Nukaya Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 This was for an assignment in studio photography where we were required to alter pre-existing light and mix it with other light sources to create a series of successful and compelling photos. Each image is made over a very long exposure time (think 8-25 seconds) by triggering several strobe lights, and then moving LED lights and my lit -up cellphone around. Some of the sets appear to be moving (Furno and the second Jetbug photo) due to the figure being shifted to different spots during the exposure.The only editing on the computer was for minor levels editing, slight exposure correction, dust removal, and a tiny bit of colour correction. Everything else is created by hand. Quote My MOCs ~ Mishaps & Bubblewrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumiki Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 These are just so cool, I do not have the words to describe it. It looks like someone went over some photos with some computer-generated effects, not painted. With light. (I seriously can't get over how awesome these look.)The motions don't look unnatural - in Furno's case, it gives off the impression that he's actually riding his bike. I can even make out some blurred cell phone screens in the background ...Do you plan on extending the series out to other sets and/or MOCs? Quote avatar by Lady Kopaka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukaya Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 Do you plan on extending the series out to other sets and/or MOCs?I'm not opposed to making more photos like this. They're really fun and very different from my usual work! Doing this with multiple figures interacting, as well as creating and mastering using light stencils attached to a flash could be really interesting. It could even become recreations of certain high-action/battle scenes in the movies or comic books. I'd have to get some more of my sets from home the next time I'm there, and more types of light sources, but it could definitely be done. Quote My MOCs ~ Mishaps & Bubblewrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateFrogs Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 I love the glow on the Takanuva.And the moving Furno effect is really cool.Nice job with these. I wish I could try doing some long-exposure shots myself.-CF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickeens Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Glorious. The first Jetbug picture is my favorite. It gives me the impression there's a load of sparks coming out of his weapon or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFlash Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 (edited) These are beautiful. The first picture of Jetbug has to be the best. The light coming from his weapon is the best part of it. Edited February 6, 2012 by FrozenFlash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaleidoscope Tekulo Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Cool! I like the third one down the best, myself. Though, the first one is pretty interesting. ^^Nice concept and the effects came out pretty nicely. ^^ Quote Executive Vice President of Tomato Throwing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brappy Hour Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 (edited) I thought it was entertaining that the lighting matched the characters that you posed so well.Great work. Thanks for posting. Edited February 6, 2012 by Bionicle Raptor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toa of Nerds Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Wow, just wow. All of those pictures look fantastic. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the first one because it looks like his weapon is shooting, however, all of them are amazing. I hope you make more in the future! -don't touch my pocket protector Quote Three great comedies at one low, low price....NOTHING! Kicking the Bucket (archived)Three late-middle age matoran think of something they want to do before they kick the bucket. Choose Your Own Bionicle Adventure (archived)Navigate your way through a myriad of meaningless choices as you try to not make a fool of yourself in perhaps the only comedy ever written almost entirely in spoiler tags. Useless BZP Junk that you Must Have!!!Get to your phone, whip out your credit card, and prepare to buy some useless BZPower related junk that has no benefit on society except that you want it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akuna Toa of Sonics Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I can't describe how well done these are. I think the bike one looks the coolest. Quote Does anyone want to play the Master Chief Collection with me? I'm trying to get a team going for ranked. PM for GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Windrider- Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 The almost perfectly black background in the first Jetbug picture gives a nice impression of the infinite. The figure is dwarfed in comparison to the space surrounding it, which in turn draws my eye away from it, and toward the "lightning" effects. It is an interesting reversal compared to the other pictures in the series, from which I get the impression that the figure is the focus, and not the light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axilus Prime Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 This gave me an insight into movie special effects. XDNice work on these! You made LIGHT look like SMOKE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InnerRayg Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Oh man I've done this stuff before, it's so hard to pull off. Probably helps that you know how a camera works though :PNext challenge: Write legible words with it.Go. Quote Latest Update: STORM AND SAND Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSciFiGuy Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 I've done plenty of light painting in the past, and yes, it is indeed fun. I love making their eyes glow and basically creating elemental battles with lasers, or just making cool backgrounds. I really like the Furno motorcycle one. Quote Bionicle: ANP aims to create narrated versions of all the Bionicle books, with voice actors for each character, and music taken from various media to enhance the story. Check here if you're interested in voicing a character, and here for the chapters that've already been released!Formerly: Tahu Nuva 3.0Looking for a Bionicle Beanie. Black one with the symbol on it. Contact me if you are willing to sell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvirick Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Very cool. Toying with that slow shutter effect is addicting. Though, how did you make Takanuva's eyes glow in the third picture. (from the top) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-RealLeka- Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Holy Cruddones, those are some really cool effects!But you didn't really say how you did those, so what program did you use? I would really like to know. Quote COMING SOON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltex Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 The Furno one looks best to me; it's as if he's really riding the bike. These are really cool; great job!