I've never been able to give a reasonable explanation why I like lightpainting in tunnels. At first I would explain that a tunnel is darker earlier on lighter nights in the summer and not to mention drier on wet nights! But I think there might be more to it than that.
I realised my slight obsession with tunnels might have something to do with the fact that the enclosed space is more like a studio I don't have at home. The places I visit are usually miles from anywhere with little to no chance of being disturbed. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of a complex lightpainting shot than when a bunch of people with bright lights turn up and ruin my effort! There then follows a polite conversation where I'm asked what I'm doing and feeling compelled to explain what in the heck I'm doing stood in the dark in the middle of nowhere.
I also think the obsession with tunnels is about the space itself. Often tunnels or caves have textures everywhere and I quite like to light up the insides and make them part of my image.
This is a collection of images shot in tunnels or caves and there may be more reasons why I like shooting in them!
Desne strikes a pose
This is the ever so irrepressible Desne striking a pose in an abandoned kiln. The textures in this 20 mtr long kiln are amazing and taking along a model and a few smoke pellets always works for me!
Mineral Trail Nights
Around the UK there are lots of abandoned railway lines axed in the 1960's as part of the Beeching Cuts. For years the tracks were left to go to ruin but a trend of late has been to repurpose the tracks and set them up as a walking trail. And being fairly flat they make a great trail for bikes too.
This is the Mineral Trail where a new road bridge had been constructed which looked great in the dark with it's corrugated curves:
Salski in the smoke
It's not just tunnels and caves that work. This is a now demolished tall corridor in an abandoned colliery building, perfect for enclosing dramatic angles with a model.
I never did work out why this corridor existed like this; 12 mtrs high and not even 2 mars wide. Strange!
Salski behind the scenes
In Derbyshire is this old lime kiln, another location perfect for textures. This one shows the Roundflash softbox and the multi-colour lighting gadget I rigged up:
In the forest
It's not just tunnels and caves that enclose a subject. I live in an area surrounded by trees and the tracks are enclosed by overhanging branches; perfect for a backlit silhouette!
Flippers
Also around my area are plantations of pine trees all arranged in neat rows. Perfect for enclosing or framing a subject. I also like a big pair of flippers made by the long shadows!
Solo lightpainting
I tend to prefer to venture out in to the dark with friends if only for safety and company. This is a solo lightpainting where I obsessed over the alignment and nailed it. Lightpainting with others doesn't always work where the other people who've joined me have to wait more than an hour while I obsess over the set up. Better on my own here!
Blood red nights
It turns out that an abandoned firing range makes a great place to lightpaint! Underneath the firing butts here is a long corridor where the soldiers would have sat waiting for the shooting to finish so they could paste up the targets.
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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