Painting With Light: Light Art Performance Photography

by Joerg Miedza, JanLeonardo Woellert

Overview

Light Art Performance Photography (LAPP) is a unique form of art that was invented and developed by the authors of this book. It is one of the first forms of art using light as the medium to gain widespread attention. Unlike other types of light painting, LAPP does not just involve illuminating existing objects; it also requires the photographer to create and capture new subjects constructed entirely of light. LAPP pieces are usually shot at night using long exposure times to capture complex sequences of precisely choreographed movements. Real-world surroundings are combined with transient, light-based elements to produce spectacular effects.

The defining characteristic of LAPP is the harmony between the background and the harsh light often used to produce the individual image elements. The symbiosis between photographer and performer gives each work a degree of reproducibility that is essential if it is to be accurately restaged at a later time.

The first part of this book describes the evolution of LAPP as told by its originators, while the middle section goes on to present a gallery of spectacular, large format LAPP images. The final section offers some basic steps and tips to give you a starting point for creating your own LAPP artworks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933952741
Publisher:	Rocky Nook
Publication date:	04/10/2011
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	12.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.82(d)

About the Author

Joerg Miedza spent a number of years creating movies using special techniques, including using a remote controlled car to film from a ground-level perspective and producing stop motion films. The skills he acquired working with motion pictures have allowed him to contribute significantly to the performance aspect of LAPP photography. His love of electronic music from the early synth-pop age helps him create the perfect mood for displaying his images by combining them with suitable sounds.

When JanLeonardo Woellert began working as a photographer, he took photos only at night. During this period he developed new techniques in the fields of light drawing and so-called "dark night photography," illuminating and accentuating his subjects with portable spotlights and torch lights. In 1998 he became an assistant to photographer Stefan Meyer-Bergfeld in Oldenburg, Germany, where he learned the craft of large-format landscape photography. In 2004 he entered into digital photography and since then has taken more than 10,000 longtime exposures at night.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements;
Foreword;
Foreword by Rainer Opolka;
Lapp 01;
Chapter 1: The LAPP-Story: How It All Began (Interview, Part 1);
Chapter 2: Gallery, Part 1;
Lapp 02;
Chapter 3: What is Light Art Performance Photography?;
Chapter 4: Initial Considerations;
Chapter 5: Shape, Color, and Emotion;
5.1 Shapes and Colors;
5.2 The Effects of Space and Individual Image Elements;
5.3 Types of Long Exposures;
5.4 Performing with Light;
5.5 Emotions;
5.6 Fusing Photography with Performance;
Chapter 6: The LAPP Story: Sponsors, Influences, and Milestones (Interview, Part 2);
Chapter 7: Gallery, Part 2;
Lapp 03;
Chapter 8: Technique;
8.1 The Look and Feel of a LAPP Image;
8.2 Selecting Equipment;
Chapter 9: Planning and Executing an Idea;
9.1 Finding and Preparing a Location;
9.2 Setting Up a Scene and Taking Test Shots;
Chapter 10: Background Stories;
Lapp 04;
Chapter 11: The Making of ...;
11.1 How a LAPP image develops;
11.2 Step-by-step Guide to Creating a LAPP Photo;
Chapter 12: LAPP-PRO on TV, Gestalt, and Kinesthetic Intelligence Matt Crawford on LAPP;