These images are the result of an experiment Emma and I tried in light painting the art nude.

Emma would take a pose and I would “paint” her using glow sticks as the light source.  The trick was to keep the stick shielded from the camera (I used a strip of gaffer tape along one side).   When I didn’t keep the stick shielded  I got wide stripes alongside Emma.  But the most interesting ones were when I got some leakage, so there was a small light streak.

But the point of this post is not to be a tutorial about light painting.  It’s more philosophical.  My best results come when I play.  I go into the studio with what is best described as a bat-crap crazy idea to try out.  Some of these work and some are complete stinko.  Thankfully I work with some wonderful models who understand this and are willing to try even nutty sounding ideas.  Is there a chance my concept will result in a stinking turd of an image?  Yup.  But without play, there is no creativity and no creation.  So I leave myself room to experiment and fail, because that is the only way to find the next awesome idea.

This last image is my favorite.  I love how you can see my hands as ghostly shadows above Emma.  Totally unexpected, but something I am going to try to incorporate next time.