Light Painting Portraits In Open Ateliers 2025 - Part Two

Last weekend, I reported here on the cultural event “Open studios in Steinhagen”. Today is the second part of my report on the event.

Did you miss the first part? No problem. Click here for part one ...

I had prepared various techniques to introduce the audience to light painting portraits. Today I would like to introduce you to my shadow paintings.
It's actually quite simple and maybe something for you to try out yourself? Let's get started.

To take the cover picture, I set up a frame consisting of two flash stands. These were connected at the top by an aluminum rod. Then I stretched a white sheet over it, which was attached to the frame with clamps. The canvas was ready. I placed the model behind the sheet and illuminated it from behind with a flashlight. This projected the model's shadow onto the sheet.

I had previously stuck a cut-off PET bottle to the lens hood of the lens using duct tape. I then attached this to the lens and illuminated it with a flashlight from an angle of 90 -110°. I optionally used different color filters for the flashlight.

The following picture was intended to create a concert atmosphere. Because there wasn't much space behind the sheet, I placed the three models on three chairs behind the sheet. The flashlight is partially visible in the picture. In this case, it didn't bother me.

The themes were determined in collaboration with the visitors. Like the concert above, the next model wanted to go on an underwater excursion. I realized this without the sheet. Fiberglass was used here. After the model had been “painted” with the fiberglass on a flashlight, I used the lens hood with the PET bottle again. This time I illuminated the bottle with a flashlight without a color filter.

The “bottle trick” was apparently well received by the audience and found imitators. Here, a shooting star came into the picture once again.

The set behind the sheet is very practical for shy models who don't like to show themselves in front of the camera. This picture should include a flower and a heart if the model wishes. Et voila! Simply painted on the sheet from behind with a flashlight. This is actually a nice activity for a workshop.

In the picture below you can see the modified lens hood. Wouldn't that be a nice activity for the next party? Have fun with it! As I still have pictures of the event on my hard drive, I'm sure there will be another post about the Open Studios in Steinhagen 2025. So stay tuned!