Light painting is a long-exposure photography technique,where a camera is operated in darkness thereby allowing the camera shutter to be kept open over extended periods of time. This window-of-time provides the opportunity to introduce an array of light sources to a scene including torchlight, electronic flash, or other luminous objects. Each exposure becomes an expression of light and how light can direct the execution of an idea.

PREPARATION BEFORE THE WORKSHOP

i) To save time on the night, be familiar with the film (or light-sensitive material) you are choosing to work with. Do tests beforehand if possible.

Be familiar with the equipment you are planning to work with. Working in darkness requires an intuitive understanding of your camera settings. There won’t betime to individually manage everyone’s equipment settings.

ii) Load chosen film material into your camera before the workshop.

iii) Check your camera has manual exposure and focusing features and can do 30-second-long shutter exposures (not 1/30th second).

iv) Know how to change lens aperture settings

v) Know how to change camera shutter speeds

vi) Turn off any lens auto-focus options

vii) Turn off any lens-based vibration reduction / image stabilizer options

viii) Make sure your camera has fully charged batteries.

WHAT TO BRING

- A Camera that is capable of long exposures

- Charged batteries

- Tripod

- Head Torch

- Sturdy Shoes and Warm Dark Clothing

- Ground Sheet to lay out your equipment

- Water Bottle

ARRIVAL DETAILS

Meet at the school grounds at 7pm

ARTIST BLURB

Peter Solness is a multi-award-winning photographer, artist, educator and writer, who specialises in the photographic method of Light Painting, which involves mounting his camera on a tripod and working in darkness to allow long camera exposures of between 4 to 60 seconds. These long exposure times mean Petercan hand-illuminate his chosen subjects using small lights to create visual effects not generally associated with traditional methods of photography.

An enthusiastic teacher and exponent of light painting as an art form, Solness runs workshops and presentations at The National Arts School, TAFE colleges, Secondary Schools, and photography festivals such as Head On and Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

Peter also mounts large-scale public light events for community celebrations, such as Sydney Science Week in 2018 and WorldPride Sydney 2023. Solness has also developed specialist light painting workshops for secondary and primary school students to inspire younger audiences.

“Light painting has been my way of placing a value on things that I feel should be appreciated. Not in a strident way, but in a disarmingly beautiful way. There is an almost devotional aspect to the way one needs to present torchlight to a subject, something that takes my practice into quasi-ritualistic dimensions. It is as much a performance as it is the execution of a photograph and with performance there is also the opportunity for playfulness in the way I develop ideas and undertake the creation of my images. Each exposure is an expression of light and how light can direct the execution of an idea. To go into a dark place, set up a tripod and to painstakingly illuminate a tree, a rock, an Aboriginal engraving site, or a fellow human being, is for me an act of dedication to this art form.” – Peter Solness 2025