Light Painting World Alliance

SPIE International Day of Light Photo Contest 2023 The SPIE International Day of Light Photo Contest is held annually to raise awareness about the International Day of Light and to demonstrate the impact that light has on cultural, economic, and political aspects of our world. Amateur and professional photographers alike are encouraged to submit photos for a chance to win cash prizes. The theme of the photo contest is A World of Light: The Vital Role That Light and Light-Based Technologies Play in Daily Life. As we all saw, previous Contest winners were not very close to the light painting idea, but contest is contest and everyone could check how lucky he (she) is :) Btw, one of the nominated images in 2022 was a real light painting pic (see banner, image by Sharmin Ahsam), so… don’t give up! Good luck to everyone on that way. 2023|19|08 @LPWAlliance

The first issue of the “Light Painted World” digital magazine is being prepared for release in September. One of the regular headings will be "Really Something". This is an in-depth interview with a famous and unusual artist. Who will it be? All will be decided by our subscribers. Please send me into private chat the name of your favorite light painter. The one who collects the most applications will be the hero of the interview. Let's find out really something about him (her)! @LPWAlliance #LPWAannounce

Telegram Tips & Tricks Our channel provides simple navigation: 1️⃣ click on the pinned message (this is the most important message of the entire channel), then scroll to the list of activities 2️⃣ select and click any year (for example, the current one), a post will open with the title of the selected year (in our example - 2023), and the last - select the title of the publication you need 3️⃣ click on it. Voila! In three clicks (6 seconds) you find the publication you need. More tips to come 😉 Btw, use of hashtags is standard, as for any social network. Search by hashtags is carried out in the search line of the channel. @LPWAlliance

LIGHT JUNKIE’S FUNNIES A good joke, like good cognac, warms the blood, invigorates and brings people together, doesn't it? I know that in our community there are many jokes and fables about how we work at night, sometimes blindly, sometimes waist-deep in water, sometimes in dangerous places, under the close supervision of the police or the bewildered looks of onlookers, suddenly losing flashlights or flying into the abyss of the tube ... Each time such a situation ends safely, we get unique shots and ... a boost of energy for many years to come :) And I thought - why don't we collect our collection of colorful humor and interesting adventures that fall to the artist's lot?! Let's do it together! Send me your stories and the best ones will be published in the magazine. It would be great to supplement the story with photos or even videos. Sooo, c’mon! Here's a real story from me for starters. One day my wife and I had a vacation in Brela (Croatia). I found an excellent location on the seashore, under the footpath, opposite the famous Brela Stone. It got dark, we set up the camera on the shore, I myself got into the water, pushing a small raft with batteries and tools in front of me. Once in the middle between the stone and the shore, I began to draw ... Tourists walking along the footpath began to stop and look at this unusual sight - someone with lanterns and light brushes flounders in the water and shouts in Russian (a bit unknown language for most tourists there) to a woman standing on the shore. Nobody noticed the camera (because it is black and dark), but my lighting tools were visible from afar. A decent crowd gradually gathered, people lively began to argue among themselves, putting forward different versions of what was happening here ... Finally, someone could not stand it and shouted loudly to me: “Hey, man! What the hell are you doing there? CATCHING SQUIDS?! And did you catch a lot?” 🤪

Today is @childrenofdarklight birthday! After the second exhibition of the Alliance in Paris, where only Ersamo Daaz was presented from Spain, I received a letter from an unknown artist named Alfredo, who showed great interest in organizing a similar exhibition in Spain. That's how we got to know each other. Frodo's energy broke through all obstacles, and already in the summer of 2014 the First International Congress of Light Painting and the Third World Exhibition of the Alliance took place in Oviedo. On July 4, 2014, we first met in person - and since then our relationship has continued to be friendly and full of mutual understanding. I am still amazed by Frodo's determination and dedication to the art of painting with light. Happy Birthday my dear friend, let the light be with you forever! 🍾🔆 2023|04|08 @LPWAlliance

Telegram Tips & Tricks: Worldwide translation. You can easily read messages in any language - to do this, use the automatic translation directly in the channel. Before start translation function, go to Language settings and tap ON to "Show Translate Button". Then in channel panel follow this: 1) Click on the translation settings icon 2) Select a language 3) Click on the translation line. Voila! Enjoy 😉 A truly international service. @LPWAlliance

