks.

 

I used a flash light to paint in just enough necessary detail for the viewer's eye to bounce around in all of the rocks. There is still plenty of plenty of dark shadows without detail and that gives the scene depth.

 

Steve Sieren

 

 

Neal, thanks!

Pretty cool shot Steve. I've been wanting to try this myself but have not yet. I'll have to get a bigger flashlight, all I have is a little LED thing in my camera bag.

Bravo. It gives the feeling of being in the cavern with a fire on. Very well executed.

A shot that makes impact, effectful light. Regards.

well done

Very suggestive point of view and atmosphere!! lots of compliments!!

Excellent work, the light is superb, composition is beautiful it could be interesting an asimetric point of view maybe?

Congratulations,Steve. Superb rendition.

Very creative and yes other world look to this. I like what you have accomplished and feel inspired to give this a try myself ;)

 

Best regards, Pamela

Wonderful...great perspective! 7/7 and best regards

Great capture. Very well done. 6/7 anon. Best regards - Nader

Great exposure, there is just the right amount of detail in those warmly lit shadows imo, and the sky co-operated as well.

 

Best wishes, Dave.

Lovely framed and colorful image. Nice work and great use of light.

fabulous shot and lighting. congratulations.

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When I opened this image, I really had a few immediate hits from it. First, there is something about the way things are arranged that I immediately felt I had seen this before. Maybe one of those Arches shots, I think. Second, is that the image looks very much like an illustration as did most of the light painted studio images that were so popular back in the early 90's. Third, probably because of the location, I thought back to Richard Misrach's work from the 80's with simple light painting in the desert and later, his color work in the ruins of Greece.

The way this image is composed, being bordered by the arch on top and the boulders below, I have a sense of being in a cave, maybe a primordial one at that! This primordal feeling is only intensified by the almost unreal color of the sky. There is certainly a hint in the way the lighting has been applied, that there is a fire or some other light source beyond our view in the lower left of the image. The rim light on the arch, which appears to emanate from the outside of our "cave", adds to the sense that we are isolated inside and someone is outside. I think the color makes me feel more secure inside than a cooler palette might yield. But some of the lighting balance seems a bit off, like the too bright light on the boulder on the right side of the frame.

Now, I don't think what I describe was necessarily the intent of the light, but in some ways, I guess I am trying to figure out what the intent was supposed to be. It might simply have been to create a different kind of image and one that is just about itself. I think this is fine, but I keep feeling a need to reconcile the lighting and I find it a bit arbitrary and maybe not well balanced. I don't need it to be any particular way, I just think it should have a purpose if it is brighter here or there. That it sets up a rhythm in the image, emphasizes something of note or in some other way actually serves the image. The image certainly has some appeal to it, but I find myself wanting a bit more.

As I reviewed the other work done this way, I am left pretty much with the sense that this is an experimental set of work and has yet to find resolution. The POW image is certainly the most successful of the ones we can see in the portfolio-- IMO. Creating images that stand alone is certainly valid and I can enjoy this image on a certain level, but I think I really like a bit more concept behind imagery of this type.

Excellent light , composition and colours.

Some folks will zoom in or out during a long exposure, others will move the camera during the exposure, others will take two or more exposures on a single frame or they will sandwich two or more exposures, and still others will "paint with light" during a long exposure at night. I think the "painting with light" technique that Steve has done has created an excellent image, one with just enough light to provide details without overwhelming the image with the artificial source of light. In fact, a casual observer may not immediately realize how the image was created because the artificial lighting is so subtle. I think that's what makes this example so successful.

This is the type of photo that separates the "photographer" from the "snap shooter"!

I recently learned this light painting technique in our photo club. I have an example of my effort, which can't come close to your image.....but for illustration purposes and to help others understand the technique, I'll include it here. On a dark night I used a flashlight to 'paint' some dead flowers and leaves in a bird bath. You can see the result below. As for your effort, this is absolutely outstanding! It's surreal and dramatic, which comes from the artistically done uneven lighting. And you've picked the perfect spot to create your composition. Was the moon really there as well? It makes me want to experiment a lot more with this technique. Bravo!

it is amazing, i like the framing you used here..

 

how did you manage to do that?

I liked the photo very much. Most attractive and no doubt a seller as this sort of picture is more commercial than many. In looking over your portfolio I see so many with the same traits. You seem to specialize in strange and unusual lighting. That's great! My congratulations for being selected by the elves.

I do feel that you might have overdone the painting with light a bit in this one. That can be a very hard thing to determine in the heat of battle. In my opinion, although this may have been photograph through an arch, it gives the appearance of shooting from the mouth of a cave. If that were so, the framing rocky structure would be dark except for a rim of lighting at its inner edge only. Also many of the rocks outside have the light on areas not lit by the moon or coming dawn. So where is the light coming from? That otherworldly sky is beautiful. Wish I could achieve that feeling.

I personally feel that Christal's photo is very well done too. Maybe darken the flower in the upper right a bit. Nice. I especially like her composition.

Willie the Cropper