Instead, some sort of a light source is used in the dark and as the light moves, a camera captures an image.

The results, which are sometimes quite colorful, depend on which tool is being used, how it’s moved during the exposure, and the colors being emitted.

Roger Feldhans, a photographer from Pomeroy, held a light painting demonstration at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum Thursday evening. About 15 people attended.

“This is International Day of Light,” Feldhans said. “We as photographers get together to take advantage of the day.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Photographer Roger Feldhans, of Pomeroy, demonstrates how he uses light to create colorful images during a light painting talk and demonstration at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum Thursday evening.

Prior to the demonstration, Feldhans said he spent part of his afternoon looking at images on the web from artists around the world.

“The guys in Australia always get to do it first,” Feldhans said. “So they like to brag about it.”

Feldhans and David Borer, a photographer from Webster City, have incorporated the light painting technique into images taken on location. Some of those include the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend as well as the Rainbow Bridge near Lake City.

Feldhans has created images both in and outside of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum and several local cemeteries while Borer has worked in West Twin Park in Webster City.

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

“I do a lot of spinning around trying not to fall down when I create these,” Feldhans said.

LED strips, bubble wands, and PVC pipes with holes cut in them are just a few examples of the tools Feldhans has used as light sources.

“This squirt gun from Dollar General became a light painting tool,” Feldhans said.

Feldhan’s work has become quite popular, and as a result, he’ll occasionally receive a new tool to try out in the mail.

One of those items was a programmable light.

“There was no instructions, just see what you can do with it,” Feldhans said.

Each demonstration is an opportunity to try something new, he said.

“I like to use different tools to try new things,” Feldhans said. “Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.”