Light Painting Setup and Tutorial

In this video I show you everything you need to know to get started with light painting. We'll go over the equipment you need, the camera settings (including BULB mode) and exactly what to do with your lights to get amazing photographs.
Awesome affordable tripod: amzn.to/3sh64qh
Cable Release: amzn.to/394cEca (Be sure and choose the correct camera)

[@fabienbaez2562]

This was the best KZbin tutorial I’ve watched on light painting. Thank you

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

This is the best comment I've gotten on this video! Thanks so much.

[@zigzack54]

What a fun teacher to have.

[@Asufiku]

Dude I love your tutorial, I'm more of a visual demo learner and this video helped sooo much. Others are too hard for me to imagine due to them mostly just explaining it or using too advanced tech/terms for the average guy like me 😅

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Glad it helped! I've been teaching high school photography for 13 years so I've figured out how to teach things to all kinds of learners.

[@axulke]

Thank you man, these is the video I was looking for, I didn’t know to to set shutter speed to seconds. Now that I know, thank you

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

I'm glad it helped.

[@mmctaggart3012]

Awesome tutorial! I also teach this in HS and students love it! It’s great to be able to show a video with no “inappropriate content” or mega-loud music too😂Thanks again and have a great year!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully it is helpful to your students. Good luck!

[@metalnmunchies9070]

I have been playing with painting with light in my photography for good five or six years now. And while I don't get to do it often, I do want to make this a regular offering to my clients. And up until now I'm not really been able to get the hang of it the fine nuances required to do good images in this genre. But I learned a hell of a lot in this short tutorial! Thank you sir, for showing this old dog a new way to look at this new-age trick.

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Badzilla]

I have learned a lot. I had a camera with so many tricks on it that I never knew. Thank you Matthew

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Happy to help!

[@EBMJ]

Great video man. Thank you so much for your knowledge and value. Greatly appreciate it!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@TylerTheObserver]

This is honestly my new favourite thing since i discovered light trails

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Nice!

[@TylerTheObserver]

@@mattjohnsonphoto yeah thank you so much for this video It really helped.

[@EganRanch]

You are amazing! Thank you. Great energy, my students will love this video.

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Wow, thank you so much.

[@nutronneil9]

Best teacher ever, I just found out how to use my canon rebel xsi DSLR because of him!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Wow, thanks!

[@marinkinard5665]

This video was so helpful! As a visual learner, seeing the process of you taking the photos was very beneficial. I can't wait to try this out myself!!!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lilyyyy5601]

Love it dad!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thanks so much! Love you!!

[@HUMZMIC1]

That video was AWESOME...I LIKE!!!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

This comment is awesome! Thanks!

[@teddyhsieh9836]

Enjoyed the video!! Really made it look easy!! Definitely gonna try!!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thanks for the comment

[@darylwayne611]

Thank you so much! Amazing video, very informative and interesting!! All the best!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@thequarantinecatholic]

Your students must really enjoy your classes!!! Thank you for this tutorial!!!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

You're very welcome.

[@TheUniverseEZvideo]

Tips and tricks. My respects!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thank you!

[@NoaGesar]

Really great tutorial, i learned so much because of this awesome guide! Thanks Man

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Glad you liked it!

[@nunocorreia5570]

Thanks, very good step by step tutorial!!!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

My pleasure

[@setuhasan66]

Thanks for the tutorial..❤

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

You're welcome!

[@Robinsons24]

Thanks so much for this ❤

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

You're so welcome!

[@Sobaire]

Excellent and informative video! Exactly what I was looking for.

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mrsgalindo7]

Thanks for sharing.

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@vamshigvk475]

That was cool!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@PhilipDSouza]

Great video. Thanks

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Glad you liked it!

[@user-pj4ln7mj4o]

thank you for the info good luck

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thank you!

[@dalebender7726]

Great video! 👍

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thank you!

[@brendallsterling4117]

I love it. I'm in a photographic society group. We will be doing another shot with light painting!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Let me know how it goes!

[@zacharyboone5846]

i feel like most people kinda gate keep when it comes to camera stuff at least for me who’s new that manual setting always gets me haha. but you broke it down so good man thank you.🙏

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thanks man.

[@lisacornell1965]

Amazing and thank you but, why does the people using the lights not appear in the photos?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Because they are moving the entire time and are never in one spot long enough to show up in the picture.

[@andydalton5089]

@@mattjohnsonphoto The exact question I was going to ask. :-)

[@frostfamily5321]

​​@@mattjohnsonphoto You should try out film photography, hopefully with a trichromatic prism! If film cameras are not like that yet, use it for all your B&W pictures! Because although developing color film is fun too, it's tricky! And I wonder why I do not see a blur of anyone in the thumbnail.

