Write or Draw With Light!

Ever wonder how I made my avatar? or even how these guys (pikapika) make their movies?
Here's how!
(If you've got lightsticks, check out askacollegekid's light instructable!)
Materials:
Camera with long exposure capabilities (the longer the better)
Source of light (flashlights work the best)
Pitch black room (if you want a nice black background)

Note: Please excuse my room's messiness!

Subnote: I'd like to thank StepsoftheSun for inspiring me to make this Instructable =)

UPDATE!: Yesterday was the "annual" Science Olympiad paratay!

I brought a camera and some lights and we made some pretty nice pictures (added pics to the intro page)!

Step 1: Set Up

Get your camera a nice place to sit and aim it at a spot about 10-15 ft away where you will easily be able to draw your picture.

Take a regular shutter speed shot in the light to make sure that your spot is in focus (see picture)

Set your camera's shutter speed (you'll have to set your camera for manual mode) - I use 30 seconds most of the time

Either turn on a time delay or set the shutter speed to compensate for the time it takes to walk 10-15 feet away.

Grab your flashlight and shut the lights out.

Step 2: Take the Picture!

Press the capture button, run to wherever your camera is focused on, and turn on your light source.

Draw the picture you want, trying not to shine the light source directly at the camera. This will produce a "twinkle" where you shined it from (see picture).

If you want to stop a line segment and start a new one, you can cover the light source with your hand and move it over to where the new line segment will start. If you have a flashlight, just turn it off, move it over, and turn it back on! <-- Much easier!

When you're done drawing:
If it's a simple picture (a square, circle etc) you can go over it again
If not, don't bother trying to go over it. It will probably get messed up.

DO NOT TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON UNTIL YOU ARE SURE THE CAMERA HAS FINISHED TAKING THE PICTURE!

Step 3: Admire!

Admire your one of a kind picture!

Feel free to experiment with different techniques etc!

Check out my works! (so far)

Comments

[Antleredguy]

I took one of these one night when we had a bonfire... I think it turned out pretty good. I took this with a little kodak digital camera.

[xilefakamot]

 Here's mine:

(Bonus points if you can guess my name)

[aaprilggrams]

TOM

[jjones95]

felix

[micromarketers]

Your name begins with 'T' ends with 'M' and has an 'O' in between

[R.A.T.M]

is that photo shop

[Toebak]

Here is my scribe.. used a single led and a button cell.

[dragonsniper]

felix

[the_ccandy]

Rumpelstiltskin?

[tatarik]

tony

[Senior Waffleman]

tom, lol BONUS POINTS!!!!

[Stevie89]

I think it's Apu Nahasapeemapetilon If so your on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apu_Nahasapeemapetilon

[howto96]

umm.......is ur name tom

[xilefakamot]

 How did you guess?

[Antleredguy]

I forgot to say... I put the "Long Time Exposure" at 4 seconds I think it was and that was the only setting I changed.

[Cool doge888]

Hey that's cool

[Engr_Faris_Ali]

[Engr_Faris_Ali]

[Kyw Yw Yw]

quick question, can you see it when u draw?

[vampire.daphne]

No, you only see the movements you make