The Evolution of An Accidental Technique: Light Painting (Photography)

Light Painting or Light Graffiti is a photographic technique in which the photographer sets the shutter to stay open for a period of time and a light source is used to "paint" in the darkness. Once the "painting" is complete and the shutter is closed the picture is then complete. 

This technique was first used by a married couple in 1914 who were trying to record the movements of manufacturing and clerical workers, in efforts to improve upon work conditions. 


The first photographer to use this technique was Man Ray in his Space Writing series of the 1930s.



















Once Man Ray officially introduced the world of photography to this technique other innovators started creating their own masterpieces and point of views using light sources. Pablo Picasso is famous for a lot of different works but he is always reknown for his light painting entitled "Picasso Paints a Centaur in The Air"

This technique was created and used to track movement for research purposes and artists, being who they are, saw something with potential and gave it life. Todays photo world has also taken its cues from the innovators and creators listed above and others that are not mentioned, and have turned light painting (more affectionately called "light graffiti") into a world of its very own. Now with the light sources coming in an array of shapes and sizes and colors the possibilities have become infinite. This is what Light Painting the technique used for movement research has turned into!!!