The BlogKor

February 8:

I taught another fun Lightpainting workshop for the Showcase School in Atlanta. Go here for a lightpainting primer from my last workshop. We gathered at dusk at the Cator Woolford Gardens on Ponce.

As I try to teach in my workshop, all photography is a light painting, but a classical “Light Paint” usually involves a long exposure, where you start from a blank (black) canvas and selectively add light to the exposure. You can also think of it as slow-motion photography: that is, everything is done in slow motion. It’s a great way to learn the fundamentals of exposure.

For the best control over your timed exposure, you will need a digital SLR with manual exposure modes, but one issue that frustrates light painters is the 30-second exposure limit set on most digital SLRs. For anything longer, you will need a remote trigger capable of timed exposures.

For pro Nikon shooters, the this gadget is the MC-36 Multi-Function Remote (for the D2 series, D1 series, D200, D100, F6, F5, F100) . Note that the MC-30 Remote Trigger (for the N90/s, F100, F5, F6, D1 & D2 Series, D100 with MB-D100) and the ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control Transmitter (for the N65, N75, D70, D70s, and D50) and MC-DC1 Remote Cord (For D70s and D80) all are not capable of automatically timed exposures.

If you are shooting the D70 or similar camera for Nikon, the ML-L3 or MC-DC1 triggers plus a watch will do just fine.

For Canon, use the TC-80N3 (for the EOS 1v, 1v-HS, 3, 1D, 1Ds, 1D Mark II, 5D, 10D, 20D, D30 and D60).

Not only will this give you long timed exposures, but it will allow you to take pictures at automatically-timed intervals – yeah, like you do that on a daily basis. Definitely read the manual before trying this at home!

Can I get a head count? A quick class portrait: Nikon D2X at ISO 100, Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 lens at f/18, exposed for 1 minute using the MC-36.

Student Photos”:

Genia Roberson:

James Davidson :

Yvette Tolson: