Lightpainting can be dangerous. I didn't expect it to be but I've risked death or serious injury in the pursuit of a lightpainting or long exposure image! Or maybe even hypothermia!
This is a set of images where I risked life and limb:
Shit, that ain't now cow!
What started out as a lovely evening of light painting collaboration with friends took a turn for the bizarre when a herd of cows approached us curiously. They got closer and closer, began sniffing at my camera bag and flash stand. It then kind of dawned on us all simultaneously that maybe these weren't actually cows....cue quick packing up and legging it outta there!! This was all I got time for folks (and I ain't going back for a re-shoot).
All I remember from this shoot was my lungs exploding running back up the hill to safety!
Hartland Quay
I've always had Hartland Quay in North Devon on my bucket list of places to visit. Being in that end of the UK for work, I took a slight detour on my way home with all my camera gear only to realise perhaps how stupid I was to stumble around these rocks, slipping over twice and getting soaked in mud and sand! I would have gone down lower on to the "beach" but I value my unbroken ankles!
I will eventually return here and do a "proper job" of this place when the scars from this visit fade!
Mam Tor Star Trails under a moonlit sky
Being built for comfort and not for speed, this shot damn near killed off my lungs walking back up the hill lugging a heavy backpack full of gear. It was this occassion that made me rethink carrying the kitchen sink every time I venture out in to the dark!
This shot smashed my camera!
It's not just life and limb I risk when venturing out in the dark. Wandering around the grounds of an ancient monastery, this was the last shot before my camera croaked as it fell over and broke....I was gutted; I'd had the Sony A7 Mk1 camera for quite a few years and never felt the need to upgrade; why would I when I got what I wanted with the gear I had. I remember the pain of waiting for an incompetent insurance company and repairer not being able to organise a drinks party in a brewery!!
Anyway this is hand lit by wandering around the frame with various gelled torches and an LED panel:
The long and winding road (not to mention slippy)
@fadetoblack and I only spent maybe an hour stood on this hill overlooking the winding road to Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District but we were pretty much up to our knees in snow. Parts of my anatomy were beginning to freeze up in the end and I thank Ford for the heated seats that came with my vehicle!
This shot was dangerous in another way too. I decided in my wisdom to drive down this winding road in order to create my own traffic trail while my colleague, Tim stood triggering both our cameras. I set a huge torch strobing in the back of the car and drove down the hill. One thing I'd failed to factor in was driving back up the damn hill with very little tread left on my tyres! I made it back up eventually but that's only because I've had some off road experience!
My flashlight got me in to a spot of bother with the natives
I received a tip off about this temporary art installation in a Sheffield street. I set about shooting the upside down car using my enormous LED Lenser X21r2 flashlight to light the scene. It turns out this enormous flashlight might have been handy for self defence after a "local resident" (or cockney twat to be precise) stepped out of his door and swore his head off and threaten to kick the shit out of me for waving a bright light!
I carried on of course and got my shot! All lit with the wonderful LED Lenser X21r2, my weapon of choice!
Surprise View
This is possibly the most dangerous shot I've taken. Stood on a 5 foot square rock with a 30 foot drop behind me with rocks to hit my head on at the bottom. Falling down wouldn't have ended well...
Deciding to never use burning magnesium again
We decided to shoot this old abandoned WW2 air traffic control tower in the dark. I lit the insides of the tower in a continuous exposure whilst a friend climbed on the roof and spun the fiery orb. However in my misguided wisdom, I added some flecks of magnesium strip in to the steel wool with the result that the magnesium burns much hotter than steel wool and has a tendency to set the surroundings on fire! One such clump landed on the grass and before I knew what had happened I was running down the stairs to stamp out the fire!!
Never again will I use magnesium!!
About me:
I usually specialise in shooting lightpainting images but occasionally dabble in urbex and artistic model photography. I'm always on the lookout for someone to collaborate with; please don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to create art.
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/fastchrisuk
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fastchris/
Lightpainting is a photographic technique in which exposures are made by moving a hand-held light source while taking a long exposure photograph, either to illuminate a subject or to shine a point of light directly at the camera, or by moving the camera itself during exposure. Nothing is added or removed in post processing.
If you would like to see more lightpainting please give the Lightpainters United Community a follow and you will be introduced into the illuminating world of light painting!
If you want to see more examples of lightpainting, feel free to check out these guys:
Mafu Fuma | Oddballgraphics | FadetoBlack | DAWN | Mart Barras | Stefan Stepke | Nikolay Trebukhin | Lee Todd | Stabeu Light | Maxime Pateau | Stephen Sampson | lightandlense | Neil Rushby | L.A.C.E.
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The X21.r.2 can be used for self-defense in two different ways: Step 1. software defense> set the torch to SOS-morse blinking mode and direct the strobing torch directly into the offender's face and Step2. Hardware defense when the offender does not let go of you and still wants to strike, swing that thing hard. It will find recognition in the face and will most likely result in retreat.
There was one incident with a drunk when step 1 was successfully applied 😎
I can relate to all of the above in soooo many ways.
Haha, you have clearly given this a lot of thought 😂😂
Simply amazing!
Thank you @delilhavores 😀
Another great set pal. 👏👏
Cheers pal, it's a wonder I've avoided serious damage 😳😂
Except from the steel wool and magnesium stuff it could be me. 🤣
I think maybe we've all had similar "adventures" and it's not only the lightpainting that keeps us going out in to the night...
!discovery 30
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