You will, however, see a bright glowing orb of light if you look at a recent photograph photographer Roger Feldhans, of Pomeroy, took of the site.

Using a variety of “tools” — illuminated repurposed bubble wands, yard sticks with LEDs taped to them, a piece of tubing with a light in one end and host of other devices that emit light — the orb was created by Feldhans during a time exposure using a technique called light painting.

You also won’t find any bright orbs of colored light at the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend.

Those orbs are the creation of photographer David Borer, of Webster City.

-Photo by David Borer
Webster City photographer David Borer created this light painting image at the Grotto in West Bend. Borer created the orbs and other patterns with illuminated tools used during the long time exposure.

“It’s painting using a light source and your camera sensor as a canvas,” Borer said.

As Feldhans holds up one of the tools, he makes an apt comparison.

“There are paint brushes,” he said, the pointing to his digital camera, “That’s your canvas.”

The results obtained depend on which tool is being used, how it’s moved during the exposure, the colors being emitted and is only limited by the creativity of the artist creating the work.

Some of the photos even feature light painted outlines around people who are visible in the finished image.

-Photo by Roger Feldhans Pomeroy photographer Roger Feldhans created this light painting image using illuminated colored tools during a time exposure at a site called Rainbow Bridge near Lake City.

Feldhans first tried the technique in his youth.

“I did it when I was in junior high school on film,” he said. “On top of the junior high, on the roof.”

The results of that, well, people noticed.

Borer began experimenting with light painting after attending a workshop last June where Feldhans shared his technique.

“I saw some of the images Roger had posted on Facebook,” Borer said. “It seemed like a cool thing to do.”

Both Feldhans and Borer have incorporated the technique into images taken on location. Some of those include the Grotto in West Bend as well as the Rainbow Bridge. Feldhans has created images both in and outside of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum and several local cemeteries and Borer has worked in West Twin Park in Webster City.

The both enjoy making and experimenting with homemade light painting tools in addition to tools they’ve purchased.

“That’s a huge part of it,” Borer said. “You feed off the first tools you get.”

The pair will also be using the technique Wednesday evening during a demonstration in the dog exercise area at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.

It’s their contribution to help celebrate the International Day of Light.

“The day has been around for awhile,” Feldhans said. “The light painters took to that. People all over the world will be doing this. We thought it would be neat to do a demonstration and show people what you can do.”

The public is not only invited to attend, their cameras and tripods are encouraged to come along.

Feldhans said he will start around 8 p.m. and asks that those bringing a camera, to be there and set up by then.

The demonstration will go on as long as it can.

“We have to be out of the park by 10.” he said.