Last time we talk about light painting and many people ask how I did the light orb.  This is not a Photoshop effect, it’s created in the camera and is really easy to do.  This type of photography is called “Light Painting” or “Light Graffiti”.  For this specific effect we have to make our tools to create the light orb.

You will need the following item:

• LEDs bulb, you can use any LEDs but I use high intensity led
• 2.7 ohm 1/4 watt Resistor
• ON/OFF switch
• 9V battery
• cable
• Black Electrical Tape

Optional

• Battery Holder or battery plug
• 30 Watt Soldering Iron

Sorry for the crappy picture I use my cell phone for that

Process

1. The LEDs have two legs one longer than the other, to make a chain of LEDs you have to connect the longer leg of one LED to the short leg of another LED.
2. When you finish with the chain of LEDs put the resistor in one of the legs.
3. You can use the soldering iron to make sure that every connection stay in place but the electric tape work really good.  Just make sure you use the tape to isolate every connection to avoid short-circuit.
4. Here I make an electric diagram to show you the complete circuit.  I use the Adobe Idea Iphone app for that.  ”resistencia” mean resistor in Spanish, sorry for that.                                                                                

You should finish with something like this, I make another version using a project box to put the battery and the switch and I use two 9V battery just for more juice.  I have it since almost a year and I think it could last another year without changing the battery.

Now to make the light orb you need to remember those days when you were a kid and play with a rope like a cowboy.  Mark a spot in the floor and let your inside cowboy out and start making some circle but making sure they all pass the spot on the floor.  You soon figure it out how to do it right.

If you make some light painting put the link in the comment

Now go out and shoot!