-ibrow Quote JOIN AETHERGARDE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukaya Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 But you didn't really say how you did those, so what program did you use? I would really like to know.As I stated, I did not use a program beyond Adobe Photoshop for minor colour correction, levels, etc. after I had made the images. When it comes to the lights, it is all done by hand.Though, how did you make Takanuva's eyes glow in the third picture. (from the top)He's closely lit from behind his head in that one. The transparent pieces appear to glow when combined with certain types of light.Next challenge: Write legible words with it.Go.Challenge accepted. Quote My MOCs ~ Mishaps & Bubblewrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSR Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Huh, I thought I'd commented on this when I saw it; must've slipped my mind. Sorry! Anyways, I've always been a fan of light painting, and you've combined it very nicely here with the figures. I particularly like the second and third images; it's a very nice pattern you've got serving as the background in the second, while the backlighting/'glow' in the third is a great effect. Quote Hey: I'm not very active around BZP right now. However, you can always contact me through PM (I have email notifications set up) and I will reply as soon as I can. Useful Topics: The Q&A Compendium | The Official RPG Planning Topic Stories: Fractures | An Aftermath | Three Stories | LSO 2012 Epics: Team Three | The Shadow and the Sea | The Days They Were Needed | Glitches | Transformations | Echoes | The Kaita and the Storyteller | Nui BZPRPG: Komae · Soraya · Bohrei Blog: Defendant Lobby no. 42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringoster Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Very nice! I like Takanuva's glowing eyes, and the Furno Bike picture is awesome. You should make the backgrounds a bit more prominent, though. On the Brezz pictures, it looks kinda like the background was added. I'm not sure if it would be possible, but you could try and add a light trailing behind a sword or weapon while the figure attacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dralcax Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 How did you stop a blurry hand from appearing in the images? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zarohum Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 This is just awesome. There's not much I can really say, other than... Just... it's just beautiful. Especially the second Takanuva one. Awesome job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukaya Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 You should make the backgrounds a bit more prominent, though. On the Brezz pictures, it looks kinda like the background was added. I'm not sure if it would be possible, but you could try and add a light trailing behind a sword or weapon while the figure attacks.In this setup I'm using a makeshift "infinity background", which is a cloth set up so it gently curves up from the table to where it's attached on the wall. This gives a sense of a never-ending background, as well as a clean look from no line being where the wall and floor meet. You can see in most how the texture of the cloth slowly fades out to black. The way that I lit the scene as well made it so the least amount of light was falling behind the figure, which makes it appear even darker.In a sense, the background of the second Breez picture was added, because the lines of light make a temporary background that separates her from the black cloth behind her.How did you stop a blurry hand from appearing in the images?I set up the lights to trigger right at the beginning of the exposure before I begin. Whatever shows up in that flash of light is what you see as permanent, and then the light painting is added in during the remaining exposure time. I make sure to wear dark clothing and I continually move my hand around, even if I am only lighting a specific spot, or my hand will show up as a discoloured blur. The longer the image exposure is also means there is less of a chance of me appearing in the image. You can kind of see in the Jetbug images what happens when my phone is in one place for too long, as the image on my phone slowly starts to appear, such as near Jetbug's foot where you can partially see me sitting on a rocking horse.I think I might have to post more about the technical aspects of this and show examples of ones that I didn't use where the flash goes off and my hand is in the way, what happens when I stay in one place too long, an example of an infinity background setup, etc., just because of some of the reoccurring questions. Quote My MOCs ~ Mishaps & Bubblewrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybre Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 THIS took my breath away, my friend. It's so impressive! The sets and effects go great together!What did you use to add the effects? Quote mindeth the cobwebs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrasherDasher Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Wow! Great job on the photos! Makes me kinda wanna get a camera that can have a shutter speed that slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noble Tehurye Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Very, very stunning. Takes my breath away. This is fantastic, you should keep this up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parazan Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 THIS IS AWESOME.What program did you use?-CDP Quote Coming June 22nd: Your chance to become an ECC critic! Power of the pen in your hands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Windrider- Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 You guys do realize that all the crazy awesome light effects were done by hand, without an image-editing program, right? As I stated, I did not use a program beyond Adobe Photoshop for minor colour correction, levels, etc. after I had made the images. When it comes to the lights, it is all done by hand.To contribute something beyond my first post, I think one thing I would have liked to see is having different poses to match the different light patterns, in a way. For example, in the first image, the pose Breez is in and the light swirl complement each other perfectly. The pose does not change in the next image, and while it's not detrimental, it would have been nice to have some variation. Same with Takanuva - for the second image, I can picture his being positioned sideways and posed in a way to imply motion to complement the blur in the background.I am still in awe, by the way, that this is all even possible to do by hand. It is truly incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukaya Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 You guys do realize that all the crazy awesome light effects were done by hand, without an image-editing program, right? As I stated, I did not use a program beyond Adobe Photoshop for minor colour correction, levels, etc. after I had made the images. When it comes to the lights, it is all done by hand.To contribute something beyond my first post, I think one thing I would have liked to see is having different poses to match the different light patterns, in a way. For example, in the first image, the pose Breez is in and the light swirl complement each other perfectly. The pose does not change in the next image, and while it's not detrimental, it would have been nice to have some variation. Same with Takanuva - for the second image, I can picture his being positioned sideways and posed in a way to imply motion to complement the blur in the background.I am still in awe, by the way, that this is all even possible to do by hand. It is truly incredible.THANK YOU WINDRIDER.Anyways, yeah, I would have changed the poses but it was getting late, my deadline was looming, and I was running out of wine. Future plans of this will involve changing the poses. Quote My MOCs ~ Mishaps & Bubblewrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hakann-The Bully Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Very cool, I love the effects!! Maybe you could help Lego design some of their boxes ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukaya Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Very cool, I love the effects!! Maybe you could help Lego design some of their boxes !Hey, I'm for hire. No complaints here if that ever happens. Quote My MOCs ~ Mishaps & Bubblewrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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