Painting with Light: Light Art Performance Photography

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.