“I never drink coffee with lunch; I find it keeps me awake in the afternoon” ~ (Ronald Reagan)
Apparently I’m a little less fortunate than the 40th president of the United States, as I quite often have to be awake in the afternoon.
I love coffee, so luckily for me I’m writing today from my favorite hangout, Smithy’s Boatshed in Currumbin. Right now Australian Barista Champion Tim Adams is making coffees here after representing Australia in the World Barista Championships in Atlanta Georgia. The place is packed, there is a guy playing Eric Clapton’s Leila on a stratocaster as locals are drinking beers and enjoying the sunshine.
My week has been relatively quiet on the photography front. I spent a bit of time teeing up future jobs, giving quotes and processing photos, the less exciting but equally necessary parts of photography I guess.
Before signing off check out this photo from my portfolio. This was taken while I was in Central Queensland on a work trip driving from one location to the next. I came across this old boat in a boatyard. I used a long exposure just on dark during a full moon, and “painted” the boat with a flashlight. This makes the camera capture the light reflecting back into the lens, resulting in dramatic colors. The full moon had the sky bright enough for the clouds on the top and the background to come through, even though I couldn’t see them at the time. The light on the left of the boat is from the headlights of a passing car during the shot. You can view the rest of my lightpainting work here.
Ok, enjoy your week “I hope some day to make you all a cup of coffee!” (Johnny Depp)

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That boatyard photo is an inspiration, Kenny – as are your other “painting with light” pics.
So, now I’ll have to save up for a flashlight… that’s not a RED flashlight you’re using is it?
Bloody good shot – i have seen shots like this before and always wondered how it was done. How do you calculate out the correct exposure time, is it just trial and error?
Yeah there is an element of trial and error, but it’s not quite as hard as it sounds. Similar to flash photography, shutter speed comes out of the equation somewhat and what makes a difference is aperture, ISO and the duration of the light source.
I guess what is trial and error is keeping the light source out of the frame, and moving it evenly on what you want visible only.
Matter of fact it is Peter. I’ve been usiing RED flashlights for over 400 years now and consider myself a RED flasher “through and through”.
Although I shoot photographs, I find that owning one entitles me to comment on videography forums.
Of course, I have to reiterate with other “flashers” and say the obligatory “brand of flashlight means nothing, it’s all in the flasher” blah blah. It is just MY personal choice to buy a product for $12000 even though I am certain a $10 Eveready one will achieve the same thing.
Red is not only a video system. You have probably just googled something and found the first result which is for the red one video system, rather than the epic/scarlet system which certainly is geared towards still photography also, available with mounts for Canon and Nikon lenses.
It is a shame that you feel the need to continue to ‘mock’ me even after the initial post was said and done. I didn’t think such immaturity was present on this website…!
Screw it, I’m selling the red system and going back to stealing Kodak disposable cameras from K-Mart. I’ll spend the cash on chocolate and icecream to soothe my wounds from your vicious contempt…!
p.s everyone knows you need a military spec dodecatuplet xenon filament monkey leather encased flashlight to get decent photos, what the hell were you thinking Kenny!
Jimmy, one thing I will never claim to be is mature.
Memo to me, Google following:
epic/scarlet
Canon
Nikon
K-Mart
dodecatuplet (may not be suitable for workplace viewing, watch out)