Playing with light for photo portraits

Working in teams of two to five, the first-year students faced both an artistic and technical challenge: capturing luminous portraits in the dark with exposure times ranging from 5 to 10 seconds, using the light painting technique. This method involves capturing the movement of light sources in darkness with long exposure, creating light trails and graphic effects directly on the photo.

Within each team, roles were clearly defined:

• One student illuminated the subject's face with 3/4 lighting for 2 to 3 seconds to avoid backlighting.
• One or two others handled the main light sources, creating light trails and effects.
• Another student focused on the shot, taking care of framing, settings, focus, and triggering the camera.
• The "portrait subject" had to remain perfectly still for about ten seconds to avoid blur.

The main educational goal of this workshop was to introduce students to the very essence of photography: writing with light. They explored the use of various light sources, both warm and cool, in motion. Depending on the speed of movement, the light trails formed different shapes, leading to fascinating graphic compositions.

The photos, shot in RAW format using Canon RF cameras, were later retouched and cropped in Photoshop. This allowed students to refine their creations and explore the potential of digital post-processing. 

Beyond mastering the technical aspects, this workshop encouraged creativity while providing a glimpse into the possibilities of long-exposure photography.