[@yovngplug8633]

The photo is not exposed at all, it’s extremely dark. The only thing you see in the photo is what the light shows you.

[@jeffhowe2892]

Greetings and thanks from the UK. Our camera club is doing a light painting night next week and you are our guide. :0)

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

That makes me super happy! Share some of the pics you guys take!!!!

[@jeffhowe2892]

@@mattjohnsonphoto Sorry Matt, I tried to post images here but it didn't work.

[@portalwake9762]

This video was extremely helpful! I don't need to watch any other tutorial because I know exactly what I'm doing now! That is a clear sign of a good tutorial. Exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much! One question though, you said if you change spots the canera needs to be refocused, if it isn't facing a wall where should the light be for the camera to focus? On the floor?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

I always put the light on the point I want to be in focus. Ideally, have someone stand in the spot you want to be in focus, shine a light on them so the camera can see them, focus, then turn the auto focus back off.

[@portalwake9762]

@@mattjohnsonphoto Thank you so much! 👍

[@mitchsumner8807]

Looks good

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thanks Mitch! You absolutely killed it on the B-roll! Thanks for all your help.

[@cooperbeason893]

@@mattjohnsonphoto calls him out...

[@PracticingPhotography]

Absolutely stumbled upon your channel and I'm genuinely impressed! Your content is top-notch. However, I'd urge a bit of caution when it comes to filming or teaching on railroad tracks; it's more hazardous than one might think. A quick search online can reveal some eye-opening risks associated with it. That said, I'm a big fan of your style and the positive impact you're having on the younger audience you're influencing. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Thanks for the comment and I agree about the train tracks. I've thought about taking this video down for or that very reason but it has helped so many people that i ultimately decided to leave it up. I wish we had done something different.

[@edahuspenina243]

Thanks i am using my dads camera from Japan but i dont really get it but ill try watching it more slower this time i think that will help

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Good luck. Go out and practice. You'll get it!!

[@user-qg9lh7il7h]

how do i know the lens to use when taking food /products photos

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Use whatever lens you have!

[@cooperbeason893]

WOW WHOS TEACHER IS THIS ! THEY MUST BE LUKCY ! OH WAIT I AM

[@Sploogemaster3000]

How do you get rid of the people carrying the lights?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

As long as they are wearing dark clothes and keep moving they won't show up in the photo.

[@themrmalik]

in this video I cannot see you while getting photo, is that you edit the pictures or what ?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

On photos like these, if you stay moving the entire time you won't show up in the photo.

[@PDeathDealers]

How are you removing the subject from the camera when hes holding the light ?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

As long as the person is wearing dark clothes and is moving the entire time, they won't show up in the photo.

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Also, make sure the light is never shining on the person doing the light painting.

[@juliussabenorio3302]

How did you removed the person who's doing the light thing?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

As long as that person is moving the whole time, they will not show up in the photo.

[@lucydiamond1579]

How does it not get him in the picture?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

because he is moving the entire time. He is never in one place long enough for him to show up in the picture.

[@rileymclaughlin6350]

Kennewick Washington?

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Yep!!

[@rileymclaughlin6350]

@@mattjohnsonphoto thats epic!! I live in walla walla! do you ever do classes outside of school?? I would love to learn!

[@tylerh6789]

How doesn't the guy with the light show up and you can see behind him? Overlapping images?

[@tylerh6789]

Nvm I read comments.

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Well done!

[@jaredhammonds8255]

Since it's Impossible to stand perfectly still you should only light the guy up one time.

[@GoodTudeDudes]

I teach it to high schoolers also;) Check my latest montage vid of 10 yrs of Lightpainting & #Flightpaintings too which is my latest & fav. Good tut dude!

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Those are great pics. Is that all student work?

[@GoodTudeDudes]

@@mattjohnsonphoto Thx it's a mix

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

@@GoodTudeDudes Tell me more about flightpaintings. What are you doing with that?

[@GoodTudeDudes]

@@mattjohnsonphotoDoing em for 6 yrs but quit when virtual ed started bc no time. Now started YT channel bc having a son soon.. instagram.com/andrewnourse

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

@@GoodTudeDudes Your flightpainting stuff is awesome. I'm just getting into drones. Can you tell me about your setup?

[@1911geek]

Raise and lower wow the modern language its not opening up or stopping down any more

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

I make these videos for very new photographers and try to use language they will make sense to them.

[@TennisGod_284]

Great and Helpful i FULLY UNDERSTAND

[@mattjohnsonphoto]

Glad it helped!