Hi light nation, I have lots of plans, and one of my priority targets is to make an international digital magazine “Light Painted World” – as you probably remember, LPWA talked about this in 2011. Now I am supposed to make something interesting and valuable in our media. So, I invite everyone to publish your reports on the following topics in the Alliance Telegram channel: *News from your local LP community. *News of your personal LP project, if it has found information and other support at the regional (and even more so - at the federal or world) level. *Light painting news from your country or from around the world, if you have the opportunity to cover such news at a professional level. *Your personal lesson in creating fundamentally new LP images using new technologies. *Your proposal for organizing LP events of a regional, federal or world level, in which you intend to act as an organizer. It can be: exhibitions, collaborations, meetings, etc. *Any other messages of interest to our LP community. In order for your report to be posted in the Alliance TG-channel, you need to be a registered Telegram user. Welcome to become our correspondent! This is the path to your future media success. P.S. Of course, don’t hesitate to ask me any questions for better preparation of your report 🙌🏻 @LPWAlliance #LPWAannounce 31/07/2023

Delisious night sky exactly for light painters. 🌕 In a rare astronomical event, August 2023 will offer stargazers the opportunity to see two supermoons, coupled with the appearance of an elusive blue moon. Put all your attention at August 1 and August 30, and be prepared for mind blowing night shooting. Good luck for everyone, and we all would be glad to see what you will create under supermoon 😍 @LPWAlliance

I’m glad to inform you that International Photography Awards “Xposure” (UAE) is waiting for your light painting artworks! Regarding to my correspondence with Xposure Team, basic light painting images, which include additional light streaks and shapes, provided they were captured by camera, are indeed acceptable and well-suited for the Night Photography category. Xposure Team encourage members of our light painting community to submit their stunning creations for consideration. Participation is free, you can submit 10 images. Grand prix is $6000, category 1st prize is $3000, category 2nd prize is $1500. All prize winners gets flights and accommodation to the Awards Ceremony in Sharjah UAE. Deadline for submissions is October 30 2023. All awards results will be announced and presented 28 February – 5 March 2024. Complete details are here. Welcome to participate and good luck for everyone! Many thanks to @minimaleafs (IG) for warning us about this event! Best regards Sergey @LPWAlliance 24/07/2023

❤️ 123 subscribers ❤️ for just 26 hours...🤩 Thanks a lot!

Welcome 😊 @LPWAlliance

LION DANCE LIGHT PAINTING GUINNESS WORLD RECORD The MOST PEOPLE LIGHT DRAWING SIMULTANEOUSLY, which was achieved by Wang Sibo Xinxingshe and Guangzhou Technician College (both China) in Guangzhou, Guang Dong, China, on 29th June 2023. #LPWAnews.2023.July @LPWAlliance

⬆️ LPWA TRUE STORY Part 5: First step of newborn In winter 2011, I prepared for publication in a respected Russian magazine "Foto & Video" article about light painting. 8 page of article was illustrated with photographs of my good friends Patrick Rochon, Mike Ross, Denis Calvert, Hannu Huhtamo, Janne Parviainen and German duo LigthMark. Unlike many authors of the similar articles, I have not tried to publish only my own photos (though this I had), my task in such cases always is - to acquaint the reader with different photographers. During the preparation of this article, we often corresponded with these artists, and I realized it was serious guys and true professionals. After the release of the magazine in January 2012, I proposed to join the Advisory Board (AB) of the Alliance of these artists: Patrick Rochon, Mike Ross, Denis Calvert, Hannu Huhtamo and LightMark. All but LightMark, agreed. At the same time, I also invited interesting photographers Hugo Baptista and Eric Mellinger, they both also agreed. Accordingly, the Advisory Board of the Alliance since 2012 went to work. I must say that without the moral support, good advice, numerous consultations and often - specific help from the Board, I would not have so quickly to bring the Alliance to current (2017) position. Update from 2023. LPWA comeback will works for the same goals as all times before. Our motto for 14 years: Light is Paint, Night is Canvas. A new page of this fascinating story opened in July 2023, let's all write a sequel together! Best regards Sergey

⬆️ LPWA TRUE STORY Part 4: Manifesto The event which dispel my doubts happened in the autumn of 2010. Exhibition curator Fotox1000 "FuturSpectives" in Rome sent me an invitation to participate in the section Light Art. As a result of negotiations, I even painted with light logo for the exhibition. Elated by this small success, I proceeded to the presentation of my thoughts on paper. It was necessary to formulate all that I care about, in a simple and compact form that is understandable to the majority. A week later, the document was ready. Since it was presented in the form of access to the public, I called it a Manifesto. Even then it was the name for the organization - Light Painting Alliance. Almost like "Red Headed League" in Conan Doyle :) The word "World" I added a little bit later. I sent out a Manifesto for all known to me photographers involved light painting. All such letters were about a hundred. Half responded with positive assessments of my idea - and it gave me confidence in the right direction of my efforts. To give the public process of the Alliance, I created a corresponding social groups - first on Flickr, then to Facebook. In each group, I published a Manifesto and Action Plan for 2012. Through personal appeals invited everyone I know, to discuss the manifesto and the Plan. Gradually was formed a small group of artists who are most active and interested in the process. There was a need for action to be discussed in a more narrow range - and thus faster and more skilled. I offered to create the Alliance Advisory Board - to verify the correctness of an idea. Of course, I knew from the beginning that most of the work on the formation of the Alliance I have to do everything myself, but to avoid possible mistakes I needed motivated and friendly counselors. continue ⬇️ #LPWAarticle

