Using Light to Paint
Light painting is a beautiful technique that uses the basics of photography (light + exposure) to create a scene of your choosing. Start by setting up or styling a scene with your favorite items. Then grab a flashlight. Set your camera to about a 5-15 second shutter speed and a wide aperture. Make sure your camera is on a tripod. Use auto focus to focus on your subject then switch it to manual focus. Turn off all the lights and click the shutter. Then quickly “paint” the object using your flashlight, being careful not to point the light at the camera. Light painting can take a lot of practice, so just keep trying until you get the right combination of light.
You can learn more about light painting from The Digital Photography School.