LIGHT SCULPTING

[Jeff D. Welker]

Harold Ross is an inventive photographer that employs light painting/sculpting to create very cool images. While not an aviation shooter, his techniques would certainly transfer. He says most of his images are created with a small LED flashlight and a simple diffuser. Enjoy.

http://www.haroldrossfineart.com/#s=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&p=2&a=0&at=0

http://haroldrossfineart.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/video-of-animation-of-light-painting-in-the-landscape/

http://haroldrossfineart.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/light-painting-tips-and-techniques-closer-is-softer/

http://haroldrossfineart.wordpress.com/video-tips-and-techniques/

http://haroldrossfineart.wordpress.com

[Anna M. Wood]

Eric Curry's light painting work is pretty neat as well.  He has done several aircraft scenes. 

http://americanprideandpassion.com/photographs.php

A technique I would like to try out sometime.

[Jay Beckman]

There's a key difference here though...

Pretty sure Eric "builds" his scenes by lighting specific sections and then layering them in Photoshop into a finished image.

My take on Ross is that he works in one frame with a very long exposure and builds the image by multiple light passes where desired.

[Joe Copalman]

Thanks for sharing those links, Jeff. Really digging the Ross stuff.

Curry's stuff is too busy, and the light is too splotchy.  My eyes are almost drawn more to the dark spots than they are to the lighted spots. 

[Anna M. Wood]

I like both techniques....   Each with their own style.

There is definitely a richness to Harold Ross' work.   Like a fine painting.

Very inspiring work.

[Joe Copalman]

Oh, both are talented as all get-out, and Curry's got some top-notch imagery on his site.  I think his strongest images are his more minimalist ones.  The "country bicycle" and "dark tree" shots are the standouts for me. 

Several of his "scene" images just feel claustrophobic, like there's too much stuff crammed into the frame, and lit in a way that makes the smaller details compete for the viewer's attention, rather than complement the subject.  His F-102 shot in the hangar is - to me - his strongest aviation shot.  He lets his subject be the subject, yet he keeps the "diorama" feel of his other shots by including a few supporting details that aren't as conspicuously lit.