Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Tipping, and I'm really looking forward to learning with you today, all about drawing skills, and in particular, drawing with light.

We're going to do lots of thinking, talking, and exploring together in this lesson.

So, shall we get started? Let's go.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to use long exposure photography to create expressive light drawings that demonstrate control of composition and light.

Before we start, I would like to introduce you to some keywords.

We'll be using these keywords during the lesson, so it might be a good idea to write these words down.

The first keyword we'll be using today is "light source." Light source is the origin of the light.

For example, a torch, phone light, or a lamp.

"Exposure." Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor during a photograph.

"Composition." Composition is the arrangement of visual elements within an artwork.

And "contrast." Contrast is the difference between light and dark areas in an image.

Pause the video here to make note of these keywords, and when you're ready to continue, press play.

These are the learning cycles that we'll be working through together in today's lesson: settings and planning a composition and drawing with light.

In this first learning cycle, we're going to explore settings and take a look at planning a composition.

Can you draw without a pencil? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner, and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? Can you draw without a pencil? Well, many people think drawing always requires a pencil, a pen, or a brush.

However, many artists explore how light itself can become a drawing tool.

This creative process is called light drawing or light painting, and you can see an example of it here in this image.

What tools or media have been used to create this artwork here? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your peers, and press play when you are ready to continue.

Could you identify them? Well, light can be used as a drawing tool to create striking and expressive images by using photography techniques aimed at capturing movement.

You might have noticed an afterimage is sometimes created in your eyes after looking at a light source, such as by moving a sparkler through the air.

And that's what's in this image here.

Sparklers have been used to create this light drawing.

Imagine waving a torch in a dark room or at night.

Your eyes see motion, but the camera records every movement of the light.

The result is a glowing drawing captured in a photograph.

This is what drawing with light refers to.

Take a look at this image here of someone who is using a light source to create a light drawing outside in the dark.

Any controllable light or light source can be used to create a light drawing.

So that might be torches, phone flashlights, glow sticks, or LEDs.

Each type creates a different effect, from bold lines to soft, glowing marks.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What does drawing with light mean in art and design? Using pencils to shade areas of light and dark? Using only natural daylight when drawing? Tracing images with a light box? Using light sources and photography to create drawings? Pause the video here and have a quick discussion with your partner, and press play when you are ready to continue.

If you said that using light sources and photography to create drawings is what drawing with light means in art and design, you're absolutely right.

Well done.

To capture a light drawing through photography, it's essential to use the right camera settings.

If you're using a digital camera, look for these three settings.

ISO controls the amount of light the camera lets in.

Shutter speed is the length of time the camera's shutter is open.

And aperture is how open or closed the camera's field of vision is.

Or use the 'Pro' option in a smartphone camera for similar settings.

Exposure refers to the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor during a photograph.

Too much light makes images overexposed, while too little makes them too dark.

Light drawing requires getting this balance right.

Long exposure means keeping the shutter open for longer, usually a few seconds.

This allows the camera to record movement, such as light trails.

Without a long exposure, light drawings won't appear in the photograph, as it will be taken too quickly.

Composition refers to how you organize forms, shapes, and lines within your picture.

Even in light drawings, good composition makes your work feel balanced and intentional.

Planning your composition before a photoshoot will help your light drawings to look visually engaging.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Which camera setting is most important for capturing light trails? Long exposure or slow shutter speed? Fast shutter speed and composition? Flash mode with autofocus? Autofocus and fast shutter speed? So pause the video here and take a moment to think about the answer to this question, and press play when you are ready to continue.

If you said long exposure or slow shutter speed, you're absolutely right.

Those are the most important camera settings for capturing light trails.

This brings us to our first learning task.

I'd like you to sketch an initial composition for a drawing with light photograph.

Think about how light might interact with an environment or chosen form.

So pause the video here and give yourself enough time to have a go at this learning task, and press play when you are ready to continue.

How did you find that? Let's have a look at this example here.

So, this is what Izzy has drawn out.

You might have something of a similar idea, or it may be completely different.

Izzy says, "I created this composition sketch for a figure who is crouched down.

Using light, I will draw wings around them and show energy flowing around the form of the figure." So, can you see how Izzy has drawn the light around that figure in the shape of wings, but also in energy forming around that figure too? So well done for creating your initial composition for a drawing with a light photograph.

This now brings us to the second part of our lesson.

We're going to be having a look at drawing with light.

Many artists and photographers experiment with light in their art.

