Painting with light is magical. The flashlight is your brush and the scene is your canvas. Imagination and experimentation are your workflow. You control how long the beam strikes the subject, which angle it comes from, the color and softness of the light, and which part of the scene is illuminated. Few other forms of photography allow this level of creativity.

Whether you’re shooting starry landscapes or urban architecture, pro photographer Tim Cooper will help you create and capture high-quality light painting images. In this detailed step-by-step guide you will:

• Understand how to focus and set your DSLR camera settings while working in the dark
• Learn how to calculate ambient exposure, ISO, f-stop, shutter speed, and white balance
• Discover light painting accessories and pro techniques for controlling the angle of light, intensity, beam width, and filtration
• Extend your night vision by preparing and processing your images in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, including blending multiple images