LIGHT PAINTINGS
John, the lead photographer at Bender Photography, improves his craft by learning and perfecting cutting edge lighting and photography techniques. Hover over each image to see the before and after.
This vehicle looks pretty good in the "before" photo. The client, who is a member of the Lake Naomi Club wanted to use the Lake Naomi Beach as a setting. A light painting of the exact same scene creates a far more dramatic rendition of our client's truck! This version was made into a 24"x36" print and hangs in the entrance of the client's business. It is a real eye catcher!
This vehicle once carried a heiress around California! The current owner requested something special. By using a variety of flashlights and capturing over 100 images, every detail of this scene is lit to bring out the most detail. The client purchased a large metal wall print for display.
The current owner of this vehicle purchased it and had it transported to the Poconos all the way from California. We chose to photograph it in his company's garage. The light painting technique highlights the important features of the scene and creates a look that is impossible by any other method. This image hangs in the entrance-way of the client's business.
This Firebird looks pretty flat sitting in the client's driveway before we started some precision lighting. Look at the difference! Not just in the car, but also the porch of the house, the landscaping and the interiors. It's the exact same camera angle. The lighting makes all the difference in the world!
Classic vehicles that are cherished by their owners lend themselves to the light painting technique. This restored motorcycle looks rather dull using available light. The lines and details of this classic bike emerge by precisely lighting it with flashlights.
John created a light painting of this "Rat Rod". This is a custom created vehicle that starts with an old pickup truck and packs it with state of the art power components. Rat Rods are an art form genre for auto builders. To set the mood for this light painting we took it to a local auto salvage yard and posed in from of a row of old Studebaker trucks. Then it was meticulously light painted to reveal all of the detail in this unique vehicle.
This project was a practice project. All of these brushes were found in John's father's basement. With some arranging and lighting, we were hoping to create a piece of art with great detail on the brushes. The end result of this light painting illustrates the detail you can capture just by using special lighting techniques. Everyday objects can become a work of art.
This is the setup for a tennis picture that was created for the team that won the ball shaped trophy. By carefully "painting" the scene with a small LED flashlight across a number of exposures, and then combining the images in photoshop, we created this image. Metal prints were then made as a team gift.
Virtually anything that stands still can be enhanced using the light painting technique. This still life has no pizazz using "normal" lighting. Selective lighting, using the light painting technique, creates a far more dramatic image.
A talented wood turning craftsman created these ebonite bowls. The idea was to create something a bit unusual that highlights the grain of the wood. It is not just about eliminating the background, but it is also about lighting that creates depth and detail in the craftsman's work.
John has been working on a special light paintings projects throughout the winter. Click here to check it out.