how to: sparkler painting.

so i did this thing called light painting or sparkler painting.

it was so much fun, & a great summer activity.

what you'll need:

sparklers (i bought 60 & it was just enough for 2 nights of doing it)

a lighter (you'll use it a lot, so make sure it has enough fluid.)

a dlsr camera with manual settings

a tripod (or tall tabletop)

a bucket filled with 3 inches of water

step 1:

find a background (in your backyard or something) that will have no lights shining on it when it gets dark. 

then set up your tripod and camera there. 

step 2:

set your camera to manual mode, then put the ISO to 100 or 200.

if it is still a little bit light outside, go with 100, but if its like pitch black, you should do 200.

set your shutter speed to 8 seconds.

set your aperture to f/11.

set your camera to "self timer" (i do it on ten seconds) & 

"continuous" (i do it on five. the sparkler usually goes out at, or during, the fifth one.)

& make sure your flash is OFF.

step 3:

wait for it to get pitch black. 

at my house we usually wait until about 9:45ish.

so sit down, eat your ice cream, and wait.

& make sure all your patio lights are off too.

step 4:

click the shutter button, and run to the place where you're gonna take the picture.

you now probably have about 7 seconds left to grab the lighter & light up the sparkler.

so light it up......

and for the first few pictures, just do simple shapes & stuff. 

words are tricky because you have to write it backwards.

but if you want to give it a go, then by all means do!

so if you did it exactly the way i explained it, 

your camera should wait 10 seconds before the first picture takes,

then it will take 5 pictures continually for 8 seconds long each.

i always count the clicks of the camera so i can know if im supposed to be done or whatever.

so yeah! now take a look at some pictures that didnt work, so you can see how to not do them:

letters arent realistic enough..

lighting the sparkler too late, and too high of ISO.

two different people writing the words, so its not even & very sloppy.

now, take a look at the pictures that did work:

cool right?

so now try it for yourself. :)

hannah mae