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How to Make Words With Lights in Photography

Using a dark room, long shutter speed, a camera on a tripod and flashlights you can write your name or other words into a picture. When done properly, the words often look like neon letters in your picture. You can also try different colored flashlights for different effects. You do not appear in the pictures as the difference in exposure between the flashlight and any light that may fall on you is too much for the camera to register.

Things You'll Need

Tripod
Flashlight
Tape

Instructions

- 1
  Attach your camera to a tripod and place it in the shooting location inside the room you working in. Set the lens to its widest focal length or attach a wide-angle lens to the camera.
- 2
  Look through the viewfinder and place tape on the floor to signify the far left side of the frame and repeat the process for the right side of the frame. This will serve as an indication where you need to stand and write so the word will be visible in the picture.
- 3
  Turn the exposure mode to ̶0;Aperture priority̶1; and set the exposure to its largest number. By selecting a small aperture, the camera will select a long shutter speed giving you the time needed to write the words.
- 4
  Turn the lights off in the room. Position yourself between the two tape lines, turn the flashlight on, have someone press the shutter release and begin to write the words. If you have a remote shutter release button, you can use that yourself without needing a friend to push the button or write the word.
- 5
  Turn the flashlight off as soon as you are done. Even if the shutter is still open, turning the light off right away will not add any distracting shapes to the picture.
- 6
  Wait for the camera to finish taking the picture before you turn the room lights back on.

Photography