Artist Pablo Picasso experimented with light drawings in the 1940s, which were captured by the photographer Gjon Mili.

Hussein Chalayan is a fashion designer and artist who experiments with technology and light in performances and installations.

Liliane Lijn is a pioneer of kinetic and light art, creating works with beams of light and movement to create visual poetry.

When using long exposure, any movement of the camera will blur the picture as well as the light.

A tripod or steady surface is essential for creating clear, well-defined images.

Alternatively, you can experiment with moving the camera to create loose, diffused light drawings.

Look at this image here.

You can see how still the shadows of the trees are in the background, and the person stood behind the light.

So this person has clearly used a tripod or a steady surface to capture this light drawing photograph.

How are the principles of art used in this light drawing? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your peers, and press play when you're ready to continue.

What did you think? What can you see in this image? Well, the art principle, contrast, means the difference between light and dark.

In light drawings, contrast makes glowing lines and light sources stand out against dark backgrounds and environments.

The darker the environment, the clearer the effect.

For instance, creating a light drawing in bright daylight will be more challenging than in a dark room or photographing at night.

Artists who use light in their work include: Miwa Matreyek, who combines animation, projection, and light to create immersive visual narratives.

Chila Kumari Singh Burman often uses neon light installations to blend pop culture, feminism, heritage, and identity.

Olafur Eliasson creates large-scale installations using light, reflection, and shadow, exploring human perception of light and color.

Mona Hatoum creates installation art involving shadows, projection, and illumination, exploring themes of displacement and identity.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What effect does contrast create in a light drawing? It removes background details and dark areas? It makes the image colorful and light? It highlights differences between light and dark areas? Or it makes the exposure shorter and the tone darker? So pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think about the answer to this question, and press play when you are ready to continue.

If you said it highlights differences between light and dark areas, you're absolutely right.

Well done.

Now, how is space used in this light drawing? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your peers, taking a good look at this image, and press play when you're ready to continue.

How did you think space was used? Well, light drawings can be more dynamic when trails of light overlap in a composition.

Experiment with repeated movements or having multiple people drawing at the same time.

This builds complexity in your image and creates a layered space.

And you see that here in this image, how the different lights overlap, creating that layered space.

Drawing with light requires planning compositions, photography techniques, light sources, and movement.

What benefits might come from working collaboratively in groups to produce a light drawing? And can you think of any local areas or places of interest you could use as part of your light drawing? So pause the video here and have a discussion with your peers about these two questions, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Well, what could the benefits be? And could you think of any local areas? Well, Jacob says, "Having a partner take the photograph whilst another person draws with a light source will make it easier, and the photographer can refer to the intended composition frame." And Sam says, "Working with a group will allow more ideas and experimentation to happen.

It also means that multiple people could draw with light to create more dynamic images." Capturing a drawing with light can take multiple attempts to get right.

If the image just shows someone holding a light source with no movement, then the exposure time is too short.

The solution here is to increase the exposure time so movement can be captured.

Keep checking and adjusting your camera's ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings to create the image you want.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Any camera setting will capture light drawings.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think, and press play when you are ready to continue.

If you said that's false, you're right.

Well done.

But can you explain why that statement is false? Pause the video here and explain why the statement is false to your partner, and press play when you are ready to continue.

If you said something like, "Long exposure, or slow shutter speed, is essential to capture light drawings, as without it, the camera won't capture light movement, only still images," then you're right.

Well done.

This now brings us to our final learning task.

I'd like you to use your composition sketch made during task A to capture your light drawing.

Now you should work in groups or pairs and use a camera or phone to capture your light drawing photographically.

Experiment with your camera settings, adjusting your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings to capture the image you want.

So pause the video here, give yourself enough time to have a go at this learning task, and press play when you are ready to continue.

How did you find that? Well, let's have a look at this example here of Izzy's.

So, in this light drawing, I found a local street scene for a textured background.

Using a tripod helped stabilize the camera, and a torch was used to draw with light.

Can you see how she has that figure kneeling down, and the wings drawn, and that energy source of light around the figure also? So, just like the light drawing sketch that she created first.

So well done if you were able to draw with light based on your composition sketch.

Before we finish this lesson, let's summarize what we've learned about drawing with light.

Light can be used as a drawing tool in photography.

Long exposure allows movement of light to be captured as lines and shapes.

Composition and planning are key to effective light drawings.

It's important to consider light sources and plan a light drawing to create an effective image that shows contrast.

Thank you for joining me in this lesson today.

I hope to see you in the next lesson.

See you there.