⬆️ LPWA TRUE STORY Part 3: How to do it? And the second problem - the problem of quality. Too many people holding light drawing for fun, to fill such "funny" snapshots to numerous photo albums on the web. And a search query the computer gives no pictures (for example) by Aurora Crowley - but banal smiley shooted in a random location. Such "art trash" is more than 95% of the total number of photos taken in the technique of light painting. At that rate glimpse only alienate the viewer. And we lose our potential audience. After some thought, I came to the conclusion, that anyone alone does not change anything. Of course, improving my own skill, I can achieve success and recognition of the public - but will it resolves the problems identified? No, it will not solve. To promote a light painting in the masses need a collective effort. How to do it? How to convey to people all the unique features of our creativity? How to raise the overall level of drawing with light - from amateur doodles to the Sotheby's auction? I had a little experience of the creative association - for Russian TV designers and promoters in 2002 - 2007 years. I actually saw what a collective mind with an active nucleus can do. Why not do the same - but for artists, painting with light? This task becomes increasingly complicated by the fact that such an organization would have to be international - but I speak English not at its best ... continue ⬇️ #LPWAarticle

⬆️ LPWA TRUE STORY Part 2: First impressions and first problem I love it. Come up with a plot that will best take advantage of the light painting. Invent and produce a tool that will allow me to implement his plan. Find a suitable place. And, finally, the magic! Night. No one around. And the star talk to another star... Several movements in front of the camera - and breathtaking image happened! Or vice versa - three hours of crazy dancing in the dark - and a full basket of garbage! So, in search of new opportunities, it took 2 years. Of course, I've seen a lot of other light painting works, and I was surprised at how many people draw with light. Through comments to photos on Flickr resource we have to know each other step by step. When I put in the portfolio of a dozen or more decent pictures, I decided to find a commercial application of my skills. Ah, so far from it! I addressed in many advertising agencies, offering creative possibilities and extraordinary light painting technique. Most of these agencies have noted really high expressiveness of light painted design, but as it comes to determining the price for work - it all falling apart! My argument that the light painting is handmade and at some expense to the preparation was stopped by straightforward logic of the customer: for what we need to draw with light when all draw could be done on the computer? I said - so you can not draw like me! They said - and we did not need it, we simplify a little creative challenge - and save on artist ten times ... That's it! End of conversation! And then I realized that our favorite genre has two problems. First - the problem of low awareness. Both among ordinary public, and among the art business. Most people simply do not know what it is - light painting. Almost all believe that this is the image generated by a computer. continue ⬇️ #LPWAarticle

This is a shortened version of interview for Chris Nicholson (National Parks At Night magazine) in May 2018. LPWA TRUE STORY Part 1: How I came to light painting I am professional video designer, working in television industry since 1991, my work is creating computer graphics. A beautiful combination of color and geometry ... and all this in motion. In my work I am constantly looking for new visual forms and new technologies. In 2008, when I first saw light graffiti, I thought it was computer graphics - and I wondered to achieve the same effect. I drew something like this on my computer, compared - and I realized that the picture I took as example is much more complex and rich in texture. I set a goal - to find the right plug-in and do the same, if not better. It took time, but all my attempts were futile. This angered me. How is it, I thought, why someone can draw, but not me?! Began to dig on the Internet to find for descriptions of such figures - and quickly discovered that such picture is no computer graphics - but photography and this pattern of light! Further searches gave a stunning result. I discovered a galaxy called Light Painting. Almost at the same time, my eldest son showed me his own drawings with light. All matched. I understood this technology. I realized that in my hands is the new powerful and versatile tool for design. Nearly a year was spent in attempts to combine light painting and video. It turned out that the specialities of drawing light imposes fairly strict limits on its use in video projects. But I do not like any restrictions in art process. So I decided that the photo will give me more opportunities to express myself. Since then, I paint with light. continue ⬇️ #LPWAarticle @LPWAlliance

Now, we have turned a new page in the history of Light Painting World Alliance. LPWA True Story (how it was born) Light Painting Guinness World Record in China Official Opening LPWA Channel Call for Digital Magazine 'Light Painted World" LPWA Polls "Best Light Painting Image" Announce "Light Junkie's Funnies" theme Announce SPIE International Day of Light Photo Contest 2023 Announce.

⬆️ The UnitedByLight project. Episode 5 + crew interview. Artist ChildrenOfDarklight & Sfhir. #LPWACollab2020 @LPWAlliance ⬇️

⬆️ The UnitedByLight project. Episode 4 + crew interview. Artist Roy Wang #LPWACollab2020 @LPWAlliance ⬇️