Here is how to overcome wind when light painting

Light painting involves long exposure, and as we know, this is when you want everything to be perfectly still. So, in cases like this, the wind is definitely not the friendliest weather condition. The master of light painting Eric Paré shows you how to deal even with the harshest wind when light painting with tubes. It’s not easy to get the perfect shot, but with some preparation and a couple of tricks, you can make some awesome photos for sure.

Eric demonstrates light painting in the harsh wind with his model Kim Henry. They share a few points to pay attention to, so you can get the best out of the windy day when you want to create light painting portraits.

Clothes

If you photograph a model and light paint behind her, keep in mind that the dress will flap in the wind. A white dress creates a kind of a “ghost-effect”, so the black dress is a better choice for a windy day.

Moving the tube

Due to a lot of movements, it’s impossible to get a good shot if you make multiple passes with the light tube. It’s kinda like the scanner. The hair and the dress are flapping in the wind, so if you lighten them three times, you’ll get multiple exposures.

The trick is to only make one pass with the tube and do it quickly. You can move the tube sideways or make a circle. However, remember that circles are more demanding. The tube moves in the wind, so it may be hard to achieve the perfect circular shape.

Take care of the gear

Due to the harsh wind, it’s easy for your stuff to start flying around. So, make sure not to let any lightweight things lie around. Keep them in the bag, and keep an eye on the gear.

There’s one thing I’d add, and it considers the dirt. Depending on the area of your shot, it may be dusty, so take a good care of cleaning your gear when you’re done shooting.

Stability

Because of the strong wind, everything will become shaky. So, think about the stability of the camera. Use a sturdy tripod and add sandbags for extra stability. Eric suggests shooting from below gives better results, as the camera and the tripod are less exposed to the direct wind.

The strong wind can even make the model unstable. So, direct her so she doesn’t take the poses that will make her unstable even more.

In a windy day, you may need more attempts and a bit more patience to take the perfect light painting shot. However, follow Eric’s advice, and I’m sure you’ll end up with some amazing shots.

[Tube light-painting in harsh conditions: the wind! – Tube Stories 13 | Eric Paré]