Light painting with your smartphone

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Lightpainting met je smartphone
Are you looking for a fun and creative way to take photos with your smartphone? Why not try out light painting? Light painting is a technique where you play with light to create magical and unique photos. You paint the light through the photo, as it were. You don't need an expensive camera or advanced equipment for this. With your smartphone and a few simple techniques you can take great light painting photos. But how does light painting work with your smartphone? In this tutorial we will go step by step through the process of creating and editing light painting photos. So grab your smartphone and let's get started!
Lightpainting met je smartphone, wat heb je nodig?

Step 1: Preparation

To get started, you'll need some essential tools:

  • A smartphone with a good camera.
  • A sturdy tripod to keep your smartphone stable, read our blog here with 4 useful tips for choosing a tripod.
  • A dark environment. You can work indoors in a room with darkened windows or shoot outside at night.
  • Various light sources, such as tube lights, flashlights, glow sticks, LED lights, fireworks, etc. View our range of lamps below that you can use for light painting!

An app to set long exposure times. There are several apps available, such as “Slow Shutter Cam” for iOS and “Camera FV-5″ for Android.

Below you will find a number of accessories that work perfectly with the latest GoPro Hero 12 Black.

Lightpainting accessories

  • Step 2: Settings of your smartphone

    Open the camera app on your smartphone and make sure to adjust the following settings:

    1. Turn off the flash.
    2. Set the focus mode to “manual” or “infinity”.
    3. Adjust the ISO value. Start with a low ISO value, such as 100, and adjust as necessary.
    4. Set the exposure compensation to zero.

  • Step 3: Setting up the frame

    Place your smartphone on the tripod and make sure it is securely attached. This way you prevent motion blur while photographing. Choose an interesting composition and frame your photo. Think about how you want the light to appear in your photo. Maybe you want to write a text or create an abstract pattern. Experiment and be creative!

  • Step 4: Setting the exposure time

    Open the app that allows you to set long exposure times. Set the exposure time to a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the desired effect and the amount of light you use. A longer exposure gives you more time to play with the light and create interesting patterns. It may take some experimenting to find the right exposure time, so be patient and try different settings.

Step 5: Painting the Light

Now comes the fun part! Turn on the lighting and start painting light into your frame. Use light sources such as the Ulanzi Vl119 or Vl110 to draw patterns, write words or mark objects. Tube lights are ideal for light painting. Experiment with different movements and techniques. You can move the light close to the camera for clearer lines, or further away for a softer effect. Be playful and creative with your light sources!

Step 6: Edit photos

After you've taken your light painting photo, it's time to edit and perfect it. There are several apps available that allow you to edit your photos. Here are some helpful editing tips:

  • Brightness and Contrast: Adjust the brightness and contrast to enhance the lighting effects in your photo.
  • Color balance: Experiment with color balance to create the mood and tones you want.
  • Crop and straighten: Crop and straighten your photo as needed to improve composition.

Noise reduction: If you notice that there is too much noise, you can use a noise reduction function to improve the quality of the photo.

Step 7: Share and enjoy

Now that you've created and edited your light painting photo, it's time to share it with the world! Upload your masterpiece to social media, share it with friends and inspire others to experiment with light painting. Remember to be proud of your creation and enjoy the process. Looking for some inspiration or cool results? Take a look at the photos of light painting expert Ton Marisael below, these were taken with the Ulanzi VL119

Conclusion

Light painting with your smartphone is a great way to express your creativity and create unique photos. With good preparation, the right settings and a little practice you can achieve amazing results. So go outside (or create a dark environment inside) and let your smartphone transport you to a world full of light and imagination. Have fun with light painting!

If you have any questions about light painting or the products mentioned after reading this article, please feel free to contact us via our contact page.

After reading this article, do you still have questions about the GoPro Hero 12 Black or do you want advice about which accessories can help you capture the coolest GoPro adventures? Please feel free to contact us , we will be happy to help you.

View our Tube lights