Light Painting 101: Illuminating a busy interior in three easy steps

I recently photographed an early 1900s abandoned farmhouse in the Mojave Desert with photographer Anthony Donofrio.

While exploring, I came across a living room with some extremely weathered sofa and rocking chair. The scene was busy, and I wanted the attention to be squarely on the furniture. However, I also wanted to use a fisheye to give broader context, tell a story, and look weirder. Here’s how I approached light painting the scene.

1. Highlighting the furniture

After beginning the exposure, I used a warm white light from a handheld ProtoMachines LED2 light painting device. To pick up some of the texture from the furniture, I illuminated it from the open window on the right hand side. 

2. Differentiating the background from the subject

As I mentioned, I wanted to give a broader context, telling the story about where the furniture was. In other words, I wanted to photograph much of the house and even include some of the world outside. Of course, I also wanted to separate it so your attention would be directed to the furniture initially.

To do that, I decided to light paint the rest of the house a different color to offset it. I chose green, although I did do a version of this with red as well. To create drama through texture and create shadow, I lit the interior from two different angles from camera left and right to achieve this.

3. The world outside

To give additional context, I thought I would share some of the world outside. The farmhouse sits near the side of a road. I waited to begin the exposure until I saw some vehicles drawing near. The vehicles’ streaking lights provide additional context in telling the story of this abandoned scene.

4. Using a fisheye

I chose to use a Rokinon 12mm fisheye lens for this scene. I did this in part because I could include much of the house and the world beyond as well as to have the image look even more surreal. The green colors enhance the strangeness of the photo. I find that a fisheye can be a jolt of creativity, enabling me to present a perspective that we ordinarily don’t see.